ARLANXEO, one of the world's largest synthetic rubber producers and a wholly owned subsidiary of leading energy and chemicals producer Saudi Aramco, and TSRC have inaugurated their newly relocated and expanded joint venture NBR (nitrile-butadiene rubber) plant in Nantong, Jiangsu Province.

Stephan van Santbrink, CEO of ARLANXEO; Joseph Chai, CEO of TSRC and Chaoyang Jiang, Chairman of the ARLANXEO-TSRC joint venture, addressed the inauguration event. Customers, JV firm officials and senior leadership from ARLANXEO and TSRC also attended the ceremony. With a planned capacity expansion to 40,000 tonnes annually, the new facility produces a wider range of high-quality NBR products to meet China's long-term market demand development and fortify the worldwide NBR supply chain.

ARLANXEO-TSRC (Nantong) Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd. was founded in 2010 and is a 50:50 joint venture that is ultimately controlled by TSRC Corporation and ARLANXEO. In December 2021, ARLANXEO and TSRC announced that the joint venture company would be moving from the northern to the southern section of the Nantong Economy and Technology Development Area (NETDA) Chemical Park, Jiangsu Province, in order to support the government's agenda for environmental protection along the Yangtze River.

The new JV facility has continuously maintained high standards for safe operations with enhanced performance in resource efficiency, energy consumption and environmental protection since moving in and starting up. While continuing to produce Krynac and Taipol NBR products, the joint venture company has further enhanced its business competitiveness in response to the increasing demand for premium synthetic rubber by introducing Perbunan, a fast-cure NBR grade that is well-suited for specialised applications in automotive, aviation, oil and gas and food contact materials.

Stephan van Santbrink, CEO, ARLANXEO, said, "The new JV plant underscores our commitment to strategic growth in the China market and the sustainable development of the rubber industry. Built on a decade-long partnership and deep engineering expertise, this new JV plant strengthens our production capabilities, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality NBR products to our customers.”

Joseph Chai, CEO, TSRC, said, “This project marks yet another successful collaboration with ARLANXEO to support the NBR customers. We remain confident in the long-term growth of the China chemical market and this new JV plant to capture new industry opportunities and deliver sustainable growth leveraging on ARLANXEO’s global leading position in NBR and the JV’s strong local operation.”

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Wind, a leading financial data provider, has released its 2025 ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) ratings, showcasing notable improvements for several listed companies under Sinochem Group. The ratings reflect these companies' strong commitment to sustainable development and corporate responsibility.

Sinochem International achieved an AA rating in 2025, a significant improvement from its previous rating in 2024. With a comprehensive score of 8.56 out of 10, the company now holds the highest ESG rating in the diversified industrial sector, setting a new record among Sinochem Group’s listed companies. Sinochem Equipment and Shenyang Chemical also demonstrated substantial progress, with both companies upgrading from a BBB rating in 2024 to an A rating in 2025. These improvements underscore the group-wide advancements in sustainability practices.

The upgrades highlight Sinochem Group’s intensified focus on sustainability initiatives, including enhanced environmental compliance, green transition efforts, stronger corporate governance and improved transparency. Additionally, the companies have made strides in social responsibility programmes, such as worker welfare and community engagement.

The ESG rating jumps for Sinochem International, Sinochem Equipment and Shenyang Chemical underscore Sinochem Group’s leadership in sustainable business practices. As China continues to push for carbon neutrality and ESG integration, these companies are well-positioned for long-term growth and resilience.

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Covestro has introduced its next-generation Baysafe BEF flame-retardant polyurethane foam, a breakthrough in EV battery safety. Designed to prevent thermal runaway propagation between cells, this lightweight foam meets stringent global safety demands, particularly in China, where the new GB 38031-2025 standard will require fireproof batteries from 2026.

As the world’s largest EV market, China’s regulations are expected to influence global standards, making Covestro’s innovation critical for automakers. The foam’s superior flame resistance enhances safety in EVs, e-bikes and portable energy storage, addressing a key consumer concern. By combining cutting-edge flame-retardant technology with lightweight performance, the Baysafe BEF series helps drive the transition to sustainable transportation and energy storage worldwide.

With EV adoption accelerating, Covestro’s material solutions support manufacturers in meeting stricter safety requirements while enabling international expansion. Beyond encapsulation, the company offers polyurethane-based battery covers and shock-absorbing components, strengthening its position in the fast-growing new energy sector.

Akhil Singhania, Global Head of PU Specialties in Covestro’s Tailored Urethanes Business Entity, said, “This innovation represents a significant step towards enabling sustainable mobility through enhanced safety. By launching our advanced flame-retardant technology, Covestro reaffirms its commitment to innovation and strengthens our product portfolio to meet the evolving needs of the EV industry.”

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Zeon Corporation has announced the development of Nipol BR1300, a novel hydrophilic styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) for winter tyres. Synthesised with a polybutadiene rubber base, the material delivers unprecedented hydrophilicity for tyre applications. Commercial production began in May 2025 at Zeon’s Tokuyama plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

As part of its strategic portfolio optimization, Zeon plans to phase out low-profitability products like ESBR-1 and NBR latex by 2026. However, it will continue manufacturing high-margin products, including ESBR-2, nitrile butadiene rubber and solution SBR. This shift underscores Zeon’s focus on advanced, value-driven rubber solutions.

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Covestro India has entered into a strategic collaboration with CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) through an innovative CSR initiative focused on developing sustainable upcycling technologies for polyurethane waste. This partnership aims to overcome existing recycling limitations by transforming discarded polyurethane materials into valuable chemical feedstocks, potentially revolutionising the material's circular economy.

This collaboration underscores both organisations' commitment to environmental innovation, leveraging NCL's advanced research infrastructure and Covestro's market leadership to address critical gaps in plastic circularity. Current polyurethane recycling methods, predominantly mechanical with some emerging chemical processes, face substantial challenges including material degradation, high energy consumption and hazardous byproduct generation. The project seeks to develop commercially viable chemical recycling solutions that maintain material integrity while minimising environmental impact.

Polyurethanes, widely used in furniture, automotive parts and insulation, present unique recycling difficulties due to their complex molecular structure. Most end up in landfills after use, creating significant sustainability challenges. By combining Covestro's industrial expertise with NCL's seven decades of chemical research excellence, the partnership aims to create breakthrough upcycling technologies.

Avinash Bagdi, Director & Head of Sales & MD Solutions India & Projects – Tailored Urethanes, said, "This partnership strengthens our commitment to finding innovative solutions for polyurethane waste and directly supports Covestro's vision of becoming fully circular. By developing effective methods to upcycle polyurethanes, we're taking concrete steps towards creating a more sustainable future in line with our corporate vision of driving the transition to a circular economy."

Dr Ashish Lele, Director of NCL, said, "CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory is excited to partner with Covestro (India) in this groundbreaking initiative to develop novel chemical upcycling methods for polyurethane waste. The conventional and electrochemical strategies we're developing address the critical limitations of current recycling technologies and align perfectly with our shared vision of a circular economy. This collaboration represents a significant step towards sustainable plastic management in India and globally, with potential to transform polyurethane waste into valuable chemical resources."

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