Birla Carbon has introduced Continua 8030 SCM, a new circular material designed to meet the growing sustainability needs of customers in India and Asia.

This launch follows the introduction of the Continua brand in 2021 and further expands Birla Carbon’s circular product offering in India. The company aims to position itself as a reliable partner for customers seeking sustainable solutions.

Key features of Continua 8030 SCM include:

• Sustainability: The material enhances the content of circular products, supporting customers’ environmental stewardship efforts.
• Security of supply: Manufactured locally in India to ensure a steady supply of high-quality material.
• Quality consistency: Stringent quality control measures guarantee consistent product quality.
• Technical support: Birla Carbon provides comprehensive technical assistance for smooth product integration.
• Advanced quality assurance: State-of-the-art laboratories and quality control measures ensure top-tier quality.
• Customised solutions: Blended solutions tailored to meet both operational and sustainability needs.

Commenting on this new initiative, Rajeev Sonthalia, Director, Birla Carbon, shared, “As part of the Aditya Birla Group, and its purpose to be a Force For Good, our commitment at Birla Carbon is to embed circularity and sustainability in our innovation strategy. This will not only address the growing market need for sustainable solutions but also have a positive impact on our planet. To achieve our ambitious goals, we realise that partnerships are critical in our evolution through the sustainability landscape, and this launch demonstrates our commitment and work in this direction.”

Speaking about this launch, John Loudermilk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Birla Carbon, said, “Continua 8030 marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey across India and Asia. This product exemplifies Birla Carbon’s commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable solutions at scale that empower our customers to increase the recycled content in their own products while maintaining operational efficiency.” He further added, “With our partner Finster, we aim to set a new benchmark for sustainability and quality in the region. It truly reflects our purpose of ‘Share the Strength,’ we look forward to engaging with our customers to turn sustainability and circularity into measurable realities through continuous innovation.”

Continua is now available to customers in India and Asia through this strategic joint venture, enabling them to achieve their sustainability targets and embrace circularity.

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Germany's rubber industry continues to face significant headwinds, with fresh data from the German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) revealing a persistent downturn. The figures show employment falling for the fifth year in a row, while production levels have declined for the fourth consecutive year, underscoring the sector's struggle to regain its footing.

The association attributes this stagnation to waning enthusiasm for German rubber goods in both domestic and international markets. Michael Berthel, wdk Chief Economist, described a fundamental shift in procurement behaviour, even within Germany. He noted that purchasing decisions are now driven almost exclusively by price, a stark departure from the historical emphasis on quality and reliability. This change has opened the door to intense international cost competition, placing immense pressure on Germany's medium-sized suppliers. Berthel highlighted that prohibitive domestic costs related to energy, bureaucracy, taxation and labour make it nearly impossible for these firms to compete effectively. Consequently, many are compelled to relocate their investments abroad as a necessary escape from these local burdens, even though their preference would be to maintain and revitalise their operations within Germany after years of strategic transformation.

Against this backdrop, wdk President Michael Klein issued an urgent appeal to the federal government. He acknowledged that the broader struggles of German industry are well documented but stressed the immediate need for decisive political intervention. Klein called for concrete measures to stimulate demand and bolster the nation's competitive edge within Europe without further delay. He warned against allowing the rubber sector to decline quietly, emphasising its critical role in essential areas such as healthcare, infrastructure, security and mobility.

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Punia Metox Private Limited has commenced production at a new manufacturing facility in Thottambedu, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, with operations starting on 12 February 2026.

The plant has an initial production capacity of 12,000 tonnes a year. Its structural design allows capacity to be doubled within four to six months, providing scope for rapid scale-up as demand grows, the company said.

Punia Metox said the facility has been equipped with modern technology to support operational and energy efficiency, safety, sustainability and consistent product quality. The company added that the plant has been designed to enable smooth and seamless operations from the outset.

The expansion forms part of Punia Metox’s strategy to align capacity growth with customer requirements and strengthen its position as a long-term supply partner. The company said the new unit reflects its focus on customer satisfaction, ethical business practices and value-based growth.

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Cabot Corporation said it can now produce circular reinforcing carbons in the Asia-Pacific region after validating manufacturing capability at its plants in Cilegon, Indonesia, and Tianjin, China.

The materials are produced using tyre pyrolysis oil derived from end-of-life tyres and an International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS mass-balance approach. With the addition of the two Asian sites, Cabot said it now has circular reinforcing carbon production capacity across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Tyre manufacturers are pursuing targets to increase sustainable material use in tyre production, with many aiming for 40 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050, the company said. Cabot’s circular reinforcing carbons are designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional carbon black, allowing manufacturers to increase sustainable content without affecting tyre performance.

Aatif Misbah, Vice-President and General Manager for sustainable solutions in Cabot’s reinforcement materials segment, said: “This achievement reflects our deep commitment to delivering sustainable solutions across Asia Pacific and globally. Scaling our circular reinforcing carbon capabilities helps strengthen our role as a trusted partner to the tire industry, while helping to drive meaningful sustainability progress. Looking ahead, we remain focused on supporting our customers’ evolving needs and helping enable a more sustainable future.”

Cabot’s facilities in Ville Platte, Louisiana; Mauá, Brazil; and Valasske Mezirici in the Czech Republic had previously demonstrated circular reinforcing carbon production capability. The products are ISCC PLUS-certified and marketed under the recovered category of Cabot’s EVOLVE Sustainable Solutions platform.

The company said it has 13 ISCC PLUS-certified sites supporting circular reinforcing carbon production across Asia, Europe and the Americas, along with two certified masterbatch and compounding sites in Europe.

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The Rathi Group has formalised a partnership with the Indian Tyre Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing technical collaboration on recovered carbon black (rCB). The agreement focuses on the responsible integration of rCB into tyre manufacturing, with an emphasis on detailed evaluation and enhancement of its material properties. This initiative will be driven through structured engagement between industry and academia, supported by ITTAC’s technical expertise.

The collaboration is facilitated by the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) and ITTAC, which have brought together leading technical experts, tyre manufacturers and research institutions on a unified platform. Their coordinated efforts are fostering a science-based approach to accelerate the assessment and adoption of circular materials within the tyre sector. This partnership is seen as a significant step in strengthening industry–academia linkages to advance sustainable practices.

Through this alliance, the Rathi Group aims to contribute to the evolving landscape of tyre-to-tyre circularity. The joint initiative underscores a shared commitment to developing innovative solutions that support environmental responsibility while maintaining technical performance standards in tyre applications.

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