{"id":9330,"date":"2024-08-30T08:50:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T08:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osapiens.com\/?p=9330"},"modified":"2024-12-09T09:15:55","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T09:15:55","slug":"rubber-and-eudr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osapiens.com\/blog\/rubber-and-eudr\/","title":{"rendered":"The Interplay Between Environment and Industry: EUDR and the Future of Rubber"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, the origin of our raw materials is coming under greater scrutiny. Rubber, a versatile material used in a wide range of everyday products, is now in the spotlight. From (car) tires to mattresses to medical devices, rubber is indispensable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To protect nature and halt ongoing deforestation, the European Union has introduced the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This regulation aims to eliminate products from European supply chains that contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation. For the rubber industry, this means subjecting its supply chains to strict monitoring and ensuring that rubber products are produced sustainably and with minimal environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The regulation specifically targets companies that trade in any of the following seven commodities and their derivatives: soy, palm oil, cattle, cocoa, coffee, timber, and rubber. In this article, we delve into the role of rubber in our daily lives, the challenges posed by the EUDR, and how the industry is adapting in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rubber is a true all-rounder, an integral part of our daily lives. Although it can be found in a wide range of products, it often goes unnoticed. Yet rubber plays a crucial role in many of the items we use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we think of rubber, tires are often the first thing that comes to mind\u2014and for good reason. About 70% of the world’s natural rubber production is used to manufacture tires. However, rubber is also essential in a variety of other products that are indispensable in our daily lives, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These everyday items have a significant impact on sustainability and the environment. When made from natural rubber, their production depends on a complex global supply chain that often leads back to the tropical rainforests where rubber is cultivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU Deforestation Regulation is now putting the entire supply chain of these products under scrutiny. The regulation mandates that only rubber grown without contributing to deforestation – meaning no forests are cleared to grow rubber – can enter the EU market. For the industry, this is a clear call to prioritize sustainability and rethink production processes. Companies must ensure that the origin of their rubber is verifiably deforestation-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) sets new standards for sustainability, compelling the rubber industry and others to fundamentally rethink their production and supply chains. To ensure that rubber from deforested areas does not enter the European market. All stakeholders in the supply chain\u2014from smallholder farmers to large industrial companies\u2014must meet stringent requirements. The EUDR goes beyond previous environmental standards, requiring a fully transparent supply chain, which poses a particular challenge for rubber production in remote, hard-to-reach regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n