Natural rubber stakeholders convened in Singapore on March 21, 2019 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.
The development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) back in November 2017, with members including tyre 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 various priorities that will define the GPSNR strategy and objectives.
The General Assembly saw the approval of organisational Statutes and Code of Conduct, and the formation of an Executive Committee with the mandate of overseeing the strategic and operational activities of the GPSNR. The Statutes require the Executive Committee to comprise 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. Tyre makers and other natural rubber makers/buyers; and
4. Civil society organizations
After 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.
GPSNR Director Stefano Savi has 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 we send a clear message from Singapore – the GPSNR is open for business.”
The platform is working to finalise its operational strategy, guided by the stakeholder-agreed GPSNR priorities 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, WBCSD’s President and CEO Peter Bakker has 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 bya growing and well-balanced GPSNR membership of rubber value chain and civil society members – the actors are in place, and the foundations for transformative action chain have been laid. The real work can begin.”