TRA in English
The member companies of the Section Technical Rubber Articles (TRA) manufacture various products, varying from relative big articles, such as profiles, conveyor belts, blocks for bridge impositions, hoses, roof covering, tires and shock absorbers to relative small articles, such as components for office machines. Regarding turnover, these manufacturers have in The Netherlands a marketing share in technical rubber articles of about 90%. More than half of the production is exported, for example products used for automotive and machine industry, civil and hydraulic engineering, building and construction and the mining industry.

Social responsibility is, besides typical company affairs such as turnover and sales, an important part of the policy of the Section TRA. The importance hereof is within the section definitely not underestimated. The member companies of the Section TRA have for example signed a number of voluntary agreements with the Dutch government, in which they fill up this responsibility:

• Working conditions, goal: amelioration of working conditions within the rubber industry;
• KWS2000, goal: reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC's);
• MeerjarenAfspraak Verbetering energy efficiency (MJA), goal: energy saving;
• Integrale Milieutaakstelling (IMT), goal: lower overall environmental burden.

Other subjects which are dealt with within the Section TRA are amongst others recycling and waste disposal regarding rubber articles and the developments of the rubber market. To make optimal use of each others experiences, there is a frequent exchange of experiences and know-how within the Section TRA. Besides this the following items have a central place in the activities programme of the section:

• Model for risk inventory and evaluation;
• Registration system for dangerous substances;
• Suppliers guide of member companies;
• Terms of delivery.