Pyrum Innovations AG has successfully raised additional capital through a private placement, aiming to fund the development of a new production site and participate in joint ventures.

The company issued up to 450,000 new shares at 27.50 euros per share, raising an estimated 12.375 euros million. These funds will be used to develop a new site in Perl-Besch, Germany, and invest in joint ventures for new production facilities.

The capital increase was approved by both Pyrum Innovations AAG’s management and supervisory boards of Pyrum Innovations. The new shares will be included in trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Euronext Growth).

Pyrum said the company’s decision to raise capital reflects its ambitious growth plans and commitment to expanding its operations in the coming years.

Kuraray’s PARAPET methacrylic resin produced at the Niigata plant has been certified under ISCC PLUS, an international certification programme for sustainable products.

This is the second Kuraray product from the Niigata Plant to receive ISCC PLUS certification, following MPD (3-Methyl-1,5-Pentanediol). The certification recognizes the company’s sustainable practices in producing recycled methanol and biomass raw materials.

Kuraray is committed to expanding its lineup of sustainable products as part of its medium-term management plan, PASSION 2026. This certification aligns with the company’s long-term vision of being a speciality chemical company that contributes to customers, society and the planet, says the company.

The Rubber Board's 45th edition of the Annual publication 'Indian Rubber Statistics' (IRS) highlights a steady growth in India's natural rubber (NR) production and consumption. NR production increased 2.1 percent to 8,57,000 tonnes in FY 2023-24, while consumption rose 4.9 percent to 14,16,000 tonnes. The Rubber Board has shared key statistics up to August 2024, projecting NR production for FY 2024-25 at 8,75,000 tonnes.

The Rubber Board conducts monthly and quarterly reviews involving stakeholders to ensure data accuracy. The board said the key figures published are credible and reflect the contributions of various segments within the sector.

 The Rubber Board emphasizes the importance of timely returns from dealers and manufacturers. This responsibility is crucial to facilitate the timely publication of statistics, which in turn, aids in informed decision-making and planning.

The recent decline in rubber prices from an all-time high of INR 247 on 9 August 2024, to INR 200 is partly attributed to a 0.7 percent decrease in Thailand's production from April to July of FY 2024-25. Despite this, the Rubber Board is closely monitoring the market situation and providing policy inputs to the Government of India. This proactive approach aims to stabilize the natural rubber market, providing a sense of security to all stakeholders.

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.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., has officially announced that it has joined the ‘Fry to Fly Project’, an initiative led by JGC Holdings Corporation that targets decarbonisation of the airline industry by recycling domestic resources.

The project, which involves collecting waste cooking oil generated by companies and households and using it for the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to power airplanes, has aggregated the support of 143 companies, municipalities and organisations as of 31 July 2024. Yokohama Rubber will be providing waste cooking oil from the employee cafeterias at its headquarters and factory in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, becoming the first company in the rubber products manufacturing industry to take part in the project.

The project is in line with Yokohama Rubber’s pledge towards a decarbonised and recycling-oriented society under the company’s sustainability slogan – Caring for the Future. Another reason that led to the participation in the project was Yokohama Rubber’s close connection to the airline industry through the development and sale of products such as drinking water tanks and cabin interior components for commercial airplanes.