PUBLIC CONSULTATION: GPSNR’s Assurance Model

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To develop and implement an assurance system that will support GPSNR in demonstrating its long-term positive impact on the natural rubber industry and help GPSNR members companies validate their sustainability claims and commitments, GPSNR is conducting a 60 day public consultation from 1 May to 30 June 2024 on the three of the four mandatory elements of its Assurance Model. This includes the Assurance Assessment Checklist, Assurance Protocol, and Remediation Protocol. The Assurance Assessment Checklist captures the themes and minimum requirements that were previously discussed during the platform’s in-person meetings in February 2024. The Members Journey Model (MJM) can be found here, the MJM has already been developed and is being put forward for vote at the upcoming Extraordinary General Assembly. The Members Journey Model outlines the development path that members are expected to take once they join GPSNR.




GPSNR Assurance Model Structure (pending Extraordinary General Assembly vote)

 

After the consultation, the GPSNR Secretariat will review the comments from this public consultation, feedback from the GPSNR in-person meetings in June, and the learnings from the Assurance Model pilots which will be ongoing till July 31st and make necessary changes. A second 30-day consultation will be conducted after the documents have been revised in Q3 of 2024.

 

Any feedback on the documents should be added to this file by 30 June 2024.

 

Document Name

Link 

Feedback Link 

Assurance Assessment Checklist 

Linked here

See here

Assurance Protocol 

Linked here

Remediation Protocol 

Linked here

More To Explore

News

GPSNR Working Groups Update: June 2023

Strategy and Objectives Working Group: 

The Traceability pilot field trials for the Risk Subgroup, led by consortiums Agridence and Koltiva, are now in full swing. Agridence provided a midpoint update during the June Hybrid meetings, highlighting their progress thus far.

Looking ahead, the Risk Subgroup is actively strategizing the next steps for ASI’s deliverable on the Risk Assessment Framework. This includes conducting internal piloting and aligning the tool with GPSNR commissioned studies to identify any potential gaps.

In an effort to standardize country levels within the tool, the Risk Subgroup will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage consultants who can contribute their expertise. Furthermore, the Risk Subgroup is in the preliminary stages of discussions with the Basel Institution, exploring a potential collaboration to address corruption risks in the supply chain. 

The Assurance Model Task force will convene to receive updates on the alignment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the due diligence system, ensuring that progress is being made and objectives are being met. In order to create an Assurance Manual under the Members Progress Model, an RFP will be crafted and sent to consultants. This step aims to gather the necessary input and expertise to develop a comprehensive manual.

 

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group: 

The Smallholders Policy-Equivalent (SPE) Taskforce has successfully presented the final recommendations to the SCB WG, marking a significant milestone in their work. They are actively working towards obtaining endorsement from the SCB WG for their final recommendations as outlined in the report.

The HCSA-HCVN Field Trials have reached an important stage, with the preliminary final report being submitted for review and assessment. The HCSA-HCVN will soon submit the final report, marking the completion of this endeavor.

In an effort to promote knowledge sharing, the digital Knowledge Sharing Platform (KSP) Taskforce organised a meeting on 24th May 2023 for SCB WG members. The objective was to facilitate a better understanding of the KSP, and the service provider has already begun developing new features for the platform.

The Indonesia National Subgroup has taken the initiative to prepare quarterly progress reports for the GAP Coaching and Disease Fighting projects, providing updates to the SCB WG.

Meanwhile, the Thailand National Subgroup is currently in the process of evaluating proposals received for the Thailand GAP Coaching project. The deadline for proposal submissions is 30th June 2023.

The Agroforestry-Income Diversification Taskforce is working to finalize the schedule of workshops planned for 2023-2024.

Lastly, the SCB WG will continue to oversee all ongoing projects.

 

Policy Toolbox Working Group: 

In order to enhance the reporting process, input has been collected from members through a survey and stakeholder-specific meetings as part of the Year 1 Reporting Review process. The feedback received will play a crucial role in informing revisions to the Reporting Matrix and disclosure requirements for Years 2 and 3, as outlined in the Transparent Reporting Roadmap (TRR). Furthermore, discussions are underway to reach an agreement on the TRR for Year 2 reporting, with the Working Group currently finalizing updates received from the OEMs. To reflect the proposed changes to the reporting matrix, the Reporting Guidance will be updated accordingly, providing clear and comprehensive guidelines for reporting.

