Michelin begin eco-friendly rubber research

Michelin has embarked on a joint-venture project in Indonesia to produce rubber which is natural and eco-friendly. 

It will involve the reforestation of three areas covering 88,000 hectares, half of which will be planted to produce some 80,000 tonnes of natural rubber per annum with the remainder earmarked to create a natural environment and to grow community crops.

Under an agreement with WWF, Michelin will conduct research and promote best practices in rubber tree plantation and the extraction and transformation of latex among international bodies representing the rubber industry. The project will create some 16,000 local jobs.