By Dr Sunil E Fernando

The natural rubber tree converts a greenhouse gas to a hydrocarbon. It is also capable of delivering it in commercially viable quantities almost on a daily basis, unlike any other. In addition, it retains some carbohydrates produced over a 30-year period, as medium density hardwood. This natural process of the biosynthesis of two products not only sustains the farmer, but also reduces the impact on global warming to some extent due to carbon dioxide extraction. Thus, preserving existing rubber plantations and cultivating more, especially in marginal lands, will help to mitigate an imbalance created due to the production of excessive quantities of a greenhouse gas

Benefits of Growing Rubber: Hevea brasiliensis or the rubber tree began its epic journey in 1875, when Sir Henry Wickham brought 70,000 seeds from Rio Tapajos in the upper Amazon to Kew gardens in London. Of these, 1911 seedlings were planted in Gampaha botanical gardens, Sri Lanka, initiating an agricultural revolution in South East Asia and an industrial revolution globally. Apart from giving 14 million tons of Natural Rubber (NR) consumed annually worldwide, the tree has other attributes listed below.

 Extracting 24.9 kilograms of Carbon dioxide (CO2) Greenhouse gas (GHG) to produce one Kilogram of latex

 Yielding 2.1 cubic meters/tree of wood from GHG as biomass, every 30-year cycle

 Produce easily biodegradable litter, compared to monocultures like Teak

 Require less chemical fertilisers, water and pesticides

 Retains biodiversity as a tropical plant and co-exists with other species allowing for intercropping

The uniqueness of the rubber tree is its ability to fix CO2 almost instantaneously into a hydrocarbon on a daily basis, with water and energy from sunlight while nature took millions of years converting biomass to a hydrocarbon, Petroleum. The tree is a natural solar panel trapping energy from the Sun, propagating a chemical reaction giving a hydrocarbon, while releasing Oxygen to the atmosphere and accumulating a timber resource. Tapped from year 5, the tree removes a GHG every other day, unlike any other plant species, for 11 months of the year for 25 years.

Why Excess CO2 is bad

CO2 present in the atmosphere is a double-edged sword. "CO2-Earth" reports, its concentration increased from 330 ppm in 1975 to 408.55 in September 2019, and further to 410.27 in November 2019. CO2 absorbs Infrared radiation (heat radiation) from the Sun through molecular vibrations, and emit this energy unlike gases like Nitrogen and Oxygen. Ozone, Methane and Nitrous Oxide are other GHG's, which absorb energy from the sun and similarly emit heat, warming the atmosphere.

However, GHG's maintains atmospheric temperatures without converting Earth into an ice ball. Nevertheless, high concentration of GHG in atmosphere, emit more heat to sustain global warming due to an imbalance created by excessive human activity like burning fuel, rearing of cattle/sheep, giving-off excessive CO2 and Methane, respectively. Two confirmed methods to lower ill effects of GHG are, produce less and increase plant cover.

CO2 is the raw materials for all forms of Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats produced by plants providing for growth and energy in life forms. What is alarming is the excess CO2 produced, accumulating in the atmosphere, and in Oceans. Dissolved CO2 in seawater, raises temperature and forms Carbonic acid, increasing Ocean acidification. Ocean acidification reduces the ability of sea creatures to fix Calcium as Calcium Carbonate, another form of Carbon sink.

Carbon Dioxide Accumulation Antoine Lavoisier said, in a chemical reaction matter is neither created nor destroyed. Producing GHG through human intervention, new matter is not created but it leads to an unsustainable imbalance of matter in the environment. This is what causes the problem.

Figure 1. Figure 1. Representation of the CO2 Cycle (https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/carbon/2a.html)

CO2 is a GHG not only produced by burning fuels and biomass. Humans exhale One Kilogram of it daily. Increase in population does not increase CO2, as exhaled balances out by inhaling. But when human population went up from 1 billion 200 years ago to 7 billion now, increase in human activity led to an imbalance in the atmosphere and the Oceans due to release of CO2 and Methane. Biomass generation too is dwindling due to the population pressure. Thus, this imbalance of accumulating matter capable of absorbing heat is the main reason for global warming.

