PROJECT TREE

Sustainable Natural Rubber for a Sustainable Future
The natural rubber industry has long been reliant on nature and local farmers working hard to produce enough rubber. However, with growing demand we increasingly encounter negative impacts such as illegal logging, unsustainable farming techniques and human rights challenges. To meet future demand ethically the industry must be more transparent and sustainable; vital to protect the environment and long term viability of livelihoods for so many people.
We are committed to evolving our natural rubber business with an approach that is fairer to all stakeholders and more sustainable for the natural environment, so that our natural rubber supply chain becomes a model of sustainability for the world. Our proprietary traceability system, for example, enables us to track and inspect our entire supply chain. Alongside this, our SDGs activities for a sustainable future will also bring added value to the supply chain which in turn will benefit our suppliers in various ways.
Our ambition is that all our stakeholders, customers and the whole of society benefit from a greener and more equitable natural rubber industry. As a player in the supply chain, we will continually develop and enhance more sustainable approaches for the natural rubber business.
- Activity Report
- News
August 2023
PROJECT TREE Sustainability Activity Quarterly Report (January to March 2023)
In the first quarter of 2023 (January-March), 983 smallholders participated in PROJECT TREE training program (Male 784, Female 199). Up to March 2023, a total of 5,100 smallholders have participated in PROJECT TREE programs from 111 villages in southern Sumatra (Male 4,260, Female 840) since PROJECT TREE was started.
April 2023
PROJECT TREE Sustainability Activity Quarterly Report (October to December 2022)
Sustainability Team has been working on PROJECT TREE through 2022 and could reach to 4,117 smallholders (Female 641 & Male 3,476) in one year. We went through 2022 which is quite difficult due to the unstable price of natural rubber, especially at the Smallholder level.
April 2023
2022, 2nd JPA Distribution
In October 2022, the second JPA has been distributed to smallholders who have contributed to the TREE Project. A total of 221 smallholders have received smartphones spread across several Collecting Points in the supply chain.
September 2022
PROJECT TREE is launched in Japan with Yanase and Continental
PROJECT TREE has been launched in Japanese market through Yanase’s network over 230 sales offices in Japan with Continental Tire.
Comments on PROJECT TREE
WWF
WWF acknowledges ITOCHU’s leadership to make its natural rubber supply chain transparent and sustainable, and to develop an approach how the downstream …