GPSNR Grievance Procedure

The Grievance Mechanism


The GPSNR Grievance Mechanism (“Grievance Mechanism”) is a non-legal process established for stakeholders to express concerns they have about a GPSNR member and find optimal ways to resolve disputes. This Mechanism is distinct from the grievance mechanisms that ordinary company members are required to establish and maintain, and should be used in the event that the company’s mechanism has not successfully resolved the complaints raised. It also does not replace legal avenues for resolving grievances.

The Grievance Mechanism is not for the purpose of punishing GPSNR members. It simply provides redress and remedy to any party that has suffered negative impacts from the actions of members. It can resolve conflicts before they become reputational risks for GPSNR or its members and show the responsiveness and legitimacy of the Platform. You can see the process flowchart here. 

The GPSNR Grievance Mechanism’s goals are:

  • to resolve disputes and facilitate remedies by GPSNR or its members if an individual, group, or GPSNR member, has been negatively affected by activities or operations of GPSNR or its members;
  • to maintain the integrity, reputation, and transparency of GPSNR and its members; and
  • to improve relationships between Parties and amicably work towards solutions through transparency, effective mediation, and fair outcomes.
Grievance Mechanism Process
Grievance Submission Form
Grievance Submission Email: info@gpsnr.org

The Dispute Resolution Mechanism


This system offers a structured, non-legal approach to complaints against the GPSNR secretariat or issues related to GPSNR procedures and sustainability initiatives.

The system aims to:

  • resolve disputes and facilitate remedies by GPSNR if an individual, group, or GPSNR member, has been negatively affected by activities or operations of GPSNR;
  • maintain the integrity, reputation, and transparency of GPSNR
  • improve relationships between Parties and amicably work towards solutions through transparency, effective mediation, and fair outcomes.

Complaints are accepted from:

  • GPSNR members and/or their employees;
  • Third parties such as non-member companies, CSOs, trade unions, community groups or parties that have been officially appointed to represent a Complainant;
  • Any individual or group that has potentially been impacted by the operations of GPSNR; or
  • Any member of the public that has enough proximity to a complaint in order to be able to gather evidence required in the proceedings.

See more details about the Dispute Resolution System here.

Dispute Submission Form
Dispute Submission Email: info@gpsnr.org

Members’ Grievance Channels

Based on GPSNR’s own grievance procedure, we recommend that grievances against GPSNR members first be filed directly through the members’ own grievance mechanism. If necessary, the grievances can then be escalated to GPSNR’s own grievance mechanism. To ensure accessibility and transparency, the Secretariat has compiled a list of GPSNR members’ grievance mechanisms which can be found below:

GPSNR Member Grievance Mechanisms



Status of Grievances

Find additional data and more details on the progress of grievances that have been submitted.
Click here to view the status of Grievances

Frequently Asked Questions

The Complaints Panel  consists of GPSNR ordinary members who volunteer to serve on the panel, with the recommended composition being two industry representatives and one CSO representative.

Respondents reserve the right to raise concerns about any Complaints Panel volunteer nominated for their case, in which case the volunteer may be replaced.

The GPSNR Grievance Mechanism:

  1. will identify problems and provide solutions to impacted communities and individuals
  2. will allow GPSNR to serve as a vehicle to improve relations between parties and then offer recourse if that does not work
  3. will provide a consistent, agreed-upon process that will level the playing field for all GPSNR members and complainants to address complaints related to GPSNR policies, norms, and activities.
  4. will allow both parties access to transparency- complainants will know if their concerns are being resolved and respondents can show their responsiveness in a way that will ease relationships with communities and other concerned parties
  5. can showcase the responsiveness of member companies to investors and customers
  6. will help GPSNR proactively identify risks in the future by assessing trends in the types or regions of submitted grievances
  7. will act as a strong mechanism to protect GPSNR from reputational risk

While the cost of the mechanism will generally be split 50/50 between parties, the Complaints Officer will be encouraged to give consideration to each of the parties and remove financial obligation from small CSOs, local farmer associations/groups, or other impacted communities. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis until we gain learnings and continuously improve the mechanism for greater function.

In the event that any party believes the grievance process was conducted inadequately (for example: later discovered conflict of interest of a member of the Complaints Panel, misconduct on the part of The formal, written appeal will go to the Executive Committee along with all documents related to the case. The Executive Committee will review the case and come to a decision on whether to have the complaint revisited in the formal grievance process. Further procedures to guide the appeals process can be found here.

Access TOR Here

While the Grievance Mechanism (GM) addresses complaints against GPSNR members, the Dispute Resolution System (DRS) is for complaints against the secretariat, GPSNR processes and sustainability initiatives.

STAY UPDATED
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
for the latest news and updates.

© 2022 All rights reserved

Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber

Scroll to Top