Natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) is a species of rubberwood that is native to rainforests in the Amazon region of Brazil, South America. The important rubber plantation area is in the Malay Peninsula due to the favorable weather and topography, causing the rubber to have been widely cultivated across the area since 1882. Natural rubber serves as an important raw material in 4 types of rubber products: 1) Automotive tires, such as truck tires, vehicles used in the agricultural industry, motorcycle tires, and airplane tires; 2) Rubber products used in engineering or industry, such as automotive parts and industrial rubber parts. And rubber products used in construction such as belts, rubber hoses, and rubber rollers; 3) Rubber products from latex such as gloves, condoms, elastic bands, balloons, and medical equipment; and 4) other rubber products such as rubber shoes, shoe soles, rubber bands, sports products, toys, and baby pacifiers. The EU classifies natural rubber as critical raw materials (CRMs), which are raw materials of high economic importance for the EU with a high risk of supply disruption due to their concentration of sources and lack of good, affordable substitutes. As a result, the EU has allocated more resources to support natural rubber development to build a variety of supplies. In addition, the EU also supports the development of natural rubber from new sources in order to reduce the monopoly of natural rubber from the world's major producers and the risk of highly uncertain rubber prices.

Therefore, the EU supports research and development of natural rubber substitutes that must come from sustainable sources and are plants that can be grown in Europe to reduce dependency on imports and to build stability in the supply and price of natural rubber. The plants that can use as natural rubber substitutes are in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). For instance, 1) the Guayule tree is a drought-tolerant grass that originated in Mexico. It takes only 3 years to grow. Furthermore, the quality of the rubber is comparable to that of para rubber and can be grown in arid areas or the Mediterranean region. In addition, there have been no reports of substances causing allergic reactions. However, the production costs are still very high and can only be used with certain products (source: Arak Chunthuma, Rubber Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand); and 2) Dandelion is a weed that grows well even in deteriorated soil. It is resistant to climate change, and the amount of latex extracted from dandelion roots is 10 times greater than that from rubber trees in the same cultivation. In addition, it can harvest 3 times per year. Therefore, it is easy to replant or expand production capacity. However, the cost of extracting latex is still very high. In addition, there is very little supply of automobile tires using natural rubber from new plants on the market (source: The Office of Agricultural Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy Brussels).

The Thai Rubber Association (TRA) recognizes the importance of natural rubber substitute information movement occurring around the world because it will directly affect natural rubber. Therefore, the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) will continue gathering information about natural rubber substitutes to present to members.

Mr. Chaiyos Sincharoenkul

President

The Thai Rubber Association