- Any company supplying natural rubber to Apollo Tyres’ two European production facilities, in the Netherlands and Hungary, must now comply with code of conduct set out by the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)
- Suppliers must avoid unsustainable practices that can negatively impact the climate, wildlife, human rights and local economies
- Policy has prompted significant changes in Apollo Tyres’ European Supply Chain; new natural rubber supply agreements established
- All Apollo and Vredestein branded tyres in Europe will be produced using sustainable natural rubber
- Company recently also secured ISO 20400 certification for sustainable procurement
Apollo Tyres is now sourcing 100% of its natural rubber supplies from companies who have committed to sustainability throughout the supply chain, aligning with the code of conduct set out by the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). The new initiative, which came into full effect recently, and forms part of Apollo Tyres’ Global Sustainability Strategy, applies to the supply of natural rubber to the company’s two European production facilities in the Netherlands and Hungary.
The new commitment has already led to significant changes in Apollo Tyres’ European supply chain, with the company establishing new natural rubber supply agreements with businesses that have sustainable sourcing or traceable-to-plantation policies.
As a result, all tyres produced at Apollo Tyres’ facilities in Europe, will now be made using natural rubber sourced from suppliers that have a commitment to the GPSNR policy framework – avoiding unsustainable practices that might negatively impact the climate, wildlife, human rights and local economies.
“Global demand for tyres is on the rise, driven by increasing automobile sales and the growth of ride-hailing services, and we are determined to ensure that we – and the suppliers we rely upon – grow in a sustainable way,” says Benoit Rivallant, President and CEO of Apollo Tyres Europe. “Natural Rubber is an environment friendly raw material, but only if it’s sourced sustainably. It’s our job to work with companies across the value chain to ensure total transparency and help the tyre industry manage its environmental and societal impacts.”
In addition to supporting its own sustainability strategy, Apollo Tyres is using the GPSNR commitment to align with the environmental goals of its global customers, which includes a number of leading vehicle manufacturers with which it has original equipment supply agreements.
Apollo Tyres secures ISO 20400 certification
In its global sustainability journey, Apollo Tyres has also recently secured ISO 20400 certification, which defines requirements for sustainable procurement, including accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and ethical behaviour, and highlights key considerations such as risk management and priority setting.
The ISO 20400 provides guidelines to purchasing managers for incorporating sustainability into an organisation’s procurement processes. It integrates environmental, economic and social aspects into the procurement decision making ensuring that the sourcing of raw material, such as natural rubber, aligns with the standard to create an industry-wide culture of sustainability.
Founded in 2018, the GPSNR is an international, multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership organisation with a mission to lead improvements in the socio-economic and environmental impact of the natural rubber value chain. The organisation has over 200 members representing more than 55% of the global natural rubber value chain, including tyre makers, automakers and raw material producers. Members such as Apollo Tyres are asked to commit to the vision and mission of the platform, as well as 12 sustainable natural rubber principles laid out in the Founding Member Statement and the GPSNR Policy Framework. These principles include legal compliance, human rights, community, product efficiency, supply chain traceability and policy.
