Abstract: The invention relates to the use of fatty acid esters, either unsaturated or saturated, as plasticizers for rubbers, especially for NBR and CR rubbers. The plasticizers used according to the invention are safe, in contrast to the conventionally used toxic phthalates such as DEHP and DBP, and can be obtained from renewable raw materials, especially from vegetable oils such as palm oil. For rubbers comprising these plasticizers, there is a multitude of possible uses in the rubber technology sector, especially as a material for cable sheathing, hoses, seals, membranes, shoe soles, floor coverings, damping devices and the like.