Updated KMG’s SNR Policy in full alignment with GPSNR

By the end of 2022 Kirana Megatara (KM) Group has released an updated version of its Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy (version 2.3).  The series of refinements in the policy document reflects the company's commitment to continuously improve its efforts towards achieving the goals of sustainable natural rubber.  This version is simultaneously recognized to be in full alignment with the policy framework of GPSNR (Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber), of which KM Group is one of the PPT (Producer, Processor, and Tyre Maker) group members.  Other GPSNR groups include direct rubber users such as the global tire industry, consumers of rubber products such as the global automotive industry, and the group of civil society organizations (CSOs).

Every year the company has always looked to raise the quality and to expand the coverage of its sustainability programs, especially within its factory work environment.  For instance, in the case of environmental protection, all factories have annually been awarded various degrees of the Green Industry Standard and the Proper Standard, from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, respectively.  Yet the biggest challenge to sustainability is in domain of the supply-chain network, which lies beyond the factory premises, and hence beyond the KMG effective control.  To address this challenge, the company has long pursued a strategy of directly engaging farmer groups into long-term partnerships to encourage the adoption of sustainability principles into their plot management.  Surely there are still key social and environmental aspects that are not fully addressed yet by the existing partnership scheme and those will be subject for future improvements.

The company realizes that achieving the goals of sustainable natural rubber must involve the participation of local stakeholders in the rubber production regions, involving local government and business actors, such as rubber traders, seed growers, various types of cup-lump user, and so on.  KMG SNR Policy serves as a foundation to the development of the company’s sustainability roadmap of programs and activities that would also incorporate strategies for inclusive participation of local stakeholders towards a common goal.