Certification of this USD 300 billion supply chain is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals before 2030.
In recognition of the essential role that natural rubber plays in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the forest certification giant PEFC is launching a campaign to support local forest owners in Southeast Asia in their push for sustainability with a global event on 7 July.
The inclusive campaign “PEFC Is Here” celebrates the role that millions of smallholders play in the creation of more than 40,000 kinds of essential goods such as tyres, shoes, and the billions of syringes vital to delivering COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.
Since 1999, PEFC has helped smallholders and the manufacturers they work with to ensure that the value they create does not come at a cost to the climate, biodiversity, watersheds, forests, and ultimately their own livelihoods. “PEFC Is Here” continues this commitment and will give everyone from consumers to manufacturers the tools and information they need to help in that effort.
For the past decade, PEFC has played a leading role supporting the entire natural rubber value chain. This includes rubber wood, of which 63 million tonnes is produced every year, making it the world’s most widely traded tropical hardwood. With this campaign, and the 7 July event, PEFC continues its leadership on pushing for more sustainable natural rubber production.
In Vietnam and Thailand, PEFC will travel to rubber plantations to hear first-hand the stories of smallholders and the challenges they face, and throughout the coming months, the campaign will feature a series of videos elevating their voices.
At the same time, PEFC is providing a sustainability toolkit to manufacturers, particularly in the tyre industry, to help them spur certification downstream through the supply chain.
In preparation for the campaign launch, PEFC International CEO Ben Gunneberg noted: “Natural rubber touches our lives in so many ways, but it is often overlooked by those of us who use it. Our Supporting Sustainable Rubber campaign is all about shining a light on the product, and making the connection between sustainable natural rubber production, forest health, and smallholder livelihoods.”
“PEFC Is Here” is open to participation from everyone who cares about the health of forests around the world. During the 7 July launch, a panel of sustainability experts will highlight ways to join in the effort, whether from individuals, governments, CEOs, or farmers.
The webinar takes place 7 July at 15:00-16:00 ICT (10:00-11:00 CEST) and is free to attend. Register now.
About PEFC: PEFC is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. As an international non-profit, non-governmental organization, it promotes sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification. PEFC provides forest owners, from the large to the small, with a tool to demonstrate their responsible practices, while empowering companies to buy sustainably. The PEFC label enables consumers to recognize products originating from a PEFC-certified forest – a forest managed in line with the strictest environmental, social, and economic requirements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Richard Laity, PEFC Southeast Asia Manager, PEFC International.