Kuala Lumpur, 18 August 2025 - FSC Malaysia has launched its second Sustainable Rubber Project in Peninsular Malaysia, following a successful pilot in Sabah. Today, project partners convened to train nearly 40 RISDA team members, many of whom will serve as Resource Managers for a new FSC Forest Management (FM) group certificate. This cohort will guide smallholders through onboarding, due diligence and continuous improvement, with the goal of building a reliable supply of FSC-certified natural rubber (NR) and rubberwood (RW) from Malaysia.
“Today’s training is a practical step towards scaling responsible rubber and rubberwood. With RISDA’s support structure in place and strong buyer interest already coming in, we’re positioning Malaysia as a regional supplier of responsibly sourced NR and RW - while protecting forests and improving rural livelihoods, through FSC-certification standards,” said Charmaine Chee, Country Director, FSC Malaysia.
What the training covered
- Why sustainable production of natural rubber and rubberwood matters for forests, climate and communities
- How FSC certification strengthens market access, traceability and credibility for Malaysia’s producers
- Requirements of FSC FM certification standards and audit assessment
- The practical role of Resource Managers in group certification (onboarding, data collection, field guidance, continuous improvement)
- Using CMO Empower to streamline smallholder onboarding, due diligence and audit readiness
Since the project’s inception, partners have received numerous enquiries from international and local buyers seeking FSC-certified rubber and rubberwood—underscoring sustained market demand for responsibly sourced materials.
What’s next
The team will begin onboarding at the first site in Melaka, before expanding to additional priority regions.
Project partners:
CMO Malaysia; International Furniture Alliance Sdn Bhd (supply chain specialist); WWF-Malaysia (co-funder); RISDA Plantation Sdn Bhd, with support from RISDA Holdings.