Why our members joined Fair Rubber
We wanted to get straight to the source, so we asked our members directly: What motivates companies to be a member of Fair Rubber? What drives their sustainability and fairtrade efforts in natural rubber sourcing? And what role does the Fair Rubber logo play for their brand and business goals?
Vanessa ten Hoff, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer at Vittoria Group
Why is Vittoria a member of Fair Rubber?
Vanessa ten Hoff: “Natural rubber is a key ingredient in bicycle tire production and by deciding to use certified Fair Rubber we have the opportunity to make the difference. The conviction came specifically when we were designing our gravel tire made of 92% renewable and recycled material: to make it really sustainable, reducing the tire environmental footprint was not enough; we had to guarantee that social standards are respected. Among the possible labels out there, we chose Fair Rubber because of the direct link it creates between members and rubber tappers and particularly valued the tappers’ personal involvement in choosing what social project to invest the fair-trade premium on. This makes it feel more like a collaboration rather than a top-down approach.”
What role does certified natural rubber play in your products in terms of quality and environmental friendliness?
Vanessa ten Hoff: “Being a high-performance brand, natural rubber used in our tires has always adhered to the highest quality standards. The Fair Rubber certification is a further reassurance that the raw material we use also adheres to the highest environmental standards and that we do not stop at guaranteeing that there is no deforestation linked to our products, but we also promote thriving ecosystems.”
How does Vittoria benefit in terms of marketing and sales from being a member?
Vanessa ten Hoff: “Using Fair Rubber certified rubber gives us a competitive advantage that shows that we go beyond legal compliance. Having such a label is helping us in the selection process from the most demanding clients who set environmental and social requirements that go beyond the legal ones. With stricter controls on global supply chains, we expect demand for fair-trade products to rise. Having this certificate will therefore help our brand further differentiate itself from competitors.”
Frode Grønvold, Co-Founder & CEO of SLEEPERS
Why is SLEEPERS a member of Fair Rubber?
Frode Grønvold: “SLEEPERS is the result of our ambition to offer a better solution to the world’s most sold footwear. After having critically researched everything from recycled to algae-based compounds, we found natural rubber to be the most viable option due to its natural cycle, optimal properties, and minimal footprint. However, we were deeply concerned about promoting a commodity that was known for poor working conditions and a dark past. It is essential for us to make apositive impact on everyone in our value chain, from the workers to our customers. We want everyone to feel we are trying to do better. As a small player in a volume industry, this would have been impossible without the help and governance of Fair Rubber.”
What role does certified natural rubber play in your products in terms of quality and environmental friendliness?
Frode Grønvold: “Our certified natural rubber is at the center of our value proposition. It’s a war on plastic out there, and there is no need to put petrochemical flip-flops under your feet or on the shelves of our stores. Natural rubber is a part of a natural lifecycle and has superior properties. In a conducted blind test, 10 out of 10 prefer to slip their feet into our natural rubber flip-flops instead of plastic alternatives.”
How does SLEEPERS benefit in terms of marketing and sales from being a member?
Frode Grønvold: “Convincing the market we are trying to be the best alternative is hard without proof, and luckily, it will become even harder. The Fair Rubber license and logo is a stamp of approval that we are indeed trying. And that’s more than most. As ESG and accountability demands increase in complexity across markets, certain certifications are increasingly only possible for larger corporations. Fair Rubber has kept it simple. This allows upstarts and challengers, like ourselves, who genuinely want to do better, to be the change.”
Alexandra Fellner-Rausch, Head of Sustainability at MAM Baby
Why is MAM a member of Fair Rubber?
Alexandra Fellner-Rausch: “As an international manufacturer of premium baby products, MAM places great importance on taking responsibility across the supply chain. Especially when working with high-quality natural rubber, we focus on transparency, traceability, and fair practices. By joining the Fair Rubber Association, we ensure that the natural rubber used in our products is sourced under fair and socially responsible conditions. In doing so, we actively contribute to improving the living and working conditions of people in the producing regions – in line with our company philosophy of creating products that make life better for babies and families around the world.”