The Working Group has carefully selected consultant Petra Westerlaan to propose a quantitative orientation for the reporting matrix. This includes conducting a crosswalk analysis with other established reporting frameworks such as CDP Forest, GRI, and ZSL-SPOTT. The integration of quantification will not only facilitate data aggregation but also simplify the evaluation of annual progress. The consultant’s proposed revisions to the reporting framework will be evaluated and decided upon, and recommendations will be made to improve the reporting process and timelines.

In parallel, the Compliance Panel Terms of Reference (TOR) and operational guidance are being finalized based on the Assurance Model, ensuring a robust framework for ensuring compliance and accountability.

 

Shared Responsibility Working Group: 

During the face-to-face meeting, the Governance and Guiding principles were presented, highlighting their importance in shaping the future direction of GPSNR. Manufacturers are now required to seek internal approval regarding the Governance Framework and subsequently provide a final version for approval to the GPSNR Executive Committee (EC) and General Assembly.

The SR WG is actively engaged in defining an inclusive shared investment framework, encompassing various forms of contribution such as in-kind support, financial contributions, and external funding. The outcomes of discussions at the Manufacturers category level will play a crucial role in shaping this framework.

Collaborating with the Secretariat and other WGs, the SR WG is committed to revamping discussions on data sharing and value transfer, recognizing their significance in achieving our objectives. These discussions will seek to optimize the sharing of data and the value derived from it.

To provide clarity and transparency, the WG aims to define the value and benefits associated with each category within GPSNR, ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of the advantages and opportunities available.

Furthermore, the WG, in collaboration with the Capacity Building WG, is working on developing a protocol to filter and evaluate proposals based on the Equity definition and the stakeholders identified by the EC. This process will ensure fair and comprehensive evaluation of proposals.

Lastly, an open co-chair position is available, and volunteers are welcomed to contribute their expertise and leadership to drive the WG forward. If you are interested in taking on this role, please step forward and join us in this important endeavor.

By establishing effective governance, inclusive investment frameworks, and clear protocols, we are working towards a sustainable and equitable future for the natural rubber industry. Your participation and engagement are vital to our collective success.

News

Secretariat Update – August 2019

The signing of the MoU took place at IRSG’s Office in Singapore, on the 6 August 2019 by Mr Salvatore Pinizzotto, IRSG Secretary General and Mr Stefano Savi, GPSNR Director. The MoU will have the aim of consolidating, developing and detailing the cooperation between the two organisations. It will also contribute to the effectiveness to achieve the organisations’ common objectives in the field of sustainable production and consumption of natural rubber.

The cooperation will have a focus on Sustainability in the Natural Rubber Value Chain, particularly in relation to socio-economic and environmental aspects linked to the natural rubber sustainable production and consumption. Immediate opportunities for collaboration have been identified in the following areas: 

  1. Definition of Natural Rubber Sustainability and identification of appropriate standards, building on the activity carried out from IRSG in the SNR-i project.
  2. Natural Rubber Sustainability and socio-economic impacts on smallholders in producing countries.
  3. Land tenure right and sustainable income of smallholders in producing countries.
  4. Impact of climate change in rubber plantations and mitigation of risks.

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) was established in 1944 and is the only intergovernmental organization that brings the world’s rubber producing and consuming stakeholders together. The IRSG is the forum for the discussion of matters affecting the supply and demand for natural as well as synthetic rubber. IRSG is at the forefront in conducting activities and research on the sustainability of the natural rubber economy. IRSG has 36 member Governments and more than 700 industry members covering the whole natural rubber value chain.

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international, multistakeholder, voluntary membership organization, with a mission to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in November 2017. Currently the Platform has 51 Members including Producers, Processors & Traders, Tire makers and other rubber makers/buyers, Carmakers, other downstream users and Financial Institutions, and Civil society.

Representatives from each of these stakeholder groups have contributed to the development of the Singapore-based platform and the wide-reaching set of priorities that will define GPSNR strategy and objectives.

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