Biosynthesis of Natural Rubber About 2000 plant species produce NR, but Hevea brasiliensis produce commercially exploitable dispersion in water as latex. The biological reason for NR production is not clear, but it may prevent pathogenic microorganisms entering the tree. Latex is found in horizontally arranged interconnected cells called laticifer, in the bark of the tree, High yielding plantations with about 400 trees per hectare have reported a production of 2500 Kg/NR /Year. The theoretical yield potential is estimated at, 7,000 to 10,000 kg/Ha/Year. A tree giving 15 to 30g of rubber per day, tapping on alternative days yields 2.2-4.5 Kg of NR per year. According to Apollo Vredestein R and D, on average 1.9 Kg of NR goes into a tire and a tree produces enough rubber to make 2 tires per year or 50 in lifetime.

Plants take in CO2 for survival. Some converts part into an edible form, as carbohydrate and fats while the rest is converted to forms like cellulose. These may end up as wood, becoming a Carbon sink for a length of time. In rubber trees, the process extends converting part of CO2 to a rubber hydrocarbon containing Carbon and Hydrogen, more akin to Petroleum. This wonder tree makes a hydrocarbon in few minutes, while nature took millions of years to convert biomass derived from CO2 to Petroleum.

The biosynthetic pathway for NR in Hevea begins with the monomer precursor, Isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP). IPP is an adduct of Pyrophosphoric acid and Isoprene monomer. However, IPP is not an uncommon material, limited to Hevea, but is formed from carbohydrates, in other plants, algae, bacteria, in mammals and humans. The formation of IPP is said to occur by following two pathways; Mevalonate (MVA) or non-mevalonate (non-MVA), deoxy-xylulose pathway. In rubber trees, breakdown products from carbohydrates like Pyruvates and Glyceraldehydes are transformed into IPP, in Cytosol in Cytoplasm/Plastids in plant cells, in several stages in the presence of many enzymes like mevalonate kinase (MVK) and mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MVD). Figure 2.

Figure 2 Representation of the Formation of IPP through MVA and Non-MVA Pathways (Chiang. C. C. K, 2013, PhD Thesis, the Graduate Faculty of the University of Akron).

On isomerisation with enzyme, Isomerase IPP is converted to Dimethyl allyl pyrophosphate (DMPP). IPP and DMPP are building blocks for diverse groups of bio-molecules like Cholesterol, Vitamin K, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Cis-polyisoprene (NR). Figure 3

Figure 3 Pathway to NR Biosynthesis

In rubber producing Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz Rodin), enzyme transformation of sugars enrich NR formation. In the summer months, dandelions produce excess sugars and store it as Inulin. The possibility of metabolic engineering assisted enzyme degradation of Inulin to enhance production of IPP and then to NR has been explored for dandelion. Meanwhile Researchers have succeeded in decoding the Genome sequence in Hevea. This can lead to high yielding rubber clones, by locating genes responsible for biosynthesis of rubber.

Latex with 30% NR and 5% non-rubbers is produced in special cells called laticifers located horizontally and a lateral cut of the bark exposes most number, giving latex. Since the laticifer density is genotype dependant determining latex yield, it can give the direction for biologists as a selection marker for high yielding clones. In older rubber trees chemicals inducing Ethylene formation in the bark-tissue or generated it in situ like 2-Chloroethylphosphonic acid, are used as yield stimulants. Such developments, together with appropriate nutrition infusion, can increase NR yields, making rubber cultivation attractive to farmers.

Chloroethylphosphonic acid

Hevea brasiliensis is a dual-purpose tree, making Carbon sinks from CO2 in two ways, as a hydrocarbon and as wood, extracted in a 30-year cycle. Plants like wheat and rice also fix CO2 to give edible Carbohydrates, often twice a year. Nevertheless, human/animal consumption of edible carbohydrates quickly gives CO2 back to the environment. Thus with respect to environmental benefits, producing NR by growing rubber trees is a more favourable option. Fortunately, rubber cultivation has increased from 9.9 in 1975 to 14.0 million hectares in 2018 giving these benefits worldwide.

Preserving and enhancing rubber cultivation

The rubber farmer does a silent service by extracting latex and thus removing substantial quantity of GHG on a daily basis. As NR based products stay longer in service, Carbon in it remains intact for a longer period without burdening the environment. Each tree has the uncanny ability to function as a tap, working 150 days a year to clean up the environment unlike other plant-based options. It leaves a raw material as timber derived from GHG, extracted in every 30-year cycle giving 50 Kg of wood/tree. The global potential for wood at a replanting rate of 3% of acreage annually is, approx 7.30 Mn Tons/ year.

