GPSNR Working Groups Update: November 2021

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It’s been a busy month, to say the least! If you haven’t had the chance to take stock of everything that has happened, here is the update: 

Strategy and Objectives Working Group

The group has finalised the Theory of change, which is currently in the process of being designed for public communications. They have also published the Environmental Risk Study, which can be found here. 

Currently, the group is working on developing the RFP for the Economic Risk Study. 

Smallholder Representation Working Group

After three successful smallholder onboarding workshops for smallholders from Indonesia, India and Cambodia since July 2021, the working group completed three more onboarding workshops for Thailand, Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka. 

More than 80 smallholders from all three countries participated, and the working group is now working on inducting those who apply for membership into the GPSNR ecosystem. The group is also busy with the fourth smallholder international call of 2021 on 25th November to prepare smallholders for GA 2021, as well as to seek smallholders’ views on plans for 2022. 

Policy Toolbox Working Group

The group has finalised the reporting requirements which have been put up for vote to all ordinary members before the General Assembly on 14th December. Take a look at the resolution here.

Capacity Building Working Group

This month, the group worked on presenting GPSNR’s position on rubber agroforestry at COP 26 via the agroforestry Task Force and completed the first review of the GPSNR Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).The GAP Task Force is now working on finalising the GAPs, including preparations for pre-GA webinar on 2 December 2021, while a separate Task Force has started work  on commencing developments on the GPSNR Knowledge Sharing Platform. The work on the strategy review and implementation plans for Indonesia and Ivory Coast remain in progress. 

Traceability and Transparency Working Group

This working group has finalised the traceability benchmark internally, and will be holding a introducing the document  during the pre-GA webinar on 30th December 2021. The document will go out for broader consultation among the membership soon. The WG will also  provide a summary of possible tools to the EC based on traceability studies conducted last year. 

Shared Responsibility Working Group

The group has discussed and explored solutions to identified root causes for each focus area of shared responsibility. It is also continuing to draft activities and a framework for Shared Responsibility for integration into other processes such as the Implementation Guidance, which will include consultations with GPSNR members and WGs to ensure alignment on Shared Responsibility for the platform. 

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Following the Conversation with GPSNR Topic Talks!

The GPSNR Topic Talks webinar series is organised by the GPSNR Secretariat and presented by GPSNR members. The webinars cover several themes around sustainability and the global natural rubber supply chain.

The series kicked off on 27 October with a presentation by Philippe Thaler from CIRAD, on the implications of EU legislation on imported deforestation.

The second webinar’s theme was on smallholder solutions and featured two separate presentations. “A landscape-level approach to inclusion and capacity building for rubber smallholders” was presented by Rizki Permana from SNV, Widyantoko Sumarlin from Kirana Megatara, and Tony Hill from Proforest. Speaking from experience with the Kelola-Sendang project in South Sumatra, the presenters explained how SNV, with Proforest support, worked with rubber smallholder groups in the jurisdictional initiative, which helped to forge new links between the smallholders and a crumb rubber factory buyer in the Kirana group. 

Next, “Exploring Smallholder Solutions in the Rubber Sector – The Processing and Sale of Rubberwood to Support Smallholder Financing in Indonesia” was presented by Amy Smith from WWF, Gerald Tan from HeveaConnect, with Renée Corstens and Remco Geervliet from Financial Access. This presentation shared the findings of a study which analyzed the potential of rubberwood to serve as a mechanism to support smallholder financing in Indonesia.

The next theme is Assurance and smallholders, and how we can learn from existing schemes. PEFC’s CEO Ben Gunneberg presented a webinar last night, elaborating on PEFC’s approach to standard-setting and certification. He also showcased PEFC’s current collaborative projects with their national members and companies to support smallholder producers, and how these will benefit GPSNR members and the work GPSNR is engaged in.

Continuing with the theme of Assurance and smallholders, FSC will be presenting on 8 December, an overview of smallholder certification solutions.

