Kraiburg Austria is now sourcing natural rubber almost directly from small farmers in Indonesia. To this end, the retreading specialist from Upper Austria signed a contract with its long-standing partner Weber & Schaer at the German Rubber Conference DKT in Nuremberg at the beginning of July. The Hamburg-based trading company is supporting the project in order to offer small farmers in the Gunung Mas region (Central Kalimantan) long-term prospects and an economic incentive, as well as to continuously increase both the quantity and quality of the rubber. Weber & Schaer works locally with Fairventures Social Forestry (FSF), the project initiator.
The social enterprise enables targeted investment opportunities in forest-based climate solutions and supports local small farmers in the marketing of their products. The aim is to increase the income of the local population by establishing a sustainable supply chain for natural rubber and to protect the remaining intact forest areas as well as to improve biodiversity and the carbon footprint. The natural rubber is sold by the small farmers directly to FSF – without the involvement of the usual middlemen. FSF in turn delivers to the producer who processes the raw material into technically specified rubber. From there, it goes to Weber & Schaer, which supplies the raw material to Kraiburg Austria. FSF wants to supply even more small farmers to participate in this programme in the future. At the same time FSF is planning to expand the inter planting of various agricultural plants in order to establish climate-friendly agroforestry systems on the land.
100 tonnes of sustainable, EUDR (EU Deforestation-free Regulation) compliant natural rubber per month
Kraiburg Austria, the family-owned company belonging to the Kraiburg Group, has always been committed to fair dealings with suppliers, partners and employees as well as credible environmental awareness. “We are delighted to be the first private company to be a partner in this sustainable and social project,” emphasises Stefan Mayrhofer, Managing Director of Kraiburg Austria. “The contract, which fulfils the requirements of the ‘EUDR’, provides for a monthly delivery of 100 tons of natural rubber. The project is subsidised via the rubber price. However, the prices for our customers will not change.” The Upper Austrians have had a business relationship with Weber & Schaer, a traditional company in northern Germany, for more than six decades. Founded in 1844, the company specialises in the supply of high-quality raw materials for the rubber, plastics and adhesives industries and is Europe’s leading importer of natural rubber and latex. “We have always attached great importance to quality and sustainability,” emphasises Managing Director René Marc Weber. “Kraiburg Austria is absolutely on an equal footing in these areas. With our agreement, we are both making a contribution to improving the CO2 balance on the one hand and promoting both biodiversity and the well-being of local people on the other.” New life for tyres – the sustainable, new cooperation also revitalises Kraiburg Austria’s claim.
