Michelin Group Announce Zero Deforestation Commitment

The leading international tyre manufacturer, Michelin Group, has announced a zero deforestation natural rubber procurement policy. The policy is based on the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach and the commitment from Michelin Group has been welcomed by Greenpeace.

Cécile Leuba, Forest campaigner for Greenpeace France: “The announcement by the Michelin group to commit to a zero deforestation natural rubber procurement policy sends a strong signal to the entire rubber sector: it will soon be more difficult to sell natural rubber that contributes to deforestation.”

“This zero deforestation commitment is just the first step: Michelin must now ensure its implementation and quickly stop sourcing from rubber growers who refuse to commit to producing zero deforestation rubber. This starts with Socfin which, is an important supplier for Michelin’s natural rubber.”

In February and May 2016, Greenpeace France published two reports, with the support of investigations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon and Liberia highlighting how Socfin’s concessions included primary forests, but also secondary forests that store significant amounts of carbon. But the company refuses to make a Zero Deforestation commitment worthy of the name.

Michelin’s commitment to protect all “High Carbon Stock” (HCS) forests confirms that the HCS Approach is today the only standard enabling corporations to implement a real “zero deforestation” commitment.

Cécile Leuba added: “After the Zero Deforestation commitment of more than 75% of the palm oil sector, as well as major pulp and paper producers in tropical areas, it is now the rubber industry stakeholders who are adopting this methodology. The decision of the Michelin group increases the risk for Socfin of being marginalized and the risk to find themselves in non-compliance with procurement policies of their major customers.”

Greenpeace France calls on all Socfin’s customers, palm oil and natural rubber consumer, to ensure that their commercial relations with Socfin continue only on the basis of implementation of a zero deforestation policy based on the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach methodology.