China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are pillars in the global natural rubber landscape, accounting for 80% of production worldwide. Recognizing the importance of sustainable practices in this key sector, FSC Asia-Pacific has launched the Changemaker Series to connect the demand and supply of sustainably sourced, certified commodities. The series debuted with a commodity-focused roundtable in Krabi, Thailand, zeroing in on Sustainable Natural Rubber.
“This first-of-its-kind event aimed to build a cadre of change agents—showcasing to the biggest brands directly the impact that we make with smallholders and in forests. The idea is to drive FSC from niche to norm across value chains,” said Neha Simlai, Head of Market Development in FSC APAC.
Day 1: Exclusive Roundtable
This two-day event united stakeholders—smallholders, producers, processors, suppliers, buyers, and global brands from the footwear, sports, and mobility sectors. Day 1 featured an Exclusive Roundtable where participants shared expert advice and discussed industry trends. Significant interest was raised regarding the EUDR and the challenges of fulfilling traceability requirements among smallholders with limited resources. Ecosystem Services also garnered substantial interest during the discussions, highlighting the tangible value added to our impact. As Sean Nyquist, Value Chain Development Manager, noted, “The FSC Rubber Roundtable brought together stakeholders from across the value chain, from smallholders to world-renowned brands, to elaborate on challenges, progress, and future steps towards a unified vision to protect the world’s forests.”
Day 2: A Journey into Smallholder Rubber Plantations
Day 2 was a heartfelt experience hosted by Maiprae Loyen at AGRIAC’s FSC-certified smallholder rubber plantations. We began with a 4-km walk through the plantation, mimicking the early mornings and hardships of smallholders. The happy farmers welcomed us with honey, durian, hand-drip coffee, and mulberry wine—all fruits of their labour. Guests were mesmerised by the warm hospitality and experiences while witnessing the farmers' efforts to safeguard and enhance the forests they depend on for their livelihood. Following this warm reception, we visited the rubber tapping exercise, cup-lump collection centre, and rubber sheet production facility, highlighting the vital role of smallholders in the rubber value chain and the benefits of FSC certification in improving their communities and ensuring sustainable practices.
FSC APAC Regional Director Cindy Cheng concluded the event by emphasising, “We are glad to see participants prioritising smallholders' benefits, highlighting the importance and relevance of our Asia-Pacific Regional Forest Stewardship Standard (AP RFSS). Collaboration is imperative. We can catalyse transformative, systematic change across global supply chains by harnessing the collective power of industry leaders and key players.”