The environmental benefits can be maximised if the farmer taps the tree every other day for 11 months of the year if their livelihood is secularly safeguarded. Going into alternatives for from existing land is counterproductive to the environment. The negative process will occur only if the farmer finds the daily sustenance by growing rubber becomes a hard task. To encourage the farmer, requires a collective and a concerted effort from:

 Buyers giving stable/reasonable price

 Biologists developing fast growing, high yielding, drought and disease resistant trees

 Cultivation experts developing new and less-laborious extraction techniques and attractive intercropping practices

 Technologists adding value to existing NR products and developing new products

• Chemists by modification to give new elastomeric materials from NR as raw materials for other processes

• Environmentalists by increasing international awareness of the benefits of growing rubber

With respect to increased appreciation of the capability of modified NR forms, an enterprising tire manufacturer uses Epoxidised NR/Silica combination in automobile tire treads, to give higher wet grip and low rolling resistance tires. Such greener tires used in hybrid and electric cars, made these vehicles more environmental friendly. Olefinic elastomers like NR, contains reactive double bonds with potential to be modified as raw materials in many applications. Table 1, Figures 4 and 5. Such developments will give impetus to the sustainability and growth of an industry, benefitting the rubber farmer while fixing more GHG as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENDS

References:

1. Bhowmik. I (2006), Tripura Rubber Mission Technical Bulletin 2. https://www.co2.earth/

3. Rao. P. S, et.al (1998), Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 3, 90

4. Chiang. C. C. K (2013), Natural rubber biosynthesis, PhD Thesis, The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron, USA 5. Decoding the rubber tree genome, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160624100225.htm

 

 

Dr Sunil E Fernando is Former Executive Director, DPL Group, Sri Lanka, Managing Director Dipped Products (Thailand) Limited, Former Director, DPL Plantations and Kelani Valley Plantations Limited, Sri Lanka, and a Consultant - Latex Products

Zeon Corporation broke ground on a multi-product research and prototyping complex at the Kawasaki Innovation Frontier Port in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, on 16 October with a ceremony held beforehand to seek safety during construction. The company expects the complex to shorten the path from laboratory work to mass production for established and emerging businesses alike, making it central to its long-term growth strategy.

Set inside an existing building within the port's Research & Development Center area, the complex is slated to begin operating in January 2028. Its design aims to move products past the laboratory stage and into medium-scale sample output more quickly, clearing a bottleneck on the route to full-scale manufacturing.

Zeon's core production methods – polymerisation, hydrogenation, coagulation and drying – will be built into the complex, which is engineered to handle diverse manufacturing conditions and operating approaches. Beyond serving established and new businesses, the polymer design company envisions the site as a centre for technology development and a platform for rolling out new processes and operational, analytical, and measurement technologies within and beyond the company. It will eventually host development and prototyping work across a wide range of technologies, including contract prototypes commissioned by outside parties.

The Kawasaki Innovation Frontier Port is the umbrella name for the site combining the neighbouring Kawasaki Plant and Research & Development Center. The label underscores the location's role in breaking new ground by merging innovation, research and development and production and casts the Kawasaki waterfront as a port that propels innovation. Once a co-creative innovation facility begins operating in December 2026, the two sites will function as one continuous operation, turning out ever more sophisticated products and production methods and reinforcing their standing as a launchpad for technology.

Vipal Rubber has launched the VT290, a tread designed for truck drive axles used on motorways and paved roads, targeting regional and long-distance transport operations in Europe.

The product is available in widths of 240mm, 250mm, 260mm, 270mm and 280mm. It is designed to provide traction and stability on dry and wet roads, as well as in demanding conditions involving snow.

Frederico Schmidt, General Manager of Vipal EMEA, said, “The launch of the VT290 reinforces Vipal’s ongoing commitment to offering technologically advanced solutions suited to the specific characteristics of European roads and climate.” “We want to further consolidate our presence in the region, delivering a high value-added product that combines innovation, operational efficiency and safety,” he added.

The VT290 carries the M+S marking and 3PMSF certification. Its design includes side sipes and grooves intended to help remove snow and mud from the tread, improving grip on slippery surfaces.

