''PROJECT TREE''

Transparent Rubber Ecosystem for Earth

(https://project-tree-natural-rubber.com)

We join PROJECT TREE. The natural rubber industry has long been reliant on nature and local farmers working hard to produce enough rubber. However, with growing demand we increasingly encounter negative impacts such as illegal logging, unsustainable farming techniques and human rights challenges. To meet future demand ethically, the industry must be more transparent and sustainable; vital to protect the environment and long term viability of livelihoods for so many people. We are committed to evolving our natural rubber business with an approach that is fairer to all stakeholders and more sustainable for the natural environment, so that our natural rubber supply chain becomes a model of sustainability for the world. Our proprietary traceability system, for example, enables us to track and inspect our entire supply chain. Alongside this, our SDGs activities for a sustainable future will also bring added value to the supply chain which in turn will benefit our suppliers in various ways.

The current percentage of traceability is 7% for smallholders and 1% for industrial plantation. 0.1% of our source is FSC-certified.

Our project TREE assess deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations. We are visiting them to collect the plantation coordinates to be compared with forest map both from Indonesia Ministry of Environment and from European Union. No deforestation found as of December 2023.