Sustainability is a vague idea. How do you define sustainability in the natural rubber sector?

I think sustainability is vague if you have not looked at it with a good set of eyes. If you see it as a concept, then it certainly is not vague. Many standards have been introduced in the last 30 years and organisations and stakeholders have worked around this concept. The sustainability concept is evolving and is very well defined in the areas we operate in nowadays.

GPSNR defines sustainability through a multi-stakeholder process where we bring in members of GPSNR together. Our organisation represents all parts of the supply chain, from smallholders to processors and traders to manufacturers and civil society. Today, we represent about 60 percent of the global natural rubber volume.

Our supply chain sustainability commitments include the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. The definition of sustainability for our members is now very well defined through a document, which is approved and called the policy framework document. This is a set of eight overarching themes that include commitments to legal compliance, community livelihoods, healthy and functioning ecosystems (including no deforestation) and respecting all human rights. Our GPSNR members need to have policies aligned for the production and procurement of sustainable natural rubber.

The great news is that after the document was approved last year, the GPSNR members are now aligning and publishing policies to be in line with this framework. Of course, these are commitments that do not explicitly mean implementation. Now the next step for us would be reporting requirements for our members. The members will have to publish reports every year, and we are defining the requirements for these reports now. For them,           it will be to demonstrate how they are reaching this commitment. We are also working on implementation guidance that will help companies implement an assurance model. It aims to understand the different risks and identify the modes of assurance based on the level of risk. It ensures that the commitments are met and that any claim the company makes on sustainability is verified.

Would there be any mechanism to know how companies are implementing the policies?

For GPSNR, it is not about reinventing the wheel. We don't want to create another certification standard. We have certification systems out there. I think, especially in the rubber sector, we need something that goes a bit broader than the current specification for certification because we have 85 percent production coming from independent smallholders, owning 1-2 hectares of land each, which makes it quite challenging to scale up certification promptly. So we are building up an assurance model, which is going to be a risk basis. The basic idea behind this is that instead of having a standard where you have to tick all the boxes of the standard, we will look at your situation. We are going to have a map of risk globally. So, based on the level of risk, we ask our members to have different levels of assurance.

For example, if we are sourcing from a place where everything was developed years ago, your risk of deforestation might be low. We might not require you to do a full deforestation assessment. Or maybe your risk in the supply chain is very high in terms of labour with migrants; we will ask you to have a more in-depth and third party assessment for that.

And this way, we hope to be able to bring down the cost of assurance and make the process a bit linear so that we can focus on what matters.

GPSNR was established in 2019. Could you highlight the achievements of GPSNR so far?

We are quite a young organisation considering it is a multi-stakeholder organisation. We started with just 11 members.  , we soon had 16-17 members, including some processors and traders in automotive, but now we are reaching 130 members.

As mentioned earlier, today, our members represent well above 50 percent of the global rubber market volume. Even if you compare it to other similar organisations with long-standing in other commodities, we are far above what others have seen in terms of representation. One of the most significant achievements that I would mention is the policy framework and its commitments and the ability to align the members with it to make a difference in the natural rubber supply chain.

I feel very confident that through this change, we will be able to reach the smallholders and improve their situation, which is really at the heart of GPSNR.

How do you make sure that there will be traceability and transparency in case of violation of rights?

That's a fair point. One of the key things that we managed to ensure is that smallholders are included in decision making in GPSNR processes. So now we have 28 smallholders that represent 8  different countries at the moment. They're a part of GPSNR as members, but they don't pay any fees.

They have been selected the representatives  through workshops conducted by us. Several smallholders participated in the workshops, and I do think that we're trying our utmost to ensure that their participation is meaningful. They understand how to engage in the platform and how to make their voice heard within the platform.

We ensure that everything GPSNR is doing is co-designed with smallholders. I don't mean to say that we represent all the seven million smallholders out there, but we're making strides as much as possible.

In terms of the grievances, we have set up a grievance mechanism that is open and transparent. Any stakeholder now can file complaints through GPSNR, and an independent panel of experts would review this. We hope to ensure that there is at least a communication channel and ways to address discrepancies through that system.

I think traceability can be defined in very different ways. So, traceability, in my mind, is knowing from where a specific batch of rubber is coming and keeping it separate from others in the supply chain.There is some merit to that and some approaches to do a certification. We need to look at transparency to ensure that companies know where we are sourcing from. They have to take responsibility for their suppliers' operations as if it was their operations.

What are the steps undertaken by GPSNR to curb illegal activities of companies like land grabbing etc.?

