Covid 19 has impacted the global rubber sector, both big and small stakeholders, hard. This year’s edition of the World Rubber Summit will focus on redefining value chains.

“The summit will have two days of high-level presentations and interactive discussions on identifying pathways to redesign more resilient and sustainable value chains, both at the regional and global levels. It will also focus on the critical role that innovation and new technologies could play in mitigating the social, environmental and economic risks to which the rubber sector, like many others, is currently exposed. Visibility, transparency and data-sharing are critical for the 21st century supply chain,” says Salvatore Pinizzotto, Secretary-General, The International Rubber Study Group.

What would be the key focus for this year’s edition of WRS?

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) will organise the World Rubber Summit (WRS) in Singapore. The annual event will provide a unique and exclusive opportunity for global leaders to meet, share best practices and lay the foundations for future collaborations. The theme of the World Rubber Summit 2022 (WRS 2022) is ‘A Resilient, Digitalised and Sustainable Rubber Economy: Redefining Value Chains’. 

To be held between 24 and 26 May in Singapore at the ParkRoyal on Beach Road, WRS 2022 will be a hybrid event like the previous editions.

The summit will have two days of high-level presentations and interactive discussions on identifying pathways to redesign more resilient and sustainable value chains, both at the regional and global levels. It will also focus on the critical role that innovation and new technologies could play in mitigating the social, environmental and economic risks to which the rubber sector, like many others, is currently exposed. Visibility, transparency and data-sharing are critical for the 21st century supply chain.

I believe this is the time when companies and organisations in the rubber sector should rethink their business model as conditions are changing and new opportunities arise. This is a nique opportunity for all stakeholders involved in the natural and synthetic rubber economy to be innovative to foster resilience, adaptability and long term sustainability.

Furthermore, in their journey towards a net-zero economy, businesses need to redefine, execute and evolve decarbonisation and offsetting plans for scope 1 and 2 emissions and potentially expand those plans to include scope 3 emissions. Integrate climate-related factors into decision-making processes for strategy, finance and capital spending and consider leading actions with others in the rubber industry and/or in their ecosystem of investors, supply chains, customers and regulators. In particular, financial institutions will have an important role to play in supporting large-scale capital reallocation. On the other hand, governments and multilateral institutions could use existing and new policy, regulatory and fiscal tools to establish incentives, support vulnerable stakeholders and foster collective actions.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Enterprise Singapore, our strategic partner, for being this year, too, as every year when the event is organised in Singapore.Their inputs and contribution are very valuable and essential for IRSG. 

Also, this year I am pleased to announce that the Nanyang Technology University (NTU) Singapore’s Agri-Food Innovation Lab (SAIL) will join the World Rubber Summit 2022 as Knowledge Partner. This is the first time for IRSG to have such a significant collaboration. It follows the decision taken by IRSG to participate and contribute to SAIL’s activities as a partner.

Last year, the African region was the focus, and this year it is Latin America. Could you share some information on the Latin American rubber industry and its contribution to the global rubber industry?

The 26th of May, the third day of the WRS 2022, will be dedicated to an entirely virtual side event on the rubber sector in Latin America organised by IRSG together with APABOR and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Tecnologia del Caucho (SLTC). Latin America is an area of growing importance for the world rubber economy, and it could play a relevant strategic role in shortening supply chains and making them more reliable. There are two trends that, in my view, need to be fully considered when we speak about rubber in Latin America. Firstly, the rubber sector is rapidly expanding in Brazil and other countries in that region, such as Guatemala and Colombia. There is an essential trend towards greater integration of the Latin American natural rubber market. Secondly, this is a region where the push towards product innovation and value-added could create a diversified market by exploiting various niche markets in the manufacturing sector such as auto parts, medical industry and even environmental services. In IRSG, we think it is really important to bring to the attention of the general public new developments that are occurring in the rubber economy because it helps to support this process towards innovation and highlight the strategic role that rubber has in the world economy and for our day-by-day life. 

What are the main barriers to sustainable and inclusive growth in the rubber industry?

In the rubber economy, as in other sectors, we need to figure out effective forms of collaboration among stakeholders at local, national, regional and global levels to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. Such partnerships will be able to identify and prioritise actions on the ground without forgetting a certain degree of coherence among the various interventions planned. Of course, this is not easy, because we have several numbers of producing countries; most of the production of natural rubber comes from smallholders, and there are long and complex supply chains. On top of this, new challenges need to be addressed, such as the impact of climate changes on natural rubber systems, a topic that IRSG, together with other leading organisations in the rubber sector (IRRDB, CIFOR/FTA and CIRAD), has decided to investigate since June 2020 and that has produced as an outcome the publication of a policy paper in December 2021. In addressing these issues, we need to have a holistic sectorial approach, with each stakeholder really providing its own skills and support, listening to each other and finding common solutions. The goal is not to leave anyone behind, so we need to pay special attention to smallholders and SMEs that might find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to put in place any sustainable practice and/or initiative. Although some improvements over the years have been achieved, working in this direction has not been an easy process. The pace and scale of this transition mean that today’s organisations and institutions need to be revamped, and maybe new ones created to disseminate best practices, establish standards and tracking mechanisms, drive capital deployment at scale, manage uneven impacts and support further coordination efforts. IRSG will continue to collaborate with other organisations to genuinely ensure that rubber could become an inclusive and sustainable economy.

All major rubber consumers, especially tyre companies, are talking about traceability, transparency and data sharing. Is it really happening in the rubber industry when small stakeholders dominate the more significant portion of the industry?

