The Sustainable Natural Rubber Forum 2026, convened by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) in Kochi and hosted by the Rubber Board, has outlined a 2030 vision for transforming the global natural rubber sector with a digitally connected supply chain, improved smallholder livelihoods and industry-wide sustainability standards, according to The Hindu BusinessLine.
Forum draws 120 stakeholders to Kochi
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the forum brought together around 120 stakeholders from ANRPC member countries, industry, smallholder organisations and international partners from Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Europe. Held under the theme "Aligning Priorities for Resilient Supply Chain," the discussions focused on challenges posed by climate change, supply-chain traceability, regulatory requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and growing demand for verified sustainable materials.
M. Vasanthagesan, Executive Director, Rubber Board, said the forum demonstrated that sustainability should not be viewed merely as a compliance requirement but as an opportunity to modernise the sector, improve livelihoods and position natural rubber as one of the world's most sustainable industrial raw materials, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.
ANRPC Secretary-General Suttipong Angthong said no single stakeholder could build resilience in the sector alone; the way forward required shared investment, measurable outcomes and recognition that smallholders must remain at the centre of sustainability frameworks, according to the report.
Digital traceability: India's BSNR platform
ANRPC member countries showcased progress in sustainability and traceability systems. India presented the Bharat Sustainable Natural Rubber (BSNR) system, described as the country's first Digital Public Infrastructure-grade platform. Per The Hindu BusinessLine, the system has mapped more than 56,000 hectares, with a target of covering 150,000 hectares by March 2027.
| BSNR system metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Area mapped | More than 56,000 hectares |
| Target coverage | 150,000 hectares by March 2027 |
| Platform status | India's first Digital Public Infrastructure-grade platform |
Smallholder inclusion at the centre
Smallholder inclusion emerged as a key theme, with smallholders accounting for an estimated 85–90% of global natural rubber production, the article said. Speakers stressed that sustainability frameworks should empower farming communities rather than impose additional burdens on them.
Smallholders account for an estimated 85–90% of global natural rubber production, according to speakers at the forum.
The INROAD project, a public-private partnership involving the Central government and four tyre companies, was highlighted as a model for smallholder-focused sustainability. The report put the investment at around ₹1,100 crore ($130 million), with 83 million rubber plants distributed to more than 200,000 tribal smallholders and 300 new nurseries established in northeast India.
| INROAD project metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Investment | Around ₹1,100 crore ($130 million) |
| Rubber plants distributed | 83 million |
| Tribal smallholders reached | More than 200,000 |
| New nurseries in northeast India | 300 |
| Structure | Public-private partnership: Central government + four tyre companies |
Shared investment and climate-positive potential
Case studies presented by Michelin, Harrisons Malayalam, the Malaysian Rubber Council and the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) highlighted the role of shared investment and measurable outcomes in strengthening supply-chain resilience, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The discussions also explored the potential of natural rubber to emerge as a climate-positive material, including opportunities for carbon credits and biodiversity conservation. The forum's 2030 vision is set against a regulatory backdrop in which buyers increasingly require verified sustainable material, with EUDR among the compliance benchmarks named during the Kochi deliberations. The event was covered by The Hindu BusinessLine on August 27, 2026.
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