No Deforestation, No Peatland
Core GPSNR Policy Framework commitments prohibiting deforestation and peatland development in NR sourcing.
Sustainability & Circular Economy
Natural Rubber Responsible Sourcing (GPSNR Compliance)
Supply chain traceability, deforestation risk assessment, smallholder engagement, and EUDR readiness across Southeast Asian natural rubber supply chains.
2018
GPSNR Founded
Established with Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and major NR traders as founding members
2025
EUDR Applicable
Due diligence requirement effective from 2025 for large operators
3
Countries Supply Majority
Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia collectively supply most global NR production
0
Market Access Without DDS
Products cannot be placed on the EU market without a due diligence statement
The Most Complex Raw Material in the Sustainability Portfolio
Natural rubber is the most complex raw material in the tire industry's sustainability portfolio. Sourced predominantly from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia - three countries that collectively supply the majority of global NR production - natural rubber cultivation and processing involves a supply chain characterized by smallholder farm fragmentation, limited traceability infrastructure, land-use change pressure in biodiversity-sensitive regions, and labor practice variability that is difficult to verify from the purchasing manufacturer's position. These characteristics make natural rubber sourcing the focal point of two converging regulatory frameworks - the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) - that together impose new standards of supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing practice on every tire manufacturer with material EU revenue exposure.
GPSNR: The Industry Policy Framework
The GPSNR framework - established in 2018 with tire manufacturers including Bridgestone, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental and major NR traders among its founding members - sets a Policy Framework for Sustainable Natural Rubber that covers no deforestation and no peatland development, no exploitation of workers or local communities, legal compliance and governance requirements, and continuous improvement commitments. GPSNR membership and the adoption of its Policy Framework is increasingly a standard expectation in OEM tire supply agreements, particularly for European OEM customers with their own supply chain sustainability commitments. For non-member manufacturers or those with members who have not yet embedded the Policy Framework into operational procurement practice, the gap between stated commitment and documented compliance is a growing commercial vulnerability.
Worker & Community Protections
Requirements addressing no exploitation of workers or local communities in the NR supply chain.
Governance & Continuous Improvement
Legal compliance, governance requirements, and continuous improvement commitments embedded in the Policy Framework.
EUDR: A Legally Binding Market Access Requirement
The EUDR imposes a more immediate and legally binding obligation. Applicable from 2025 for large operators, the regulation requires due diligence - including geolocation data for the land from which rubber was sourced and verified compliance with relevant country-of-origin legislation - before natural rubber-containing products can be placed on or exported from the EU market. The consequence of non-compliance is not merely a regulatory fine but market access denial: product cannot be placed on the EU market without the due diligence statement. For tire manufacturers supplying EU OEM customers or selling into the EU replacement market, EUDR readiness is a commercial prerequisite.
Geolocation Due Diligence
Due diligence requiring geolocation data for the land from which rubber was sourced.
Country-of-Origin Verification
Verified compliance with relevant country-of-origin legislation before products can be placed on the EU market.
Market Access Consequence
Non-compliance results in market access denial, not merely a regulatory fine.
Our Responsible Sourcing Program Design
Radial Insights designs responsible sourcing programs and GPSNR compliance frameworks that address the full scope of these obligations. Our work covers NR supply chain mapping and traceability gap analysis, GPSNR Policy Framework adoption roadmap design, EUDR due diligence system implementation including data collection protocols for geolocation verification, smallholder engagement program design for manufacturers whose supply chains include significant smallholder farm exposure, and ongoing compliance monitoring system design. We draw on our primary interview network with NR traders, plantation operators and regulatory bodies to ground every compliance program in the actual information architecture and verification infrastructure that exists at the farm level in the key supply geographies.
Ready to Build Your GPSNR & EUDR Compliance Program?
Our Sustainability and Circular Economy team brings supply chain traceability expertise and primary NR trader relationships to every responsible sourcing engagement.
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