Itochu to help Asian rubber farmers address EU deforestation law

Project Tree Indonesia being set up to let tire manufacturers track compliance

20250528 Rubber

A worker taps rubber trees in Aceh Utara, Indonesia in 2020: A tracking system to be introduced by Itochu will help farmers comply with a new European Union anti-deforestation law. © AP

SHOTARO TANI

TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Itochu plans to launch a tracking system to help Southeast Asia's rubber farmers cope with a European Union anti-deforestation law that will soon come into force, potentially easing the pressure on smallholder producers.

Itochu will set up a new company, called Project Tree Indonesia, to deploy a track and trace system. This will allow manufacturers of tires, which use about 70% of the natural rubber produced worldwide, to determine whether the rubber used in their products is compliant with the EU's deforestation regulation (EUDR).

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.