Sappi's Saiccor Mill
JSE-listed paper and packaging manufacturer Sappi has completed a verification of the Higg Facility Social and Labour Module (FSLM) at its Saiccor Mill in South Africa, achieving a final score of 91.5%.
This demonstrates Sappi’s maturity and commitment to a high level of compliance in human resource practices within the regions and communities that it operates in.
The verification results confirm Sappi as a leader in sustainable social and labour practices.
The Saiccor Mill produces dissolving pulp under the brand name Verve that is used primarily in the textile and hygiene product industries.
Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg FSLM is part of a suite of tools that enables manufacturing facilities within the textile value chains to measure themselves against a standard set of criteria in the areas of recruitment and hiring, working hours, wages and benefits, worker treatment, worker involvement, health and safety, and termination and management systems.
Sappi pulp executive VP Mohamed Mansoor says Verve is taking bold steps in supporting the call for collective action to improve the transparency and traceability of the supply chain that Sappi serves.
“By using assessments such as FSLM, we can avoid audit fatigue and reduce the costs associated with certification in our supply chain. I strongly believe that external verification of our social and labour practices in South Africa plays a crucial role in instilling confidence in Verve as the preferred fibre of choice,” Mansoor states.
Sappi says it is committed to creating safe and fair social and labour conditions and will continue to explore opportunities to improve in the area of health and safety.