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OpportunitiesM E M B E R S H I P“Molding a globally competitive industry for a better Canada.”RubberAssociation.ca • industrial hose and belting• molded and extruded rubber products• mixed rubber compound• rubber chemicals (polymers, fillers and additivies)• roll coverings• pneumatic and solid tires • protective linings • sealing products • rubber process and testing machinery • rubber recycling (crumb, mats, parts) Are you involved in manufacturing or sales?WHO IS THE RUBBER ASSOCIATION OF CANADA? - The Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) is the national trade association representing the interests of rubber manufacturers and importers of rubber goods into Canada, together with rubber recyclers and suppliers whose goods or services directly relate to our industry. The RAC was founded in 1920, and has provided leadership and service to the industry as it has grown and evolved to become what it is today.The current mandate of our Association:• Foster relationships with Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments and other bodies that impact the industry and its members;• Explore ways of improving industry competitiveness and efficiency in its operations;• Promote expansion and profitability of the industry;• Promote our products and their safe and efficient use with consumers;• Lead the industry in product stewardship and efficient recycling of rubber products • Enhance the standing of the Canadian rubber industry with the public.INFORMATION NETWORK - One of the core competencies of RAC is our extensive network of contacts and affiliations within government and in-dustry, both domestic and international. This means we can usually put you in touch with the person or organization that can best help answer your ques-tions, saving you time and energy. The Association’s biennial Executive Seminar for example provides a great arena for networking in the rubber industry. Here are just a few of our key relationships:TECHNICAL SUPPORT, STANDARDS & WORKING COMMITTEES - The Rubber Association of Canada provides leadership to its members through a number of working committees. Through this structure, members can discuss issues affecting a cross section of industry, can work together to share ideas, identify problems and develop industry solutions that would not be otherwise possible. Committees also often work with government agencies in areas of regulatory reform, compliance strategies, and member education.Human Resources Committee - This Committee reviews matters relating to labour relations, employ-ment benefits and employment standards. A wage and benefit survey is conducted and shared by partici-pating members.Environmental Committee - Environmental compliance strategies and industry best practices are shared with members’ environmental representatives as a means of improving the environmental performance of the rubber industry. Tire Statistical & Research Committee - The RAC collects detailed product shipment data from mem-bers, generating a database from which members can draw valuable consolidated information about the market they serve. This Committee meets several times per year to review shipment data and forecasting for future product demands.Tire Technical Committee - This Committee meets jointly with Transport Canada, the regulatory body for tires in Canada, to exchange information and provide important input into the regulatory process. The Committee serves its group of members (tire manufacturers) and consumers well by reviewing and provid-ing support in communicating tire service bulletins and proper tire maintenance practices through the Be Tire Smart - Play Your P.A.R.T. Campaign. Public Relations Committee - In today’s world, how the public perceives an industry and its products is paramount to its reputation and credibility. Safety, environmental performance and end of product life stewardship are among the important subjects addressed collectively for the rubber industry by this Committee.RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDUSTRY & GOVERNMENT BODIES - The Rubber Association has long served the industry in liaison with various governmental/regulatory bodies. Our role is one of speaking to the government with a single voice of the industry on matters of regulatory compliance, new regulations and other matters where a broader approach may be beneficial.In Ontario, the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) has evolved over the past decade. The forma-tion of a Safety Group improved the safety performance of RAC members and generated over one million of premium rebate dollars. In the environmental area, when the Ministry of Environment targeted the rubber industry, the RAC met with government to get first hand information in support of the industry, and later, held workshops for members to aid in attaining and maintaining compliance. In Québec, our members benefit from our relationship with the Centre Patronal de Santé et Sécurité du Travail au Québec by attending classes on accident prevention, risks in the workplace, CSST Forms, etc. All these classes are offered at reduced rates to our members. At the federal level, the RAC is working on the industry’s behalf on the implementation of Environment Canada’s “Chemicals Management Plan”. Through the RAC, there is coordination