Articles Governance

Beyond Borders: Rethinking the Globalisation Debate

Stefano Savi

CEO @ Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber

Posted 08/04/2025

There’s renewed attention lately on the idea of returning to nationalism and moving away from globalisation. Much of this discussion is rooted in a concern that international reliance is linked to vulnerability, especially in times of conflict or crisis.

It is not my intention and I don’t think it’s useful to go into a political discussion, this is not what this post is meant to be.

What’s more critical, in my view, is to recognise where the current system does fall short: in the uneven playing field around environmental, social and governance standards. When goods are produced in environments with weaker worker protections or environmental regulations, the true cost of those goods—social, ecological, and ethical—isn’t reflected in their price.

Still, trying to solve this through economic isolation rarely works. History has shown us this. For example, attempts at complete self-sufficiency, such as in pre-war Europe (my home country Italy being a great example), often struggled with materials like natural rubber that simply couldn’t be fully replaced by local alternatives. Some supply chains are inherently global.

Instead of pulling back from international collaboration, the more effective path is to improve how global systems operate—to build fairer, more transparent, and more sustainable supply chains. At a time when cross-border challenges require cross-border solutions, this is not just possible—it’s necessary.

We shouldn’t see global interdependence as a threat, but as an opportunity to build systems that work better for people and planet alike.