World Rubber Summit 2022 - New Sustainability Tools for Collaboration by PEFC & IRSG

19 June 2022 News

Every year, the World Rubber Summit brings together industry leaders, experts, and government representatives with the aim of advancing a more inclusive and sustainable rubber sector. In May of 2022, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) joined forces with summit organizer the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) to significantly contribute to that goal by expanding the tools and support available to rubber smallholders & corporations around the world. 

PEFC’s delegation to the World Rubber Summit included national representatives from Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, under UNRedd & Norad Lower Mekong Trade Initiatives. Together, these experts were charged with helping participants understand the PEFC framework and explaining PEFC’s activities to support and empower rubber smallholders under the UNREDD project, and how that work further encourages international buyers to do the same. The World Rubber Summit also provided an opportunity for PEFC to discuss sustainable supply chain issues with important stakeholders such as Michelin, CIRAD, Michelin, Bridgestone, and Tyre Stewardship Australia. As an organization, PEFC is prepared to facilitate stakeholders like them to improve their environmental, social and corporate Governance (ESG) and risk management.

 PEFC’s collaboration with IRSG was key to this successful event, as no organization in the world represents more expertise in the complex rubber supply chain and market. Established in 1944, the IRSG consists of global member countries who share a mission of improving both transparency and collaboration in the global rubber sector. Operating independently of the private sector, the IRSG publishes statistics on production, consumption, and trading of both natural and synthetic rubber. It is the IRSG’s decades of expertise in the rubber sector, and their commitment to transparency and collaboration, that make them an ideal partner for PEFC, the largest forest certification system in the world.

 The cooperation between PEFC and the IRSG takes the form of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), which was announced at the summit. This agreement will see these two organizations work together to promote new and more accessible sustainability tools for rubber smallholders and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the natural rubber sector — tools that will become increasingly important as actors across the supply chain seek to adapt to and mitigate the increasing risks associated with climate change. 

These tools are meant promote a practical, step by step approach for smallholders and SMEs seeking to demonstrate their sustainability commitments to the market. As PEFC’s collaboration with the IRSG continues, it will introduce and potentially integrate more tools/solutions that support smallholders and companies to access sustainability certification. Additionally, both organizations aim to align IRSG and PEFC members to create and promote market linkages between members so they can exchange knowledge, technical support and generate trade links for sustainable rubber. Combined, both organizations will work together to raise awareness about sustainability in the natural rubber industry to combat climate change.

While PEFC and the IRSG have complementary expertise, this MOU would not have been possible if they didn’t also share common objectives and values. The most important of these is a commitment to advancing smallholder communities in the global natural rubber sector. The IRSG also has a bottom-up approach that is inclusive of rubber smallholders, as well as SMEs in the global supply chain. PEFC was also nominated 3 youths, each serving as country representatives working on UNREDD/Norad Project, join the NextGeneration Rubber Leaders Program initiated by the IRSG. As an organization that was founded by independent foresters, IRSG’s commitment to smallholders and youth leaders resonates deeply with PEFC.

For more information about our partnership, and to learn what you can do to meaningful advance the cause of sustainable natural rubber and support smallholders, please visit our website.

About PEFC: The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is the largest forest certification system in the world, and the certification system of choice for small forest owners, with more than 330 million hectares represented across its 55 national members. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, PEFC is recognized for the role it plays in providing independent assessment, endorsement, and recognition of national forest systems. PEFC has extensive stakeholder relationships throughout Southeast Asia, which is where most the world’s natural rubber is produced.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Richard Laity, PEFC Southeast Asia Manager, Richard.Laity@pefc.org