of communication on the “risk assessment” of chemicals most affecting our industry and the development of “risk management in-struments”.The RAC works with Industry Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade (DFAIT) on import and export related matters to safeguard the interests of domestic producers through proposed tariff reductions on manufacturing inputs and encouraging open markets for our members’ products.Government Relations• Transport Canada • Natural Resources Canada• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade• Environment Canada• Industry Canada• Provincial Ministries of Environment, Transportation, Eco-nomic Development and Trade, Workplace Safety Insurance Board, etc. International• International Standards Organization• Rubber Manufacturers Association • European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers’ Association• The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc.• European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization• The Tire & Rim Association, Inc. Industry Groups• Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association• Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association• Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators• Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association• Centre Patronal de Santé et Sécurité du Travail du Québec• Standards Council of Canada • Tire Dealers Association of CanadaEXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY AND END-OF-LIFE MANAGEMENT - Over the past number of years, RAC has taken a strong leader-ship role on working with provincial governments to establish product stewardship programs and other end-of-life management practices, specifically for scrap tires. Now all provincial governments are look-ing to other industry sectors to build similar waste diversion programs for used oil, waste electronics, paper, bottles, cans, and a host of other products. Governments are looking to industry to take back, or to manage the wastes they create. This is a major phil-osophical shift to Extended Producer Responsibility, which compels the manufacturer to absorb the envi-ronmental costs of their products, thus shifting these costs from the taxpayer to the ultimate consumer. For the rubber industry, it would be folly to believe that only tires will be captured by this new wave of thinking. Responsible rubber manufacturers must address this important issue by looking at their manufacturing processes and their finished prod-ucts in anticipation of this new situation. RAC has developed an extensive list of contacts within the rubber recycling community and government circles to help members wade through this pending reality. CONSUMER EDUCATION ON THE USE OF OUR MEMBERS’ PRODUCTS - The RAC educates Cana-dian motorists on the importance of proper tire maintenance through its Be Tire Smart - Play Your P.A.R.T. Campaign. This program, funded by the tire manufacturing members of the RAC, in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada, informs drivers of the benefits of proper tire care such as improved fuel ef-ficiency, less greenhouse gas emissions, better performance, increased safety and longer tire service life. MEMBERS: AirBoss of America Corp.American Biltrite (Canada) Ltd.Bridgestone Canada Inc.Cabot Canada Ltd.Continental Tire Canada, Inc.Cooper Tire & Rubber CompanyFalken Tire Corporation Goodyear Canada Inc.Hamilton Kent Inc.Hankook Tire Canada, Corp. Kumho Tire Canada, Inc.L.V. Lomas Limited/LimitéeLANXESS Inc. Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.National Rubber TechnologiesNokian Tyres, Inc.PPD Rubtech Inc.Pirelli Tire Inc.Royal Mat Inc.Toyo Tire Canada Inc.Waterville TG Inc.Western Rubber ProductsYokohama Tire (Canada) Inc.WHAT DO OUR MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE RAC?To learn more about becoming a member CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY(905) 814-1714info@rubberassociation.ca“The Rubber Association of Canada is well suited to interface between the collective mem-ber companies and the various government agencies who regulate our companies, in a very proactive manner which serves our industry extremely well”.Peter Allen, Chief Operating Officer Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.“Over the years, RAC has demonstrated strong and effective leadership on many of the files which are important to our successful busi-ness operations’’Greg Bavington, President & CEONational Rubber Technologies“Through their various working committees, RAC offers an excellent opportunity to net-work with peers and stay informed on the key issues affecting our industry”Bob Hagerman, President & CEOAirboss of America Corp.2000 Argentia Rd, Plaza 4, Suite 250, Mississauga, ON. L5N 1W1 Tel: 905-814-1714 Fax: 905-814-1085RubberAssociation.caMEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES - “Firm” and “Associate” members are corporations engaged in the manu-facture of new rubber products in Canada and/or engaged in the sale or distribution of these products in Canada, whose participation contributes to the purpose and objectives of the Association. “Affiliate” mem-bers are corporations engaged in the manufacture, sale of goods or services largely used by the rubber industry. “Rubber Recycler” members are corporations engaged in the recovery and/or recycling of scrap rubber.