Citing people who are familiar with the matter, the Korea Economic Daily reported that HS Hyosung Advanced Materials Corp. is exploring a sale of its tyre steel cord business that could fetch about 1.5 trillion won ($1 billion).

According to the report, the South Korean manufacturer plans to kick off a preliminary bidding process by the end of February. The people asked not to be identified because the information is private.

The unit generates about 40 percent of the company’s profit. Its sales were 860 billion won last year, and its EBITDA was 140 billion won.

The potential divestment is part of a broader push by Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang to pivot toward growth areas including electric vehicle materials, hydrogen and artificial intelligence. Cho, who leads HS Hyosung Group after its spinoff from Hyosung Group in July, is the founder’s third son.

HS Hyosung is the world’s only producer of all three major tyre reinforcements: steel cord, nylon tyre cord, and polyester tyre cord.

The steel cord unit, which bundles thin wires to help tyres absorb shock and improve ride comfort, holds leading market positions in North America and Europe.

A representative for HS Hyosung declined to comment, added the Korea Economic Daily.

Tyre cords are crucial components that enhance tyre durability and driving performance by maintaining shape and supporting vehicle weight.

The company is seeking to divest the steel cord operation, which has less synergy with its core specialty fiber business, to fund investments in new ventures, the people said.

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has called for enhanced policies to unlock the full potential of tyre recycling in Germany. While acknowledging the existing successes of the circular economy in this sector, Stephan Rau, Technical Director of wdk, emphasised that significant untapped opportunities remain. Last year alone, Germany generated 533,000 tonnes of used tyres, with nearly 70 percent kept in circulation through reuse, retreading and recycling. The wdk advocates for a stronger framework to improve these material flows and boost the market for recycled materials.

A central pillar of the wdk’s position is the demand for a modern, science-based evaluation of recycled rubber products. Over 200,000 tonnes of used tyres are processed annually into granules and rubber flour, vital secondary raw materials for sustainable manufacturing. However, Rau argues that their broader market success is hindered by outdated assessment methods. The association urgently recommends a risk-based approach that evaluates chemical ingredients based on their actual bioavailability and migration, rather than their mere presence. This perspective, now supported by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), necessitates establishing binding limit values determined through migration analysis to ensure both safety and commercial viability.

Furthermore, the wdk highlights a critical gap in the complete monitoring of tyre material flows. A notable proportion of used tyres exit Germany and Europe for processing, depriving domestic recyclers of valuable secondary raw materials. To address this leakage and strengthen the circular economy, Rau stresses the need for comprehensive tracking of all end-of-life tyres. The association’s commitment is reflected in its patronage of the Alliance for Future Tyres (AZuR), a European network of nearly 100 partners from industry, trade and science dedicated to advancing a sustainable tyre circular economy across all segments.

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Hi-Green Carbon Limited has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability operations by securing the prestigious ISCC EU Certification. This globally recognised endorsement highlights the company's adherence to rigorous international standards for environmental responsibility and supply chain integrity.

The certification verifies full compliance across the entire production process, from sourcing to delivery, emphasising traceability and operational transparency. It specifically validates the sustainable production of the company's key outputs, including recovered carbon black (rCB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO). This accomplishment underscores Hi-Green Carbon’s commitment to circular economy principles and positions it as a leader in the production of sustainable industrial materials.

The company statement read: “This milestone not only strengthens our sustainability commitment but also deepens our collaboration with you, our valued clients and partners. With ISCC-certified products, you can have greater confidence in the environmental integrity and long-term sustainability of your supply chain, supporting your own green initiatives and carbon-reduction goals. We extend our sincere gratitude to our clients, partners, and team members for their consistent support and trust. Together, we are driving positive change and contributing to a cleaner, greener, and more circular future.”

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Bekaert has launched a sustainability label, inhera, to identify its top-performing solutions designed to help customers accelerate progress towards net-zero targets. The label is applied to products that meet defined criteria, including alignment with the EU Taxonomy Regulation, carbon-emission reduction, improved resource efficiency and support for circularity. Eight solutions currently carry the label.

The company said the initiative responds to rising expectations for transparency and credible sustainability claims. It presents inhera as a means of offering clearer information on the impact of its solutions across sectors including construction, automotive and energy.

The name reflects Bekaert’s stated commitment to integrating sustainability across its operations. Ann-Françoise Versele, Vice-President Sustainability, said: “Sustainability is inherent in everything we do at Bekaert. Through our products and processes, we aim to leave a legacy of sustainability for future generations. Our partners who choose inhera solutions are choosing to accelerate sustainability and create real impact.”

The eight labelled solutions include Ampact copper magnet wire for high-voltage electric-motor stators, which the company says delivers a 10 per cent reduction in direct CO₂ emissions. Flexisteel hoist ropes for elevators are designed to cut daily energy use by up to 36 per cent compared with traditional steel ropes.

Elyta Ultra and Mega Tensile tyre reinforcements provide up to 16 per cent CO₂ savings per tyre and support circular reuse. High-tensile steel cores for overhead power lines reduce steel consumption by more than 30 per cent.

Bezinal Vineyard Plus coatings, made with low-carbon raw materials, deliver more than 50 per cent CO₂ reduction and 14 percent lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Bezinox non-magnetic armouring wire for submarine power cables is engineered to extend cable life and reduce operating temperatures.

Next-generation hose-wire reinforcement uses 28 per cent less wire and 5 per cent less rubber per hose, resulting in up to 70 percent lower CO₂ emissions, while subsea cable armouring wire made from at least 70 per cent recycled steel offers more than 50 per cent CO₂ savings and is fully recyclable at end-of-life.

Bekaert said additional products will be added to the inhera label as further innovations are developed.

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Yokohama Rubber has reported new findings from an international research programme aimed at combating leaf fall disease, a fungal infection that has disrupted natural rubber production in Indonesia, the world’s second-largest supplier.

The results were presented on 9 December at the fifth Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting held at Universitas Indonesia. The initiative, formally titled “Development of Complex Technologies for Prevention and Control of Rubber Tree Leaf Fall Diseases”, forms part of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development, a scheme run by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency with support from Japan’s foreign and education ministries.

The project brings together Japanese industry, government and academic institutions, including the national research agency RIKEN, with Indonesian partners. Its objective is to maintain output from smallholders, who account for more than 90 per cent of Indonesia’s natural rubber production. The programme is pursuing several approaches: pesticide-based disease control; the development of disease-resistant clones; and early detection using satellite and drone imagery.

Yokohama Rubber, which uses natural rubber as a principal raw material for tyres, has been involved since the project’s launch in 2020. The company began assessing pesticide effects on rubber quality in 2024, following a screening process. Field tests on large plantations have shown that correctly applied pesticides do not impair the properties of raw or vulcanised rubber. Yokohama Rubber is now contributing to research on how such treatments may affect smallholders.

The group said its “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber” incorporates support for participants across the supply chain, including small-scale farmers. It expects its role in the project to aid the sustainable production of natural rubber and help stabilise smallholder incomes. Yokohama Rubber is also an official partner in a separate SATREPS initiative on using rubber seeds to develop environmentally focused products intended to mitigate global warming and plastic pollution.

Under its sustainability theme, “Caring for the Future”, the company has emphasised links between its commercial activities and broader environmental and social objectives.

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