Today, natural rubber stakeholders convened for the inaugural General Assembly of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) – an independent platform that will lead improvements in the socio-economic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. 

Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in November 2017. 

Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle makers and NGOs. Representatives from each of these stakeholder groups have contributed to the development of the Singapore-based platform and the wide-reaching set of priorities that will define GPSNR strategy and objectives.  

Following a ceremonial launch in October 2018 interest in the GPSNR has seen membership grow to 39 Founding Members including recruitment of the platform’s first civil society members. The GPSNR remains open to membership applications from all natural rubber stakeholders. 

The General Assembly saw the approval of organizational Statutes and Code of Conduct, and the formation of an Executive Committee that has the mandate of overseeing the strategic and operational activities of the GPSNR. As required by the Statutes, the Executive Committee comprises representatives from each of the four GPSNR membership categories – 1. Rubber producers, processors and traders; 2. Car makers, Other downstream users of natural rubber, and financial institutions; 3. Tire makers and other natural rubber makers/buyers; and, 4. Civil society organizations. 

Reacting to the formation of the Executive Committee, GPSNR Director Stefano Savi, said “The appointment of the Executive Committee is a critical piece to a landmark achievement. It has taken considerable effort from all stakeholders to bring us to this point. We know that the real hard work lies ahead, but today from Singapore we send a clear message – the GPSNR is open for business.” 

The platform is working to finalize its operational strategy, guided by the stakeholder-agreed GPSNR priorities of harmonizing standards to improve respect for human rights, preventing land-grabbing and deforestation, protecting biodiversity and water resources, improving yields, and increasing supply chain transparency and traceability. 

Following proceedings from Geneva, Peter Bakker, WBCSD’s President and CEO said “We are enormously proud to see the GPSNR take this important step. The commitment of TIP members to achieve sustainable natural rubber has been a crucial driving force in taking the GPSNR from concept to reality. Today, our members are joined by a growing and increasingly well-balanced GPSNR membership of rubber value chain and civil society members – the actors are in place, and the foundations for transformative action along the natural rubber value chain have been laid. Now the real work can begin.” 

ENDS 

For more information, please contact: 
Stefano Savi
stefano.savi@gpsnr.org
Mobile: +65 9297 0636 

Notes to Editors 

GPSNR Founding Members at the time of the platform’s inaugural General Assembly, March 2019, per GPSNR membership category, alphabetical order: 

Producers, processors and traders: 

1. Halcyon Agri Corporation 

2. ITOCHU Corporation 

3. Kirana Megatara 

4. MARDEC 

5. PRASIDHA 

6. SIPEF 

7. SIPH 

8. Socfin Group 

9. Southland Global 

10. Thai Eastern 

Car Makers, Other Downstream Users, and Financial Institutions: 

1. BMW Group 

2. Ford Motor Company 

3. General Motors 

Tire Makers and Other Natural Rubber Makers/Buyers: 

1. Bridgestone Corporation 

2. Continental AG 

3. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company 

4. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company 

5. Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. 

6. Kumho Tire Company Inc. 

7. Michelin 

8. Nokian Tyres 

9. Pirelli & C. S.p.A. 

10. Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. 

11. Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. 

12. The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. 

Civil Society organizations: 

1. BirdLife International 

2. Conservation International 

3. HCV Resource Network 

4. FSC 

5. Mighty Earth 

6. PEFC 

7. Rainforest Alliance 

8. RESOURCETRUST NETWORK 

9. SNV 

10. World Resources Institute 

11. WWF 

Affiliate Member Organizations: 

1. Tanintharyi Region Rubber Planters and Producers Association (TRRPPA) 

2. ProForest 

3. Control Union 

The GPSNR Executive Committee 

The Executive Committee of the GPSNR is comprised of the following members: 

Producers, processors and traders (Number of ExCo seats: 3): 

• SIPEF 

• Socfin Group 

• Southland Global 

Car Makers, Other Downstream Users, and Financial Institutions (Number of ExCo seats: 1): 

• BMW Group 

Tire Makers and Other Natural Rubber Makers/Buyers (Number of ExCo seats: 3): 

• Bridgestone Corporation 

• Michelin 

• The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 

Civil Society organizations (Number of ExCo seats: 3):  

• Μighty Earth 

• Rainforest Alliance 

• WWF 

About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) 

WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. WBCSD helps make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the maximum positive impact for shareholders, the environment and societies. 

WBCSD member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. WBCSD’s global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. WBCSD is uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues. 

Together, WBCSD is the leading voice of business for sustainability: united by our vision of a world where more than 9 billion people are all living well and within the boundaries of our planet, by 2050. http://www.wbcsd.org

About the Tire Industry Project (TIP) 

Formed in 2005, the Tire Industry Project (TIP) serves as a global, voluntary, CEO-led initiative, undertaken by 11 leading tire companies with an aim to anticipate, identify, analyze and address the potential human health and environmental impacts associated with tire development, use and management through end of life. TIP is a proactive initiative that operates under the umbrella of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and is designed to advance sustainability throughout the industry. Together, TIP member companies work to anticipate, identify, analyze and collaborate on sustainability challenges facing the industry, improve understanding of and educate about these challenges, and develop potential solutions for a more sustainable future. 

Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in November 2017 and has since been led by a Working Group of TIP member companies. TIP members continue to work to ensure the sustainable production and supply of natural rubber, and in joining the platform they commit to be able to demonstrate the integration of principles for sustainable natural rubber into their purchasing and/or operational activities. 

In alphabetical order, TIP member companies are: 

• Bridgestone Corporation 

• Continental AG 

• Cooper Tire & Rubber Company 

• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company 

• Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. 

• Kumho Tire Company Inc. 

• Michelin 

• Pirelli & C. S.p.A. 

• Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. 

• Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. 

• The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. 

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) brings together some 200 international companies in a shared commitment to sustainable development through economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Our members are drawn from more than 30 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. We also benefit from a global network of 50+ national and regional business councils and partner organizations. Our mission is to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable development issues.

More from World Business Council for Sustainable Development