ZSL #048 The rubber story and the road to sustainability

What do car tyres, yoga mats and trainers have in common? They all contain natural rubber, tapped from trees by millions of small farmers, mostly in Asia. While natural rubber production is renewable, its impact on the environment through deforestation, habitat loss and soil degradation, can be great when not managed sustainably.

In this episode, we hear from a Thai rubber farmer, about the challenges faced on the ground, as well as one of the world’s biggest tyre makers, Michelin, about rubber’s colonial history, its tangled supply chains, and how they’re working with farmers on sustainability. Finally, we explore how investors can use their influence to demand better practices and drive industry-wide change that benefits both people and nature.

This episode is part of a series showcasing ZSL’s Sustainable Business and Finance work.

Overview

00:15    Harriet McAra, Host of Wild Science, and Rachel Poluan, ZSL SPOTT Team: Episode introduction 02:58    Introduction to the natural rubber sector and how rubber is produced 07:30    Edouard De Rostolan, Michelin: The historical legacy of rubber production and supply chains 12:54    Exploring ESG risks and opportunities 23:52    Khun Soontorn, a rubber smallholder in Thailand: A smallholder perspective 32:04    Agroforestry and the environmental aspects of rubber farms 41:38    Joe Horrocks Taylor, Columbia Threadneedle: How can investors and buyers affect change? 1:02:15    Rachel Poluan, summary and outro

Resources

• If there’s a topic you’d like to hear on a future podcast, or if you’d like to share your thoughts, email the ZSL Wild Science Podcast at: [email protected]
• Check out our science and conservation work at: www.zsl.org/Science or www.zsl.org/conservation
• SPOTT: https://www.spott.org/
• Natural rubber: SPOTT’S ESG policy transparency assessments: https://www.spott.org/natural-rubber/
• SPOTT training hub: https://www.spott.org/training-hub/
• Help keep SPOTT going. Without continued funding, these assessments can’t continue. Donate today at https://donate.zsl.org/spott/ or email [email protected]
• Find out more about ZSL’s Sustainable Business and Finance team: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business 

Get in touch 

• Email [email protected] with your questions, comments, and thoughts for future episodes!
• Find us @ZSLScience on X or @zslofficial.bsky.social on BlueSky and use the hashtag #ZSLWildScience
• Follow us on Facebook @ZSLScienceAndConservation
• Email [email protected] for questions about SPOTT assessments, methodology, or partnership.
• Follow SPOTT on LinkedIn @ZSL SPOTT, X @zslspott or BlueSky ‪@zslspott.bsky.social‬ ‬‬‬‬‬
• ZSL’s Sustainable Business and Finance team offers advisory services to help companies and investors take practical, science-based action for nature. Get in touch: https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/working-with-business/advisory-services