When someone buys tires, they usually think about how great they will ride them. But can you imagine what lies behind this business? Many millions of tires are sold worldwide every day, and an important material, natural rubber, is needed to make them. One of the largest rubber producers is Thailand. More than 4 million tonnes of rubber are harvested in this country every year. Rubber is grown under harsh conditions, dangerous herbicides are used for cultivation and working conditions are often unbearable. This business makes billions of dollars to big companies, but few people know how it affects the environment and people’s living conditions. See the document “Rubber tires – a dirty business” below, which demonstrates what the tire business really looks like.
Rubber tires — a dirty business that destroys the environment and lives
