
Natural rubber, primarily sourced from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), is an important raw material for the manufacturing of tires. Over 70% of natural rubber is used by the tire sector globally and 85% of the global natural rubber is produced by more than 6 million smallholders.
With increasing global demand for natural rubber, this is a commodity where without proper controls and standards, there can be negative impacts in the supply chain both socially and environmentally.
In 2018, TIP members initiated the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). GPSNR works to achieve its vision of a fair, equitable and environmentally sound natural-rubber value chain – including ensuring decent work and upholding human rights – and in doing so actively contributes to the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The first 18 months of GPSNR operations saw the platform welcome over 90 members, including natural rubber producers (including smallholders from Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), processors and traders, tire makers, other rubber makers and buyers, car makers, other downstream users, and financial institutions and civil society organizations.
In addition to supporting and leveraging GPSNR activities, the tire sector has an opportunity to further scale and accelerate efforts to tackle complex environmental and socioeconomic issues in the natural-rubber value chain, such as access to education and sustainable livelihoods for the millions of smallholder producers on which it depends
Learn more about tire industry commitments to sustainable natural rubber in the SDG Roadmap for the tire sector