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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Ecolomondo Corporation, a leading Canadian innovator in sustainable scrap tyre recycling technology, has engaged August Brown, LLC as an independent risk advisor. This appointment supports the planning stages for a new facility in Shamrock, Texas. The firm will conduct a validation of the project's business plan and risk management approach, a step taken in preparation for marketing the green bond that will finance the development.

The proposed Texas site will feature a six-reactor plant, replicating the company’s proprietary, modular Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP) technology currently operating at its Hawkesbury, Ontario, facility but with triple capacity. This expansion follows the successful commercialisation of Ecolomondo’s proprietary TDP technology. Local support has been secured through the Shamrock Economic Development Corporation, along with a 136-acre industrial site and long-term feedstock agreements intended to supply ongoing operations.

August Brown's role will begin with a comprehensive feasibility study examining business, market and financial risks. A subsequent phase will focus on engineering, technology validation and project execution risks. This independent review process aims to improve transparency and strengthen confidence among potential bondholders and project partners. The project represents the next phase in the company's growth strategy, replicating its proven modular technology on a larger scale.

Eliot Sorella, Executive Chairman, Ecolomondo, said, “Independent validation of our technology, projected operations and financial model for our planned Shamrock Facility is an essential step that resonates strongly with investors, lenders and potential joint-venture partners.”

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The Wacker Group is showcasing two new silicone-based impact modifiers, GENIOPERL W37 and GENIOPERL W38, at the JEC World composites exhibition. These additives are engineered to enhance the mechanical properties of thermosetting resins such as epoxies and vinyl esters. Their specialised molecular structure, built on functional silicone, facilitates a distinct phase separation within the resin matrix. This process creates tiny elastomeric domains that increase toughness and help prevent composite materials from fracturing under stress. Sustainability was a key consideration in their design, leading to a notably reduced cyclics content. Both modifiers disperse readily with simple mixing equipment, maintain their effectiveness even at low concentrations and do not compromise the material’s inherent strength, viscosity or thermal resistance. The company is located at booth 5N142 at JEC World, taking place in Paris from 10 to 12 March 2026.

GENIOPERL W37 is specifically formulated to boost impact resistance in low-temperature environments. It is recommended for use at concentrations between two and eight percent by weight, a level at which it has minimal impact on the resin’s viscosity or the cured product’s glass transition temperature. Achieving optimal dispersion requires processing temperatures of at least 50 degrees Celsius. Similarly, GENIOPERL W38 also improves impact strength at very low temperatures when used within the same dosage range. It offers the added benefit of containing anti-foaming agents, making it particularly suitable for casting processes conducted under reduced pressure.

A third major highlight at the Wacker booth will be POWERSIL Resin 710, a silicone compound developed for components that must endure extreme heat. This material can be processed using compression moulding, pressure gelation or injection moulding. Parts manufactured from it meet the criteria for thermal class R, signifying their ability to withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures reaching 220 degrees Celsius. As an alternative to high-performance polymers like PTFE and PEEK, POWERSIL Resin 710 provides excellent electrical insulation, mechanical strength and UV stability. It is solvent-free, has a low viscosity for easier processing and is available in both peroxide-curing and catalyst-curing versions.

Wacker’s exhibition will also feature a range of other specialised products for the composites industry. These include SILRES silicone resins for enhancing electrical insulation and flame retardancy, HDK pyrogenic silica for precise rheology control, VINNAPAS low-profile additives to reduce shrinkage and GENIOSIL organofunctional silanes for promoting adhesion and treating fillers and fibres.

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Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA) has formally committed to the Science Based Target Initiative for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Reduction towards Net Zero (Phase 3), organised by Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) in collaboration with the Center of Excellence in Eco-Energy, Faculty of Engineering, Thammasat University. This declaration positions the company among 16 leading Thai organisations committed to embedding scientifically validated climate targets throughout their operations and supply networks.

STA has established a target to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 23 percent by 2030, using 2024 as its reference point, with the ultimate ambition of reaching net zero by 2050. These goals directly support the international objective of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Beyond direct emissions, the company is enhancing its rubber and teak plantations to function as carbon sinks, generating certified credits while supplying raw materials. This strategy aligns with its net zero pathway and responds to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which promotes heightened corporate environmental accountability.

By embracing this initiative, STA underscores its vision of evolving into a low-carbon, fully integrated natural rubber enterprise. The company aims to reconcile commercial growth with ecological and social stewardship, thereby aiding Thailand’s wider shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon future.

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Solvay has entered into an official partnership with the Belgian Rugby Federation, marking the beginning of a collaboration founded on mutual principles and a unified goal: uniting communities and fostering human development. This alliance naturally extends from the company's enduring philosophy, established over 160 years ago by its founder Ernest Solvay. His humanistic ideals, emphasising education, inclusivity and communal strength as the foundations of progress, continue to drive the organisation's sustainability framework and its commitment to making a worldwide positive impact.

The sport of rugby embodies these same values through its inherent focus on trust, collective effort and perseverance. These attributes empower individuals while simultaneously forging a stronger, unified entity. Through this new role, Solvay will provide backing to the men's national teams, including the Rugby 7s side, the under-20 squads and the refereeing community. This support is designed to enhance accessibility and growth opportunities within the sport for young athletes and local clubs.

Beyond the field, this initiative will allow international Solvay teams to unite around key matches, reinforcing bonds with local stakeholders and cultivating a collective sense of mission. This partnership reinforces a conviction held since the company's inception: that human advancement is a shared endeavour, gaining true strength and momentum when people come together.

Philippe Kehren, CEO, Solvay, said, “Rugby expresses a belief that Solvay holds deeply: people go further when they move forward together, the only ‘en avant’ that is allowed. This partnership celebrates Solvay’s heritage while opening new possibilities for connection – bringing colleagues and communities together around the world, especially when the national team competes abroad.”

Michiel Leysen, President, Belgian Rugby Federation, said, “The Belgian Rugby Federation is honoured to welcome Solvay as its official partner. This partnership will help expand the reach of rugby and inspire new generations of players.”

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