What role does certified natural rubber play in your products in terms of quality and environmental friendliness?
Alexandra Fellner-Rausch: “We care deeply that the materials we use are not only functional and safe, but also sourced under environmentally and socially responsible conditions. Natural rubber sourced through the Fair Rubber Association supports the careful use of natural resources and ensures that fair working conditions and livelihood-supporting premiums are provided to smallholder farmers and their communities. This approach directly contributes to the more sustainable sourcing of raw materials.”
How does MAM benefit in terms of marketing and sales from being a member?
Alexandra Fellner-Rausch: “The Fair Rubber label is used on our products as well as on the MAM website to highlight that the natural rubber we use is fairly traded and socially responsibly sourced. It helps us clearly communicate our commitment to ethical supply chains – particularly in dialogue with partners and stakeholders who place high value on responsible sourcing. Overall, the partnership strengthens trust in our brand and aligns with MAM’s sustainability ambitions.”
Nicolas Guerin, Founder & CEO of Hippobloo
Why is Hippobloo a member of Fair Rubber?
Nicolas Guerin: “Hippobloo is a member because we share the values of sustainability and fairness in the natural rubber trade. We became a member to show our commitment to promoting responsible practices that respect the environment and the rights of producers.”
What role does certified natural rubber play in your products / services in terms of quality and environmental friendliness?
Nicolas Guerin: “Certified natural rubber plays an essential role in our products, both in terms of quality and respect for the environment. By using this certified raw material, we guarantee that the rubber comes from responsible sources, where agricultural practices respect the environment, biodiversity and producers’ rights. This certification also ensures superior quality, as natural rubber is often purer and more durable than its alternatives. By choosing this raw material, we affirm our commitment to offering high-quality products while minimising our ecological impact. This reflects our responsibility to the planet and our customers, by prioritising an ethical and sustainable approach in the manufacture of our products.”
How does Hippobloo benefit in terms of marketing and sales from being a member?
Nicolas Guerin: “Being a member of Fair Rubber offers us many advantages in terms of marketing and sales. The use of the Fair Rubber logo on our products and in our communications strengthens credibility and confidence with consumers who are increasingly sensitive to ethics and sustainability. This allows us to differentiate ourselves in the market by highlighting our commitment to a responsible rubber industry. This affiliation contributes to the company’s reputation by showing that it supports fair and environmentally friendly practices, which can attract a committed and loyal clientele.”
Oliver Gothe, Managing Director of FAIR SQUARED
Why is FAIR SQUARED a member of Fair Rubber?
Oliver Gothe: “FAIR SQUARED is a founding member of Fair Rubber because we are committed to sourcing our raw materials exclusively from fair trade sources. A large portion of our products is made from natural rubber, and in the past, conditions on rubber plantations were particularly dire. Through Fair Rubber, we have been able to find reliable producer partners and support a transparent fair trade premium system, which also allows us to make solid and credible marketing claims.”
What role does certified natural rubber play in your products / services in terms of quality and environmental friendliness?
Oliver Gothe: “Natural rubber is a proven, sustainable raw material suitable for a wide range of product applications. It is increasingly replacing synthetic plastics. The Hevea Brasiliensis tree, from which most natural rubber latex is extracted, binds a significant amount of CO2 and, in our case, is cultivated through sustainable forestry practices.”
How does FAIR SQUARED benefit in terms of marketing and sales from being a member?
Oliver Gothe: “Thanks to the growing number of ethically committed licensees, the Fair Rubber logo has been made known to a large number of consumers through their products over the years. Trusted and without controversy, it has stood for fairly traded natural rubber products since 2012. It has rightfully earned its place in the jungle of ethical certification initiatives. Naturally, such a logo is a valuable asset in communication.”