We are also pleased to announce an addition to the Topic Talks lineup: ‘REDD+, are carbon credits impacts overstated?’. This new presentation, jointly organized with GIZ and which will be held on 10 December, puts the spotlight on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) with an introduction to the REDD+ methodology, followed by a discussion with the authors of a recently published study, “Overstated carbon emission reductions from voluntary REDD+ projects in the Brazilian Amazon”. 

GPSNR members may contact the Secretariat to register for the upcoming Topic Talks.

Assurance and Smallholders: Learning from Existing Schemes Part 2

“FSC Smallholder Certification Solutions”

8 December | 7PM (GMT+8)

Presented by: FSC

The presentation will cover FSC’s solutions for smallholders to become certified. First, an overview of the evaluation of certification solutions for smallholders will be given. FSC’s existing solutions will be covered, with a focus on the benefits for FSC Group Certification. Next, solutions in the pipeline will be covered, addressing the impact of pilot projects and highlighting success stories.

REDD+, are carbon credits impacts overstated?  

10 December | 3PM (GMT+8)

Jointly Organized by: GIZ 

Presented by: GIZ and authors of the study

Using REDD+ projects to offset carbon emissions through avoided deforestation and the financial support of local communities is popular but also highly debated. Especially, voluntary REDD+ projects are regularly criticized as inefficient or even greenwashing. This presentation will provide an introduction to the REDD+ methodology. The authors of a recent critical study, “Overstated carbon emission reductions from voluntary REDD+ projects in the Brazilian Amazon” will then present their findings and suggestions as a basis for discussion.

GPSNR Staff November 25, 2020

From Scrubs to Sustainability

 

As I stood in the rubber processing factory of Halcyon Agri, the burnt smell of rubber and the deafening thumping of the machines assuaging my senses, I couldn’t help but reflect on the remarkable turn my life had taken in the past two years. 

 

In 2023, I traded my scrubs, the fast-paced emergency cases and the quintessential chaos of veterinary clinics to join the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) as a Communications and Membership Outreach Associate. As the smell, heat, and sheer scale of operations of Halcyon’s processing plant continued to burn an imprint on my mind, it made me realise the transition to GPSNR has been grounding me in a reality far removed from any veterinary clinic.

 

A worker performs quality control, carefully removing foreign pieces from compacted rubber before it gets packaged

In the veterinary field, where precision and care are everything, from diagnosing a complex case or suturing a wound, every action demands meticulousness. At the plant, while the scale and context were vastly different, the underlying principle remained unchanged. Every stage of rubber processing, from chopping the raw material into finer pieces to washing, drying, and packaging, played a critical role in meeting the exacting standards of tyre manufacturers. 

 

As I observed the Halcyon team navigating the plant with practised ease, I couldn’t help but draw parallels between my two worlds. Just as a misstep in surgery could mean life or death, inefficiencies in the supply chain could have far-reaching consequences for sustainability and livelihoods.

 

The factory floor reminded me that the path to sustainability is not linear. It’s a series of interconnected actions, each requiring deliberate effort and foresight. From supporting smallholder farmers to refining processing methods, every step in the rubber supply chain offers an opportunity to make an impact.

 

Water treatment facility located in Halcyon Agri

 

This interconnectedness is also reflected in how Halcyon manages its most essential resource: water. Any water used to wash the rubber is filtered, treated, and reused, creating a closed-loop system that minimises waste. This approach exemplifies the idea that sustainability is not about isolated actions but about fostering a system where resources flow and regenerate, much like nature itself. It’s a reminder that every step, no matter how small, contributes to a larger ecosystem of care and responsibility.

 

Chopped rubber before drying

This experience reinforced an essential truth for me: no matter the industry, meaningful change requires collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to learn. It also reminded me that stepping out of my comfort zone was not just a career move but a personal growth journey.

 

The journey from scrubs to sustainability has been anything but straightforward, yet it’s filled with lessons that resonate deeply. Whether it’s the precision of factory operations or the broader mission of creating a sustainable future, the experience at Halcyon’s processing plant reminded me why I chose this path.

 

The smell of processed rubber may fade from my memory, but the lessons learned here will stay with me. Sustainability, much like veterinary care, is about ensuring a thriving future, one step at a time.

 

GPSNR Secretariat January 9, 2025

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