This process will require coordination, a vast amount of capital and large scale actions on the ground. The stakeholders in the rubber economy have the responsibility to ensure that these three factors will play a synergic role in increasing transparency and dramatically improving traceability. Innovative tools are already available, and more will come in the future, but we need to guarantee the long term wellbeing of smallholders. They need cost-effective support to apply consistently sustainable agriculture practices, have easier access to the market, IT infrastructures and adequate/updated education.

In this World Rubber Summit, IRSG is collaborating with the NextGen Leaders Programme 2021. Could you outline the goal and mission of this initiative?

The NextGen Leaders Programme 2021 has been launched by the IRSG secretariat to create a platform for engaging several ambitious young professionals in the rubber sector in national, regional and international activities and events. The programme participants are invited to collaborate with IRSG’s global rubber dialogue, support the development of balanced policy frameworks and help shape solutions for tomorrow’s rubber economy. The NextGen Rubber Leaders community builds on creative ideas and innovative potential for the next generation to challenge conventional thinking and explore new strategies for the future of the whole rubber economy. It offers young professionals a unique opportunity for learning and development with exposure to critical issues in the rubber debate. Currently, there are 10 participants in the programme covering the whole rubber value chain and from various countries (Singapore, Thailand, Germany, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and Brazil). The World Rubber Summit 2022 will be the first opportunity for them to go public. They will provide their effective contribution to the dialogue on the future of the rubber sector. 

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy, both affiliated with Tegeta Holding, have launched a joint educational initiative to raise environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people. The project addresses modern challenges such as environmental protection and sustainable development.

Company representatives are visiting schools across Tbilisi to hold informational meetings, presentations and workshops. The programme begins with presentations, followed by interactive games and activities designed to help students retain the information. At the end of each session, participants receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation.

Tegeta Green Planet focuses on teaching students the principles of specific waste management, including how to properly handle used tyres, batteries and oils. The sessions explain why proper waste management is essential for environmental protection and how it connects to the circular economy. Meanwhile, Shine Energy educates young people on the importance of energy, its everyday use and why developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is crucial.

The initiative is not limited to schools. In the near future, both organisations will expand their efforts to universities, aiming to broaden awareness about environmental protection, waste management and energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to foster environmentally responsible attitudes among the younger generation, helping build a more sustainable and conscious society.

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Zeon has been recognised as a Supplier Engagement Leader in the 2025 Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) conducted by CDP, a United Kingdom-based international environmental nonprofit organisation. This achievement represents the first time the company has received the highest possible rating in this assessment.

The evaluation measures how corporations address climate change within their supply chains, focusing on responses to the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire across five critical areas. These include governance, emissions targets, Scope 3 emissions management, risk management and overall supplier engagement strategies.

Zeon earned the top rating for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through supplier collaboration, a group-wide initiative, alongside continuous dialogue maintained via procurement activities. Guided by its philosophy of contributing to planetary preservation and human prosperity, Zeon remains committed to sustainable management. The company reaffirmed that it will continue working with suppliers and other stakeholders to tackle climate change and meet societal expectations.

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German chemical group WACKER has announced a price increase of up to 15 percent for its resins, dispersions and dispersible polymer powders produced at its European and US facilities. The adjustment takes effect on 1 June 2026, or as existing customer contracts permit. The move is designed to allow the company’s Polymers division to maintain high product quality, deliver technological innovations and provide superior customer service and technical support. It will also support investments aimed at securing future growth in key markets.

Rising costs for raw materials and logistics have forced the pricing measure, with the Polymers division being particularly affected. The recent conflict in the Middle East has caused significant disruptions across global commodity markets. As a direct result, prices for energy, raw materials and transportation have climbed sharply.

Despite the increase, WACKER remains focused on sustaining its commitment to customer support and long-term capability. The company underscored that the adjustment is necessary to continue meeting market demands while ensuring operational stability and future-oriented development across its focus markets.

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Pirelli North America has launched its first closed-loop circular recycling initiative, marking a significant step in the company’s broader strategy to increase recycled and bio‑based content in its tyre production. The project has received the Tire Recycling Foundation’s Value Chain Collaboration Award.

The programme recovers scrap tyres generated during Pirelli’s own North American manufacturing process. These materials are sent to Bolder Industries, which applies ISCC PLUS‑certified pyrolysis technology to produce BolderBlack recovered carbon black. Pirelli then reintroduces this material into new tyre production at its North American facilities, partially replacing virgin carbon black. The effort is part of a wider Pirelli plan to expand such industrial ecosystems across the group’s production network, aiming to valorise waste by reintegrating recovered materials into tyre manufacturing.

Beyond the award, the initiative reflects Pirelli’s broader circularity approach, which includes ongoing work to boost recycled and bio‑based material usage. The company targets over 80 percent bio‑based and recycled content in its best‑performing products and forty percent in total production by 2030.

Claudio Zanardo, CEO, Pirelli North America, said, "The Rome plant is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in Pirelli. This initiative reflects an approach focused on increasing the use of recovered materials within existing production processes. It is part of a broader effort to gradually integrate raw materials derived from recycled resources into our products while maintaining consistency in performance and quality."

Tony Wibbeler, CEO, Bolder Industries, said, "Our collaboration demonstrates that a traceable, mass-balance approach to tyre-to-tyre circularity is not only achievable, but it's ready to scale inside a premium manufacturing environment, meeting real performance and certification requirements at every step. This is the kind of progress the industry has been working toward for many years."

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