Natural Rubber Symposium

“Sustainability of Natural Rubber : Latest Challenge and Solutions”

“A 1-day meeting for discussing and exchanging expert ideas and opinions in order to tackle the critical issues facing the sustainability of natural rubber industry today.”

Natural rubbers (NRs) as a whole are indispensable materials for our future mobility, health and well-being. They are derived from nature, hence are renewable, and are truly sustainable rubbery materials compared with the fossil-based synthetic rubbers (SRs). However, the knowledge of their structures, properties and many potential applications are still incomplete. Certain unsolved problems of NR still exist despite extensive past research and development, which might hinder its wider uses ; examples are : 1. The molecular structure and bulk structure of NR 2. The inconsistent properties of NR 3. The Odour of NR 4. Commercial viability of chemically modified NR 5. Allergic properties of NR. Solutions to these issues of NR must ultimately be found, with some sense of urgency, if the targets of the rubber industry in achieving sustainability and net-zero carbon emission are to be met.

Natural Rubber Symposium will provide a premier opportunity for rubber researchers and users alike to learn about new knowledge and novel technologies which have been recently developed in connection with sustainability issues of NR and discuss about their possible total solutions.

The Symposium will focus on the following topics:

1. Sustainability of NR Supplies
2. Quality of NR
3. Biodegradation of NR and NR Products
4. Safety of NR Products
5. The Future of Chemically Modified NR
6. Novel Applications of Non-rubber Constituents

Natural Rubber Symposium Programme

Topics	Time	Presentation Titles	Speakers
Sustainability of NR Supplies	09.00 - 9.30	Global Efforts to Ensure Sustainability of NR Supplies	Stefano Savi (Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber)
Sustainability of NR Supplies	09.30 - 10.00	The Role of Thailand Contributing to Sustainability of NR Supplies	Dr. Napawan Lekawipat (Rubber Authority of Thailand, Thailand)
Quality of NR	10.00 - 10.30	Novel Green Technologies for Production of User-friendly and Consistent Properties NR	Dr. Nantina Moonprasith (National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Thailand)
	10.30 - 10.45	Break
	10.45 - 11.15	From Tree to Technological Materials: Turning Natural Rubber into a Game-changer for More Sustainable and Performing Products	Poonyawat Prateeprat (Michelin)
Biodegradation of NR and NR Products	11.15 - 11.45	Perspective on Dipped Rubber Product Biodegradability: MRB Research Highlights and Future Pathways	Shabinah Filza Binti Mohd Sharib (Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysia)
	11.45 - 12.15	Study of Biodegradation Efficiency of Natural Rubber Products by Various Microorganism	Dr. Nattawut Boonyuen (National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand)
	12.15 - 13.00	Lunch
Safety of NR Products	13.00 - 13.30	Reducing Extractable Protein in Latex Gloves to Lower Latex Allergy: Evidence from Thailand and International Studies	Dr. Naesinee Chaiear (Khon Khan University, Thailand)
Safety of NR Products	13.30 - 14.00	From Allergen to Assurance: A Comprehensive Review of Natural Rubber Product Safety and MRB’s Strategic Role	Dr. Aziana Binti Abu Hassan (Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysia)
Challenge and Opportunity for Future Applications of NR	14.00 - 14.30	Pioneering a Sustainable Biorefinery of Natural Rubber Serum for New Bioactives in Cosmetics, Food, Nutraceuticals, and Pharmaceuticals	Dr. Thanawat Pitakpornpreecha (Prince of Songkla University, Thailand)
	14.30 - 15.00	Utilizing Natural Rubber Seeds for Biorefinery	Koryu Kawatani (Innovare, Japan)
	15.00 - 15.15	Break
Challenge and Opportunity for Future Applications of NR (Panel Presentation and Discussion)	15.15 - 15.45	Modified Natural Rubber: Current Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges.	Dr. Krishna Veni (Malaysian Rubber Board)
	15.45 - 16.15	Challenge for the Future of NR Latexand NRL Products	Dr. Amir Hashim Yatim (Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association, Malaysia)
	16.15 - 16.45	Opportunity for Industrial Applications of NR	Dr. Banja Junhasavasdikul (Innovation Group, Thailand)
	16.45 - 17.00	Discussion