Corporate Social Responsibility & Ethical Sourcing GLOBAL FOCUS

NEIL TAYLOR, SURE GRO TREE MAX AUSTRALIA

As a distributor of Jute type products, including erosion control matting and Jute planting squares, it’s incumbent upon us as a business to understand as much as we can about the product and to ensure the product is ethically manufactured and sourced. Being an imported product, the Jute range is not as easy to educate ourselves about as a locally made product. So, in January 2020, Sure Gro Tree Max set out on a mission to understand all there is to know about Jute: how the product is derived and manufactured; ethical, sustainable and social procurement considerations; and learning about what innovations we can introduce into the Australian market. We sent our National Sales Manager, Neil Taylor as well as our Landscape and Civil Key Account Manager, Matt Underwood to Dhaka in Bangladesh and Kolkata in India. Appointments were booked with Jute factories and government bodies in both regions.

Jute is a vegetable fibre, mostly grown in tropical countries such as Bangladesh and India. Most Jute comes from the bark of the White Jute plant, with harvesting taking place once a year. Most Jute matting is made using a hessian scrim (woven central layer) with a layer of Jute fibres on either side which is needle punched, interlocking the fibres onto the scrim. Jute matting is used for weed and erosion control; the biodegradable matting acts as a layer of mulch providing weed suppression and moisture retention to enhance plant establishment whilst protecting the top layer of soil from erosion. Australian standards for manufacturing and procurement of products can vary greatly from international standards. As part of our due diligence and corporate social responsibility, our visit to these manufacturers sought to ensure that Sure Gro Tree Max sources products from manufacturers that adhere to various quality management systems and treat their workers with dignity and respect. In our pursuit of importing quality materials and products, Sure Gro Tree Max investigated various new and different Jute suppliers to gain a deeper insight into the manufacturing standards between different Jute mills.

During our factory visits, observations and notes were made taking into account such elements as working conditions, product quality, sustainability and general environmental factors such as recycling, power and water usage. We were also interested in how eager the factories were to work with us on some of our innovative ideas. In particular, one Bangladeshi Jute mill factory displayed impressive management systems and demonstrated numerous ways in which they are supporting an entire community of families. The Jute mill covered six acres of land incorporating 7 different factories, all undertaking separate product manufacturing from Jute sacks to our Jute matting products. The company employs approximately 7,000 people and supports an entire school of children and their families. The business has a strong environmental policy which includes a no-waste approach. Water used to wash the Jute fibres is fully recycled and the property is water self-sufficient. Some of the electricity used to power the machines is generated through incinerating waste. The processes that the factory undertakes to make the Jute mat are far superior to others we observed. The factories were clean and well maintained, with high standards around employee safety. Regular recorded changing of needles, the inclusion of a heavier weight scrim and the use of a higher grade fibre were all important considerations to us when sourcing a quality mill. A stringent quality assurance program was another contributing factor that we observed.

Our organisation is committed to ethical, sustainable and quality procurement of products to ensure the products will perform their desired task in preventing soil erosion and suppressing unwanted weeds whilst promoting the growth of plants. Sure Gro Tree Max continues to strive to work with all of its manufacturers and suppliers to ensure its products are of the highest quality and suitable for our unique Australian landscape and ecosystem.