WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FAIR RUBBER PREMIUM?
Since the founding of the Fair Rubber Association in 2012, members have paid the Fair Rubber Premium for about 10,600 tons of Dry Rubber Content (DRC). That means, smallholder groups as well as joint bodies of plantations working with Fair Rubber have received 5,300,000 EURO in premiums during this period (as of December 2025). They have used the premium money for a wide variety of projects, depending on their needs and circumstances: from direct cash payments to supplement their income to the construction of a biogas plant.
SUCCESS STORIES
Some examples of how the premiums are used:
- Initial investment for income-generating group projects in Thailand: The premium has been and continues to be used to generate additional income for the participants, for example through
mushroom cultivation, chicken farming, pig farming and compost production; - A rubber tree nursery in Indonesia, to enable members to carry out affordable reforestation of unused, fallow land;
- An agroforestry project run by smallholders in Indonesia, which is using small plots to test how mixed cultivation of rubber with bananas, yuca and other fruits can generate additional yields;
- Expansion of processing capacity within a smallholder group in Sri Lanka, enabling new members to be admitted;
- The construction of a biogas unit to clean water and gas supply for a smallholder group in Sri Lanka.
MEDICAL EXPENSES
If there is not enough money for necessary operations or medication, plantation workers can receive a top-up payment from the Fair Rubber Premium.
FINALLY ELECTRICITY
21 families of plantation workers in Sri Lanka have been provided with electricity, so that their children can do their homework even after dark.
PENSION SCHEME
A private supplementary pension scheme for rubber plantation workers has been introduced at a plantation in India – made possible by payments from the Fair
Rubber Premium.
BETTER HOUSING
After termites have eaten the old house, a new house was constructed for Upatissa family.
ENGAGED – MARRIED
Hosting a wedding for up to 500 people is expensive. In Sapumalkande, you can at least rent pots and pans for family celebrations and other occasions now.
COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND FUN
Running shoes and light at night – Sports and fun are important as well.
FINALLY SHOWERING
Before the public shower had been installed, one could only wash in the river.
CLEAN TAP WATER
Thanks to the Fair Rubber Premium, staff accommodation at the Frocester plantation in Sri Lanka has been connected to a clean drinking water supply. This benefits 64 families.
SCHOLARSHIP ENABLES EDUCATION
A scholarship funded by the Fair Rubber Premium enables Niksan and many others to study or undertake vocational training.
BRIDGE MAKES CONNECTIONS
So far, families from Govinna had to make a big detour, now they have a bridge.
JOY OF PLAYING IN KINDERGARTEN
Climbing scaffolds, swings and a new paint have been paid by Fair Rubber Premium money.
NEW ROOFS
Hurricane victims received new roofing sheets for their houses.