The tread pattern is also designed to distribute engine torque more evenly, helping to reduce uneven wear. Tie bars between the tread blocks add structural stability, supporting vehicle control during driving.

Fabrício Nedeff, Commercial Manager of Vipal EMEA, said, “With the VT290, weare responding directly to the real needs of fleet operators and truck drivers, combining performance, adherence and efficiency in different driving conditions. [RS2.1]In addition to expanding options for our customers, the product strengthens business opportunities for our partners in the region,”

Vipal said the launch would expand its offering for retreaders, distributors and fleet operators in the European market.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) published its Monthly Natural Rubber Statistical Report for August 2026, noting firmer prices in several markets. Supply constraints, stable downstream demand and persistent geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty shaped the month. Renewed conflict and disruptions to major shipping routes added further pressure.

Physical prices for major grades moved in different directions. SMR-20 in Kuala Lumpur averaged USD 2.31 per kg, up 4.25 percent from July, while STR-20 in Bangkok rose 1.40 percent to USD 2.39 per kg. RSS-3 dropped 4.18 percent to USD 2.80 per kg, but RSS-4 in Kottayam gained 0.57 percent to USD 2.92 per kg. Latex-in-bulk fell 4.73 percent to USD 1.73 per kg. Brent crude averaged USD 91.08 per barrel, driven by concerns over possible restrictions on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and wider Middle East instability, which raised energy supply risks and strengthened the oil market risk premium.

On trade, China's imports climbed 3.39 percent month-on-month, while India fell 10.18 percent and Malaysia dropped 8.24 percent; Viet Nam rose 5.08 percent. Exports advanced 5.63 percent in Viet Nam but declined in Thailand (-5.24 percent), Indonesia (-5.36 percent), Malaysia (-1.48 percent) and Cambodia (-1.88 percent).

Global production is projected to rise 0.6 percent to 15.039 million tons in 2026 from 14.952 million tonnes in 2025, after revisions to Thailand's 2025 output and updated 2026 estimates for Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Weather, including erratic rainfall and drier Southeast Asian conditions, affected output. August 2026 production was estimated at 1.396 million tonnes, down 4.51 percent from 1.462 million tonnes a year earlier. Demand is forecast to grow 0.4 percent to 15.356 million tonnes in 2026 from 15.301 million tonnes, with the largest consumption gains expected in China, Malaysia and Cambodia. Prospects depend on vehicle sales, tyre production, shipping conditions and weather-related supply disruptions, while steady EV-linked demand supported modest growth led by China and India. The ringgit traded between RM4.02 per USD and RM4.09 per USD, and the baht between 32.68 and 33.34. The SHFE January 2027 contract averaged 18,109 CNY per tonne, up 7.78 percent month-on-month, while the SGX November 2026 contract averaged USD 2.24 per kg, up 4.32 percent.

Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd., a global speciality carbon and carbon black manufacturer, has broadened its emissions accounting to include value chain impacts beyond its direct operations. The move advances measurement and management of Scope 3 emissions across its supply and distribution network, according to the company.

The initiative spans Epsilon Carbon’s integrated carbon complex in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. That site has a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of speciality carbon and 215,000 TPA of carbon black. It combines carbon manufacturing with energy circularity efforts in one integrated ecosystem. The company assessed material Scope 3 categories under GHG Protocol guidelines.

Scope 3 emissions are indirect and arise from purchased goods and services, transportation, business activities and downstream product use where relevant. The assessment gives Epsilon Carbon clearer visibility into emissions outside its direct control and a foundation for spotting reduction opportunities. It builds on existing operational emissions and energy efficiency work.

The company previously reported a 98 percent Scope 2 reduction against its baseline year. A 17 MW captive power plant uses waste heat from carbon black operations, energy consumption intensity fell 6 percent from baseline, and 77 percent of energy needs came from waste heat recovery, avoiding over 89,000 tonnes of CO₂. Epsilon Carbon now emphasises supplier engagement, data transparency and circularity, aligning disclosures with global sustainability frameworks to track value chain emissions consistently and develop measurable reduction initiatives.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon, said, “Meaningful climate action requires us to look beyond the boundaries of our operations and understand the impact of the entire value chain. Scope 3 measurement gives us greater visibility into the emissions and enables deeper engagement with our partners and suppliers. Building this visibility will help us make more informed decisions as we scale our operations and advance our decarbonization plans.”