Early Adopters Prove that Sustainable Rubber Certification is Achievable, and Essential

30 August 2021 Driving innovation

Successful pilot projects to certify rubber producers large and small, and the supply chain companies that process rubber, set a new standard for environmental sustainability in the rubber industry. On 22 September, PEFC will hold a webinar to help other rubber producers follow their lead.

Natural rubber represents a USD 300 billion supply chain. Most of this rubber is produced by independent smallholders in Southeast Asia, on the borders of some of the world’s most ecologically important forest areas. 

Sourcing this rubber sustainably helps protect these forests and is a necessary step towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals before 2030.

Sustainable forest management and chain of custody certification are relatively new for the rubber industry. But early adopters are already on the move.

We have piloted certification for both natural rubber and rubberwood across Southeast Asia. Working with growers of all sizes, we have developed group certification solutions that allow smallholders to band together and prove their sustainable practices.

These early adopters demonstrate that certification is entirely achievable. By getting certified, they both open up market access for their rubber, protect adjacent forests and improve their own livelihood.

Lessons learned from these early adopters have value for the entire rubber sector. That is why, on 22 September, we will organize a webinar to share their stories. 

Anyone who grows, processes, manufactures, or sells rubber products will get an insider’s view on how they, too, can achieve certification.

Interested participants can register for free at: treee.es/firstmovers-web.

The online event, titled: "Get PEFC Certified - Learn from First Movers in the Rubber Sector" will address common technical questions that come up during the certification process. Participants will learn from those who have come before and discover valuable collaboration opportunities.

We will lead a discussion on all types of certifications, including sustainable forest management certification for smallholders and other types of plantation owners, and chain of custody certification for companies in the rubber value chain. Participants will learn how to achieve these certifications, and how to build the B2B linkages that will make them successful. 

Event speakers will also discuss the benefits of certification, including improved management systems, proven risk mitigation, improved smallholder livelihoods and productivity, and expanded market access.

This webinar is part of the PEFC Supporting Sustainable Rubber Campaign, telling the story of natural rubber and the people that produce it, and making the connection between sustainable natural rubber production, forest health and smallholder livelihoods.

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 (ITC), 22 September 2021

Register: treee.es/firstmovers-web

The speakers

• Richard Laity, PEFC Southeast Asia Manager
• Rungnapa Wattanavichian, Project manager, Thailand Forest Certification Council (TFCC) 
• Diep Xuan Truong, Steering Member of the Sustainable Development Committee, Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG)
  
  

Photo by Tran Lam Dong