Para Rubber Tree
Brazil
Para rubber tree plantations, covering 10,000 hectares, offer substantial claimable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions when managed sustainably. Using agroforestry systems and intercropping with nitrogen-fixing plants, these plantations sequester carbon in both biomass and soil, achieving reductions of approximately 1.5–2 tCO₂e/ha/year. This results in a total reduction of 15,000–20,000 tCO₂e annually. By sourcing natural rubber from these plantations, businesses can offset Scope 3 emissions associated with their supply chains, reducing the need to purchase carbon removals. At $100 per tonne, this represents a potential cost savings of $1.5–2 million per year, while supporting sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation.
Absolute reductions are calculated as a delta between the baseline calculation and the lower GhG inventory from regenerative practices. The baseline is derived from calculating the GhG fluxes on adjacent land with similar topography and vegetation that utilize business-as-usual practices. The purchaser is able to reduce their scope 3 category 1 emissions when they finalize payment on their order.
By procuring commodities with lower emissions, businesses can reduce their Scope 3 emissions directly and/or eliminate the need to purchase separate carbon removals for those emissions.
At $100 per tonne of CO₂e, these reductions provide significant cost savings while aligning procurement with climate goals. This approach offers a practical pathway for companies to lower their carbon footprint through sustainable sourcing.