Multi-stakeholder Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) has officially launched its Assurance System, marking a major step forward in improving transparency, accountability, and environmental and social performance in the natural rubber supply chain, it says.
The system was developed through years of collaboration among Singapore-based GPSNR’s diverse membership, which includes smallholder farmers, producers, traders, tyre manufacturers, automakers, and organisations. Together, they’ve worked to address key challenges such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, unfair labour conditions, and human rights risks.
The Assurance System provides a structured process for companies to:
· Make sustainability commitments in line with GPSNR’s policy framework;
· Identify and assess social and environmental risks in their supply chains;
· Undergo third-party verification to ensure accountability;
· Report transparently on their progress using credible claims.
GPSNR says a defining feature of the system is its risk-based approach, which tailors the level of oversight to the specific sustainability risks a company or sourcing region faces. This ensures that higher-risk operations receive more scrutiny while supporting more efficient resource use across the industry. To support members in this process, GPSNR offers a suite of tools and guidance.
“This is more than a milestone for GPSNR. It is a pivotal moment for the entire natural rubber industry,” said Stefano Savi, CEO of GPSNR. “With our organisational design finalised and both Shared Investment and Risk-Based Assurance in place, we’re ready to move into implementation. I look forward to the impact this will have on smallholder livelihoods, the environment, and supply chain resilience.”
As global demand grows for sustainable and ethically sourced materials, GPSNR’s Assurance System offers a practical, credible path forward, making natural rubber a driver of positive environmental and social change.