In Indonesia, most natural rubber is grown on very small plots of land. The landowners, and other tappers, often rely on additional jobs to support themselves and their families. Our supplier partner Yayasan Adil Makmur in Indonesia brings together 4,429 active rubber tappers in the Lebak (Banten) region, about a 2- to 3-hour drive from Jakarta. In total, they farm 3,069 hectares of land. As a group, they have better access to resources and benefit, for example, from their collaboration with Fair Rubber.
The natural rubber they harvest is mainly used in Schwalbe brand bicycle tires. As a Fair Rubber partner, the group receives a Fair Trade premium of 50 cents per kilogram of dry rubber sold. The premium is paid directly to the group, and its members decide for themselves how to use it.
The premium provides people with basic necessities
At Adil Makmur, the largest portion of the premium is distributed to members in quarterly payments. Although last year’s harvests were smaller than planned due to heavy rains—resulting in a lower premium—the group is satisfied with the outcome. For many members, these payments were crucial for improving their access to food and essential everyday items.
Another portion of the Fair Rubber premium funds Adil Makmur’s foundation work. This includes, for example, advising members, organizing the general assembly, managing the premium funds, and, last year, establishing an internal management system. Without well-structured and efficient foundation work, it would not be possible to ensure compliance with the Fair Rubber criteria across the group’s members’ various plantings. Through this advisory work, the tappers learn new options for fertilisation and harvesting that can contribute to higher yields and improved environmental protection.
Agroforestry instead of monoculture: a new forest is taking shape
In addition, the group had set two ambitious goals for 2025 and achieved them: First, 8% of the premium was invested in reforestation and new plantings. This made it possible to establish 13 hectares of new agroforestry. Unlike monocultures, this form of cultivation provides more habitat for biodiversity. Although harvesting rubber in mixed crops is more time-consuming because the trees are spaced further apart, the non-productive years of young rubber trees can be offset by harvesting crops such as bananas, pineapples, or pepper.
Upon reaching the second milestone, members received personal protective equipment. With a relatively small amount (equivalent to approximately €3,100), 500 tappers were outfitted. They also received new work materials and accessories such as the specially curved knives used for tapping trees and bowls, which significantly ease their work.
The items were ceremoniously presented during a public event. This increased acceptance of the group’s work and made Schwalbe and Fair Rubber highly visible among the members. This is crucial for cooperation and communication between the partners. Only in this way can Fair Rubber’s guidance and monitoring of the tappers’ group achieve measurable success.
Social programs strengthen the local community
Investments in the local community are also important for the people on the ground. These are distributed across four programs focusing on clean water, road construction, prayer rooms, and education.
“The use of the premium at Adil Makmur reflects the broad impact and maturity of the joint project,” says Jens Timmerbeil from Schwalbe. “It is fascinating to see how such far-reaching community impacts can be achieved with what are, in some cases, minimal resources (as illustrated by the examples of protective clothing and tools).” He adds: “It’s great that the group achieved its reforestation goal!”
These contributions are of enormous importance to the health, safety, and quality of life of the tappers in Indonesia. And they make a big difference in people’s daily lives, which can be so difficult at times.