In light of the recent developments on travel restrictions, the IRSG Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Organising Committee of the World Rubber Summit (WRS) 2020 have postponed the conference until September 2020. The new dates will be communicated in due course.
The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) and the Forests, Trees and Agroforestry research program of the CGIAR (FTA) led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) have decided to collaborate on issues related to the sustainability of natural rubber production in order to support sustainable development of the natural rubber economy.
The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) and the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) designed to detail and define efforts to increase cooperation between the two bodies.
The IRSG has welcomed a new member, the Plastics Institute of Thailand. The Plastics Institute of Thailand is the eighth specialised network institution under the foundation development industry, ministry of industry approved by a cabinet resolution on 16 November 2010. Its goals are: Technology and management development; increasing marketing capabilities; and creating a plastic industry database.
In parallel with the International Rubber Study Group’s (IRSG) 75th Anniversary, the association has organised a photo competition to pay tribute to women’s contribution in the rubber industry. The contest is supported by Singapore Committee for UN Women and prizes are sponsored by Namazie International.
Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has signed up as a participant in the International Rubber Study Group’s Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i). As a result, the tyre maker says it has “now committed itself to enacting measures in conformity with the initiative’s guidelines.”
Bridgestone Corporation shares that its subsidiary in Singapore has signed the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i) on behalf of the global Bridgestone group. By signing this declaration, Bridgestone says declares its intention to support and abide by worldwide guidelines for responsible procurement of natural rubber. The company also has committed itself to maintaining active involvement in the SNR-i pilot phase.
The organisers of the World Rubber Summit 2015 have secured the presence of Michelin senior vice-president and chief procurement officer Luc Minguet as a keynote speaker. According to SingEx Exhibitions and the International Rubber Study Group, Minguet will provide key insights on how Michelin is putting its aims of making transportation cleaner, safer, more accessible and affordable into action. “He will share practical examples of programmes and initiatives which Michelin are developing in their procurement chain that contribute towards attaining the company’s vision of sustainable mobility,” reports SingEx.
The Secretariat of the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) has published its annual report, which suggests total world rubber demand will increase at 1.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent in 2015 and 2016 respectively. This is below the long-term growth rate of 3.7 per cent under the IMF Scenario (the report refers to three scenarios – IMF, downside and oil price) to 29.1 million tonnes in 2015 and to 30.3 million tonnes in 2016.