Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber’s new policy framework, which was approved in the recently general assembly, will provide a clear framework for GPSNR company members to establish/ update supply chain commitments through their natural rubber purchasing policies.

It covers specifies key commitment details to no deforestation/conversion/degradation, upholding human rights, supply chain transparency and monitoring and reporting.

Members who joined GPSNR before the GPSNR General Assembly 2020 will be expected to have policies or other documents aligned with these requirements within 6 months after adoption by the General Assembly. Members who join after the GPSNR General Assembly 2020 will be expected to align with these policies within 6 months of joining GPSNR.

aModeled around the Platform’s 12 Principles of Sustainable Natural Rubber, the new policy framework sets out eight overarching themes that include commitments to legal compliance, community livelihoods, healthy, functioning ecosystems (including no deforestation), and respecting all human rights.

“This is a tremendous milestone for the Platform and for the natural rubber industry. In just under two years, GPSNR members developed and approved concrete policy commitments for companies to integrate into their sustainable natural rubber policies. Today, and despite the challenges we all faced during this global pandemic, GPSNR members send a signal to the world about their commitment to achieving a fair, equitable and environmentally sound future” said GPSNR Director Stefano Savi.

Around 85% of the world’s natural rubber is produced by smallholders. In order to transform a sector that is primarily reliant on smallholder producers, GPSNR is embracing smallholder inclusivity and a concept of shared responsibility through the establishment of a Shared Responsibility Working Group, which will identify how the responsibilities and costs of implementation can be equitably distributed across all stakeholder categories, with the understanding that smallholders should not carry the burden of a higher cost to implement sustainability activities in complying with the policy or implementation guidance to be developed.

“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” remarked Director Savi.

This year, GPSNR welcomed 28 smallholder members from seven rubber-producing countries. These smallholders now constitute a newly approved standalone category and play an equal role in decision-making within GPSNR alongside the other four categories: producers, processors, and traders; tire manufacturers and other natural rubber makers/buyers; car manufacturers, other downstream users and financial institutions; and civil society.

GPSNR’s virtual General Assembly drew more than 120 attendees, including members of the Platform, partners and invited guests. In addition to voting on resolutions, GPSNR members also elected representatives to the 2020-2021 Executive Committee, which comprises representatives from each of the membership categories. And for the first time, three newly elected smallholder producers with diverse geographical backgrounds will participate in Executive Committee discussions and decision-making.

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Pirelli, Pyrum, Synthos and BASF have launched a European tyre-to-tyre recycling initiative aimed at increasing the use of recycled materials from end-of-life and scrap tyres in the manufacture of new tyres. The project, coordinated by Pirelli, is designed to establish an industrial ecosystem that supports a circular economy while reducing reliance on virgin raw materials.

The initiative uses end-of-life tyres collected across Germany from selected Driver retail outlets and motorsport activities, together with scrap tyres from Pirelli's Breuberg manufacturing plant. These materials are processed into secondary raw materials, including synthetic rubber, certified under the ISCC PLUS scheme to ensure traceability throughout the value chain before being reintroduced into the production of new Pirelli tyres.

Under the process, Pyrum converts end-of-life and scrap tyres through pyrolysis into recovered carbon black (rCB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO). The recovered carbon black is upgraded and used in Pirelli's European tyre production, replacing part of the virgin carbon black requirement.

The tyre pyrolysis oil is supplied to BASF, where it is co-fed with fossil-based feedstock in the production of chemicals including butadiene and styrene. Using a mass balance approach, the recycled content is allocated to ISCC PLUS-certified Ccycled® products. Synthos then uses these materials to manufacture ISCC PLUS-certified synthetic rubber for high-performance tyre applications, which is supplied back to Pirelli, completing the material loop.

The companies said the project demonstrates that large-scale product circularity requires collaboration across the value chain rather than action by a single company. The partnership combines material science, certified processes and industrial capabilities to recover, process and reuse materials within a structured system.

According to the companies, the project represents the most comprehensive application of a tyre-to-tyre circular model in Europe to date, showing how end-of-life tyres can be transformed into raw materials for new tyre production through a traceable industrial process.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) confirmed the participation of its Secretary-General, Dr Suttipong Angthong, in a high-level dialogue held on 9 July 2026. The engagement took place during the official visit of Thailand's Prime Minister, His Excellency Anutin Charnvirakul, to Malaysia. Dr Angthong joined a prominent assembly that included the Prime Minister, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and various cabinet delegates from both nations.

The meeting also brought together representatives from international intergovernmental bodies and leading corporate figures from Thai and Malaysian industries. Given that both Thailand and Malaysia are founding members of the ANRPC and serve as cornerstones of the global natural rubber market, the session was deemed a crucial venue for harmonising regional strategies. It offered the ANRPC a platform to elevate sector-specific priorities within top-tier governmental discussions.

Through the facilitation of productive exchanges between policymakers and private-sector leaders, the ANRPC continues to foster cross-border collaboration, reinforce the stability of supply chains and advance sustainable growth initiatives. The organisation has reiterated its steadfast dedication to supporting its member states with professionalism and collaborative effort, aiming to secure the long-term vitality and resilience of the natural rubber industry across the region.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) hosted a high-level delegation from PEFC International at its headquarters on 9 July 2026. The visiting team, led by Remco van Merm, engaged in strategic talks with ANRPC Secretary-General Dr Suttipong Angthong and his senior staff, marking a significant moment for inter-organisational collaboration.

The discussions provided a critical forum for exchanging perspectives on ongoing global initiatives and the shifting sustainability dynamics affecting the natural rubber sector. With mounting market pressures regarding environmental stewardship and social accountability, the conversation centred on harnessing joint efforts to fast-track the implementation of responsible practices throughout the entire production and distribution network.

Both organisations underscored the necessity of strengthened coordination among all industry participants to secure a robust and enduring future for natural rubber. The dialogue culminated in a shared pledge to deepen cooperation, with the goal of cultivating a more transparent and ecologically sound value chain. This mutual commitment is expected to deliver tangible benefits across the board, reinforcing the industry's capacity to meet emerging global standards.

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