GPSNR unveils first ever collective grievance mechanism in the natural rubber industry

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Singapore, 15 June 2021: The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) has unveiled the natural rubber industry’s first ever grievance mechanism. The process provides a platform to address complaints against its members. It also creates a space for collaboration, improved relations and amicable and meaningful solutions amongst stakeholders in the natural rubber value chain. In situations where this is not possible, the Grievance Mechanism offers recourse and seeks to ensure remedy is provided to impacted parties.  

Members and non-members can now use this process to address existing concerns regarding a member’s violation of membership requirements or other guiding principles of the Platform. The mechanism seeks to provide transparency and predictability in the process and requires resolutions to be reached in a timely manner. It asserts particular emphasis on finding expedient and impartial resolution for high risk cases involving impact on communities or the environment, through the creation of a Complaints Panel. This panel will be made up of volunteer members, an external expert, and will judge whether and what kind of corrective actions need to be taken. 

The process is comprehensive and risk-based, and is designed with the aim  to bring parties to viable solutions and concrete remedy through a transparent process. ‘’The mechanism makes it possible for third parties to address issues with GPSNR members through an unbiased yet amicable process. The focus of the process will always be on finding solutions that work for everyone and provide both Complainants and Respondents with a transparent platform for resolution and accountability’’ said GPSNR Platform Director Stefano Savi.  

In slightly over two years, GPSNR has established itself as a platform working towards systemic change in the natural rubber supply chain. The existence of a strong redressal process like this grievance mechanism showcases its commitment to a culture of fairness and transparency.  

Access GPSNR Grievance Mechanism

-Ends-  

About GPSNR:  

GPSNR is an international membership driven platform set up to define sustainability for the natural rubber value chain. It brings together various stakeholders to a common ground based on fairness, equity and environmental sustainability. GPSNR member companies account for almost 50% of the global natural rubber volume.  

More on sustainablenaturalrubber.org 

For more information, please contact: 

Bani Bains 

Communications Manager 

Email: bani.bains@gpsnr.org 

Ph: +65 97268165 

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GPSNR Working Groups Update: October 2022

Strategy and Objectives Working Group

The assurance model taskforce, which sits under the umbrella of this working group, worked on establishing KPIs, GPSNR and Company targets, and tasking the KPIs to other working groups, categories and members. Its other subgroup on risk is currently working on a proposal for the definition of polygons in the EU Deforestation Regulation based on a request from GPSNR member ETRMA. Th subgroup also has two new co-chairs – Maggie Fitzherbert from ZSL and Ayako Itoh from Bridgestone.

Smallholder Representation Working Group

After completing its first round of pilot agroforestry workshops in Indonesia, the working group has its next round planned in Cambodia starting this month. Subsequently, they are preparing for country-based focus group discussions on the Smallholders Policy Equivalent and for the GPSNR-HCSA Smallholder Toolkit Field Trials. They are also working on processing smallholder applications from Liberia and Cambodia.

Policy Toolbox Working Group

The group is working on finalizing the TORs for the Year 1 Reporting Review to be conducted in the first quarter of next year. They are also assessing if any changes to reporting framework and its details (i.e. process, extensions, questions) are needed based on the Year 1 Reporting Review results.

Capacity Building Working Group

The group is currently evaluating proposals to appoint a software developer for the second phase of the GPSNR Knowledge Sharing Platform. They have kicked off the Disease Fighting Project with SNV-IRRI in Indonesia, after having recently completed the first milestone of the SNV-Proforest GAP coaching in the country. They continue to seek members’ funding for capacity building projects in Indonesia (second stream of disease fighting) and Cote d’Ivoire (training centres). To know more, you can find the project details here.

 

Shared Responsibility Working Group

The group is working on the deliverables discussed for each of its sub working groups during the in-person meetings, and will present findings to the membership on 15th November 2022.

Bani Bains October 26, 2022
Members

GPSNR Company Self Assessment Form: Aligning Your Company’s Policy with the GPSNR Policy Framework

The Policy Framework was approved and adopted via a membership vote at the 2nd GPSNR General Assembly on 23 September. As part of the resolution, companies were given 6 months to align their public policies to include all the components of GPSNR’s Policy Framework, with the possibility of two extensions if evidence of progress is shown. Based on this timeline, companies will have until 23 March 2021 to submit their public policies for evaluation by GPSNR’s Compliance Panel. Full instructions on how companies should submit their public policies and other public documents will be provided in early 2021. 

The Self Assessment Form is a tool designed to help companies evaluate and track the degree of alignment between their public policies and other public documents and GPSNR’s Policy Framework. Conducting a self-assessment using this form does not constitute GPSNR approval of a company’s policies, and companies should avoid making public claims about approval of the policies before final assessment by GPSNR. Compliance with this requirement can only be confirmed by the GPSNR Compliance Panel and this will only be possible after member companies submit to GPSNR their policies or other public documents that reflect conformance with GPSNR’s Policy Framework in March 2021.

A summary timeline of the company policy approval process is depicted below:

Compliance Panel

In early 2021, the Policy Toolbox and Implementation Guidance Working Group will share the terms of reference for the three members of the Compliance Panel. GPSNR members will then be invited to nominate individuals to serve on the Compliance Panel. An Extra-ordinary General Assembly will be called in February 2021 for GPSNR members to vote on the candidates and three candidates will be voted to form the Compliance Panel. The panel will then assess the policies submitted by GPSNR member companies and determine if they are in compliance with GPSNR’s Policy Framework. More details on this will be shared with members once they are available.

Click here to download the GPSNR Company Self Assessment Form

GPSNR Staff December 30, 2020

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Step 1: Commitment and Reporting

Members commit to this policy framework and report on these questions

POLICY FRAMEWORK
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS