Michelin demonstrates its commitment to responsible and sustainable natural rubber production once again with the launch of Rubberway, a mobile application that is dedicated to following up and respecting best practices for collecting latex, transforming the product industrially and transporting it.
The application was presented to the various players in Michelin’s natural rubber supply chain in Singapore on July 6.
The world’s largest purchaser of natural rubber, the Michelin Group is committed to responsibly and sustainably managing the rubber production industry. In order to preserve this resource and to manage its social and environmental impact, Michelin has chosen to promote rubber farming while also respecting certain rules throughout the value chain.
Established in 2016 with the assistance of NGOs specialised in protecting the environment and human rights, the recommended measures are based on five fundamental axes: respect for people, protection of the environment, improved farming techniques, proper use of natural resources, and good governance practices.
To assess respect for these rules, which must take into account the entire industry’s practices, Michelin has designed Rubberway, an application developed in cooperation with SMAG information systems.
By collecting data from smallholders, large farms, intermediaries and raw material processing plants, Michelin is taking action transparently while also promoting the use of best practices worldwide.
“The digital revolution is an opportunity that benefits all segments of the industry, including the raw material supply chain. Rubberway is a tangible expression of this revolution. Innovative and useful, this mobile application collects and analyses data according to established criteria and maps areas of high social and environmental risks. By sharing this information with our suppliers, we can make a targeted, efficient contribution and improve the industry’s production conditions,” says Luc Minguet, head of Michelin Group Purchasing.
Natural rubber is a sustainable raw material that is essential to tyre production. Out of the 30 million people that earn a living from rubber industry around the world, six million work on farms, 85% of which are smaller than four hectares and belong to small landowners.
Mapping Michelin’s natural rubber supply chain is a sizable project but this ambitious approach, which is part of a long-term process, will transform the face of the industry, the company says. Michelin has designed its corporate social responsibility commitments for the long term, and a tool like Rubberway will accelerate their assertive approach in the area of sustainable rubber farming.