I think the first and most crucial step is to identify what can and cannot be done, because, unfortunately, in developing countries, maybe at times, the legal requirements do not match with the social licence to operate requirements expected in the sustainable world. That's one aspect, and there's also the enforcement, and due diligence might not be as good as expected. So, I don't think that the policy framework of GPSNR does a very good job in identifying what those do's and don'ts are. As for GPSNR members, I do believe strongly that the policies that are now in place will set a good foundation to ensure that the buyers will trigger these requirements down the supply chain.

We have seen that due diligence can only stop deforestation and land grabbing and other such activities in the entire supply chain to some extent. What we need is incentives, and that's why one of the critical challenges that we're finding in GPSNR is to identify how we can bring up financial and non-financial  incentives to companies and smallholders to operate sustainably.

For example, we have a working group on shared responsibility looking at how the companies can act together to solve issues that cannot be solved by a single company on its own. I deeply believe that most of these issues are linked to livelihood. May be we need to ensure that they get the right amount of compensation for their rubber production so that they don't have to open up another hectare to meet their livelihoods requirements.

Would you be working with the government in different countries? How difficult is it to work with the government?

GPSNR does not have direct government involvement, but we do collaborate with them. We have an MoU with IRSG, the international rubber research organisation. So by working with them, we have set up a series of dialogues with governments where we brought up, in the past year, the work of GPSNR, seeking opportunities to collaborate.

We are in touch with the local government agencies to ensure that we have public and private partnerships. Governments are key stakeholders, and especially when we want to reach smallholders at a large scale, we cannot forget to ensure that the governments are involved in the work we do.

Nineteen leading companies have joined your organisation. How difficult do you find it to make standard solutions?

Well, that's the beauty of the multi-state process and co-design process. So, it took a while, but the policy framework was designed with the input of all members. Everyone had the chance to chip in and find a synergistic approach together with the civil society organisations.

I think it's also doable as the world is becoming more global. There are differences in how the companies operate, but the global expectations are quite clear to everyone and every company as all aim to become global leaders. And that has helped in aligning the expectations.

You have around 130 members at present. How do you want to expand?

Until now, the membership that we've seen coming in is mostly from within the tyre sector. We are having discussions and interest from potential members outside the tyre sector but still in the rubber sector. Our setup already allows for the inclusion of known tyre members, but we're not just a tyre-focused association; we are a natural rubber-focused association. So the door is open for these entities, which is the focus of our expansion.

What are the challenges?

Covid has not been easy, but in a multi-stakeholder organisation, we're trying to build trust among our members for them to work together. We are human, so we're social animals, and trust is created by having interactions. So building trust has been really challenging.

But I do hope that as we come out of this crisis, this becomes easier for us as we want to reinstate physical gatherings and get our members together, which will help us move faster than we are today.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Pirelli has entered into a strategic agreement with Swedish technology firm Univrses to integrate artificial intelligence-based computer vision systems into its Cyber Tyre platform. As part of the deal, Pirelli has acquired a 30 percent stake in Univrses, with an option to increase that share to a majority holding. The collaboration will embed Univrses’ 3DAI technologies into Pirelli’s existing Cyber Tyre solutions, creating a unified system aimed at producing safer and higher performing vehicles.

The combined technology has potential applications in advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving. It also generates timely, actionable data for road management, helping authorities make better decisions and deploy resources more efficiently. This could lead to fewer road accidents and saved lives. The system uses onboard cameras and tyres to collect feedback on road conditions. Pirelli’s Cyber Tyre, the first integrated hardware and software system of its kind, gathers data from tyre sensors, processes it with proprietary algorithms and communicates in real time with vehicle electronics and the cloud.

Univrses originally developed its technology to help cars understand their surroundings, but it has since been adapted to turn vehicles into AI-powered road monitoring agents. The Swedish company’s 3DAI Engine provides autonomous vehicles with perception capabilities including 3D positioning, mapping and spatial deep learning. Its 3DAI system digitises roadside infrastructure using data from vehicle-mounted sensors like cameras.

A pilot project is already active in Italy. In 2025, Pirelli and the Puglia Region launched a road network monitoring system to create an updated map of infrastructure conditions. The system analyses data from tyres via the Cyber Tyre platform alongside visual data from cameras interpreted by Univrses’ technology.

Andrea Casaluci, CEO, Pirelli, said, “The agreement with Univrses further enhances our Cyber Tyre™ platform, thanks to advanced AI‑based artificial vision technologies. The collaboration between Pirelli and Univrses will make a significant contribution to the ongoing transformation of cars into true software‑defined vehicles.”

Jonathan Selbie, CEO, Univrses, said, “Continuous monitoring and data are becoming the new foundation for infrastructure asset management, and Univrses technology is able to provide powerful analytical capabilities based on reliable and frequently updated data. In this context, we are pleased to welcome Pirelli as an investor and to take our partnership to the next level: we will join forces to deliver increasingly advanced services and products.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

ZC Rubber is preparing a major European-focused showcase at THE TIRE COLOGNE, scheduled to run from 9 to 11 June 2026. The tyre manufacturer will occupy Booth C050g in Hall 8.1, highlighting its WESTLAKE and GOODRIDE brands with a clear emphasis on products tailored specifically for regional market demands.

The display will blend imminent and future innovations. Products destined for a European launch in the latter half of 2026 will appear alongside the company’s current truck and bus radial lineup. Selected previews of developments planned for 2027 will also be on view. A featured attraction is the Westlake Sport RS2, a drift-proven ultra-high-performance tyre praised for its grip, precision and 180 treadwear rating. A renewed rubber compound, developed through work with the Red Bull Driftbrothers, now delivers steadier traction under severe driving conditions. Appearing at the stand, Red Bull Driftbrothers driver and engineer Elias Hountondji will illustrate how motorsport data directly refines ZC Rubber’s product engineering.

Additional new passenger car radial models for Europe in the second half of 2026 include the Westlake ZuperFlex Z-137, Goodride RideMax G-147, the all-season Westlake Zuper4S Z-411 and the off-road focused Westlake Terra Legend SL399 and Goodride Mud Legend SL388. On the truck and bus side, already available tyres such as the Westlake WSL2, Westlake WDL2+ and Goodride S2, D3 and D4 will be exhibited, covering steer and drive axle needs for long-haul and heavy-duty transport.

A sneak peek at 2027 offerings will feature the Westlake Z-301 commercial van tyre, Goodride All Season G-721, Goodride SnowComfort G-518 and new TBR models including the Westlake WTL2, Westlake WTR OEM and Goodride M2. ZC Rubber’s team will remain on-site throughout the event, welcoming visitors and partners to the booth for meetings and professional discussions.

Leo Liao, General Manager, ZC Rubber Europe, said, “This year’s showcase reflects a much broader and more complete portfolio for Europe. From UHP and all-season tyres to all-terrain, mud-terrain and TBR solutions, we are bringing new developments across almost every major segment. This reflects how seriously we take the European market: we are listening to local needs, investing in the right products and building a portfolio that better matches the needs of our European partners.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Magna Tyres has launched the MA801 TR, a new solid tyre engineered for extreme operating conditions in recycling facilities and heavy industrial settings. Designed to maximise equipment uptime while supporting high load capacities, the tyre is built to deliver dependable performance in harsh environments. The official debut of the MA801 TR will take place at IFAT 2026 in Munich, scheduled from 4 to 7 May 2026.

The new model is intended for compact wheel loaders and telescopic handlers, featuring a flat-free solid construction. Its extra-deep non‑directional tread is reinforced by a triangular structural design, which enhances traction and stability on surfaces littered with sharp debris. Available in sizes 13.00‑24 and 14.00‑24, the tyre prioritises puncture resistance and reduced maintenance needs.

Thanks to its robust architecture and deep tread profile, the MA801 TR offers an extended service life and consistent performance across demanding work cycles. By eliminating the risk of flats, Magna Tyres positions the tyre as a reliable solution for recycling and industrial operations where continuous heavy loads are standard.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has secured validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a prominent corporate climate-action organisation, for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets set for 2035. This endorsement confirms that the company’s goals are scientifically aligned with the standards established under the Paris Agreement. The validated targets are measured relative to the company’s 2024 emission levels.

Under the approved framework, Yokohama Rubber aims for a 63.0 percent reduction in combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which cover direct emissions from its business activities as well as indirect emissions from purchased energy. Additionally, the company commits to a 37.5 percent cut in Scope 3 emissions, specifically targeting indirect supply chain emissions from purchased products and services, along with fuel and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2. To achieve these reductions, Yokohama Rubber has been expanding solar power generation and renewable energy electricity at its global plants, while also disclosing indirect emissions from product distribution, use and disposal since 2013.

The company obtained SBTi validation to accelerate supply-chain-wide emission cuts in response to intensifying climate challenges. Operating under its sustainability management slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, Yokohama Rubber continues to create shared value by tackling social issues directly through its business operations.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!