Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • ITEC
    • International Elastomer Show
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Goodyear's global footprint would get strategic boost with Cooper Tire deal
      Goodyear-Cooper Tire deal 'a transactional milestone'
      Cooper recalling 430,000+ whitewall LT tires in multiple brands
      Yokohama sets ambitious goals through 2023
    • Goodyear's global footprint would get strategic boost with Cooper Tire deal
      Goodyear-Cooper Tire deal 'a transactional milestone'
      9 Goodyear-Cooper Tire stories you may have missed
      Cooper recalling 430,000+ whitewall LT tires in multiple brands
    • USTMA, NAM among associations backing passage of Equality Act
      ASC seeks presenters for fall convention
      Birla Carbon again recognized for sustainability efforts
      Carlisle TyrFil out with new recycling technology
    • Zeon receives pair of ISO certifications
      Trinseo taps K.D. Feddersen to supply soft-touch elastomers
      New products: MonTech offering customized bale cutters
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Ohio firm focuses on making better masks in U.S.
      U.S. to increase NBR, make gloves using Defense Production Act
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled for 2022
      Tire Technology Expo canceled for 2021
    • 9 Goodyear-Cooper Tire stories you may have missed
      Goodyear promotes Chris Helsel, expanding his global technology, operational role
      Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Dana Inc. hires Byron Foster in executive role
    • 9 Goodyear-Cooper Tire stories you may have missed
      Cooper recalling 430,000+ whitewall LT tires in multiple brands
      USTMA, NAM among associations backing passage of Equality Act
      Conti recalling 94,000 LT/SUV tires
    • Column: Discussions of race, equality may mean uncomfortable moments
      Column: Business trips possible because of essential workers
      Editorial: Associations see opportunity for progress under new administration
      Editorial: Against a backdrop of turmoil, M&A deals give glimpse of normalcy
    • Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Damage mechanism in oil and gas formulations during downhole testing
      Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
      Effects of multiple repurposed materials for reinforcements of standard rubber compounds
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: Starrett expands field-of-view for multi-sensor vision system
      New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
      New Products: MonTech introduces 1,500 kN lab press
      New products: 3M introduces new durable, pliable medical adhesive
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Goodyear's global footprint would get strategic boost with Cooper Tire deal
      Goodyear-Cooper Tire deal 'a transactional milestone'
      Cooper recalling 430,000+ whitewall LT tires in multiple brands
      Yokohama sets ambitious goals through 2023
    • Stockwell Elastomerics' legacy moves on
      Larger mixers tout economies of scale, along with the need for speed
      Hexpol, Bloom deal with COVID, reorganization, fire since start of 2020
      Small, mid-size compounders keep value, agility, service 'in the mix'
    • Sri Trang Gloves starts major capacity expansion
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Combined Goodyear-Cooper Tire company has tire tech, sustainability edge
      Helixtap launches new digital marketplace for rubber
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Labs of the Future: How to Choose a Laboratory Information Management System in 2021
      Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Selectâ„¢: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2021 International Latex Conference Virtual Edition
      2022 ITEC
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Latex
October 15, 2020 12:44 PM

International sustainable rubber group gives voice to 'smallholders'

Jim Johnson
Rubber & Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    SINGAPORE—Owners of small rubber farms around the world now have a seat at the table at an international sustainability group.

    More than one seat, actually.

    The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, a Singapore-based group aiming to make a difference in how rubber is harvested, has adopted new rules that allow these so-called smallholders to join the group and have representation on GPSNR's executive committee.

    Companies around the world have gotten used to conducting business via Zoom calls as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into the latter stages of 2020. And such was the case at GPSNR's General Assembly Sept. 23 that brought together group members from around the globe virtually instead of in person.

    It was the first overall meeting of GPSNR since early 2019, and an overwhelming majority of group members—more than 98 percent—approved the creation of a smallholders category within the organization that features representatives from throughout the rubber supply chain.

    A total of 28 smallholders from seven countries initially are joining the group to have their interests represented. From that group, smallholders Baroan Roland of the Ivory Coast, Soontorn Rakrong of Thailand and Dang Quoc Thong were elected to the executive committee.

    Creating representation for this group of farmers is important to GPSNR because the vast majority of the world's natural rubber comes from small farms.

    "I understand the importance of the responsibility I have received. I hope that I will not disappoint," Roland said through an interpreter during the meeting.

    Rakrong said he has specific policies he wants to champion during his time on the committee. They include creating stability in rubber prices and improving the quality of life for smallholders.

    "Smallholders are a crucial link in the natural rubber value chain, and they have a key role to play in driving awareness on-the-ground and setting the global agenda for sustainable natural rubber," GPSNR Director Stefano Savi said.

    Amy Smith, of the World Wildlife Fund environmental group, is co-chair of the executive committee, and she sees the importance of smallholders having a voice in GPSNR along with a variety of rubber-related companies and organizations from throughout the world.

    "The creation of a standalone smallholders members category will enable smallholders responsible for 85 percent of global rubber production to help drive the sustainable natural rubber agenda," Smith said.

    GPSNR is in the process of establishing a working group to consider the added costs of sustainability and how they should be shared along the supply chain.

    "Rubber growing smallholders often operating at the interface of plantations and ecosystems to be conserved should not carry an extra financial burden to implement sustainable practices, and they should be acknowledged for the efforts that they make," Smith said.

    Germany has taken particular interest in GPSNR, becoming both a member of the group and a financial supporter. Gerd Mueller, Germany's federal minister for economic cooperation and development, issued a statement read at the meeting expressing the importance of a fair rubber supply chain for all involved.

    "Natural rubber is immensely important to the functioning of industrial society. But natural rubber is the source of income for millions of smallholders in the tropics," Mueller said in the statement read during the meeting.

    But rubber, unlike crops such as coffee and cocoa, is not as much in the public eye when it comes to sustainability and social responsibility.

    "The challenges around sustainability and its supply chain are similar," Mueller said. "Smallholder families produce the raw material that is highly valued by consumers, but commands low prices. … Their work is generally performed under difficult conditions and frequently at the expense of forests."

    "Making the supply chain humane and sustainable is a major and urgent challenge," he said. "Such a transformation will require every link in the chain to take responsibility."

    GPSNR calls itself an international, multi-stakeholder organization "with a mission to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain." Members include producers, processors, traders, tire makers and other rubber makers and buyers. Also in the group are automobile manufacturers and other downstream users as well as financial institutions and "civil society," the group said.

    GPSNR members account for nearly 50 percent of the global natural rubber volume. The group is an outgrowth of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Tire Industry Project.

    Related Article
    Global natural rubber group to hear from smallholders at meeting
    Nexen joins GPSNR, publishes sustainability report
    Conti creates department for sustainable businesses
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • ITEC
      • International Elastomer Show
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION