SINGAPORE (May 29, 2013) — The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has formed a Sustainable Natural Rubber Action Plan designed to promote the use of voluntary sustainable natural rubber (NR) standards throughout the global rubber economy.
The IRSG unveiled the plan at its World Rubber Summit in Singapore, on the recommendation of the group’s Heads of Delegation and Industry Advisory Panel, which noted that 85 percent of the world’s NR is produced by smallholders, whose decision to plant new trees and tap depends on the opportunity cost and hence adequate long-term growth of the NR supply calls for positive action to achieve NR sustainability.
As IRSG envisions it, the plan will be complementary to existing domestic economic, social and environmental programs in NR-producing countries, it said.
The next phase of this program would focus on defining relevant voluntary sustainability guidelines, policy and potential mechanisms for implementation of these guidelines through consultation with the NR producer governments and other international forums on voluntary sustainability standards.
The IRSG is an intergovernmental organization dealing with questions involving the production and consumption of rubber. It has 35 member countries.
Source: tirebusiness.com
