FGV Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd (FGVRISB), part of FGV Holdings Berhad, a Malaysia based agri business, has appointed Rubber Heart Ltd as a European and North American representative to market its range of natural rubber products in these regions.

The partnership between FGV Rubber Industries and UK-based Rubber Heart Ltd will involve the marketing and sales of its various grades of high-quality Technically Specified Rubbers and other specialty NR-based materials.

FGV Rubber Industries is one of Malaysia’s top Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) producers with four factories throughout the country. It is also the sole producer of quality Green Rubbers ENR25, ENR50 and DPNR in Malaysia.

Syed Mahdhar Syed Hussain is the Chief Operating Officer of FGV Holdings Berhad’s Plantation Sector. A scientist by training, he has worked in the rubber and plantation industries for 35 years and is an expert in quality and sustainability.

“FGVRISB prides itself in being one of the leading NR producers in Malaysia and our initiative to expand our customer base in Europe and North America requires a representative who knows our products” says Syed. “This is why we have chosen to work with Rubber Heart and its two Directors, Gail Reader and David Cawthra, who have years of experience working with Malaysian companies and more importantly, an in depth knowledge of the technical and sustainable merits of our Green Rubbers, ENR and DPNR”.

David Cawthra comments, “We are looking forward to embarking on this partnership with FGVRISB and continue our long-standing relationship with the rubber industry in Malaysia. We admire FGVRISB’s vision and ambition to be a global leader in natural rubber processing offering the highest quality products through good manufacturing and eco-friendly practices. We are excited to be part of the team to bring its Green Rubbers to new markets.”

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Dunlop has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cabot Corporation to evaluate the commercial use of circular reinforcing carbon made from regenerated material derived from end-of-life tyres, as tyre makers seek to cut emissions and increase the use of sustainable raw materials.

The agreement brings together Dunlop’s parent, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, and Cabot Corporation to assess whether Cabot’s regenerated carbon technology can be deployed in mass-produced tyres.

Under the memorandum, Sumitomo Rubber will test Cabot’s circular reinforcing carbon — which incorporates reclaimed carbon recovered through the pyrolysis of used tyres — as a potential alternative raw material in tyre manufacturing. The material has not previously been used by the Japanese group in commercial tyre production.

Cabot, which supplies reinforcing carbons to the tyre industry, will in parallel examine how its regenerated carbon technology could be scaled to meet potential market demand if the material is approved for wider adoption.

“This innovative circular reinforcing carbon will be evaluated for mass-produced tyres, and we will accelerate efforts towards its commercialisation through collaboration with Cabot,” said Takuya Horiguchi, General Manager at Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ material research and development headquarters. He said the partnership would help speed progress towards decarbonisation by combining the technical capabilities of both companies.

Aatif Misbah, Vice-President and General Manager of sustainable solutions at Cabot, said the company was committed to investing in technologies that improved both sustainability and product performance. He added that the agreement aligned with Cabot’s goal of supporting a lower-carbon future for the tyre industry.

The collaboration forms part of Sumitomo Rubber’s broader circular economy strategy for its tyre business, known as “TOWANOWA”. The initiative combines a “sustainable ring”, covering processes across the value chain, with a “data ring” that integrates and shares data collected from each stage of production and use.

Sumitomo Rubber said it would continue to pursue the TOWANOWA strategy by reducing its environmental impact while improving tyre performance and safety, with the aim of delivering new value to customers as the industry transitions towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.

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Orion S.A., a global speciality chemicals company, has successfully secured the prestigious ISCC – the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification for its manufacturing facility located in Qingdao, China. This significant achievement is the direct result of a rigorous, independent audit process which validated that the plant’s operations fully comply with the comprehensive sustainability criteria established by ISCC.

The certification serves as a formal verification of both the transparency and the complete traceability of the sustainable raw materials integrated into the facility’s production value chain. This milestone is a key component of Orion’s overarching corporate strategy to implement and enhance sustainable practices throughout its international operations.

By achieving this globally recognised standard, the company reinforces its commitment to supplying clients with high-performance carbon black and other speciality chemical products that adhere to leading international environmental and sustainability benchmarks, thereby supporting customer goals for more responsible manufacturing.

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a Canadian developer of sustainable technology for recycling scrap tyres, has secured a provisional financing agreement with Export Development Canada (EDC) for USD 2.7 million. The funds are intended to support the final ramp-up phase of its Hawkesbury thermal decomposition plant by covering necessary capital investments and operational working capital.

Following months of negotiation, both parties have agreed in principle to the loan terms, which include augmenting an existing USD 2 million credit facility established by a subsidiary, Ecolomondo Environmental (Hawkesbury) Inc, in January 2025.

Furthermore, EDC has conditionally approved a temporary suspension of principal and interest payments for loans from 2024 and 2025, applicable during the facility's 2026 ramp-up period. This financial arrangement is designed to provide the liquidity required to advance the project to full operational capacity, pending the finalisation of formal documentation.

Jean-François Labbé, Interim CEO, Ecolomondo Corporation, said “We have been working steadily in Hawkesbury, hiring, training, increasing production, increasing sales and, most of all, improving efficiency. This additional financing from EDC is greatly appreciated and should allow the Hawkesbury TDP facility to achieve its full potential.”

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Cabot Corporation said it has received improved environmental ratings from CDP, reflecting continued progress in water management and steady performance on climate disclosures.

In CDP’s 2025 assessment, the company was awarded an A- rating for Water Security, up from a B in 2024, and a B rating for Climate Change, unchanged from the previous year. Cabot said the water score exceeded both global and industry averages, recognising its approach to managing water-related risks and implementing sustainable water practices.

The Climate Change rating remained stable year on year, with improvements reported in areas including climate risk disclosure, value chain engagement and industry collaboration.

The latest scores extend a five-year pattern of incremental improvement, achieved amid more demanding reporting standards and rising expectations from regulators, investors and customers.

“We are proud that CDP’s independent assessment reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance environmental performance and transparency,” said Jennifer Chittick, senior vice-president for Safety, Health and Environment and chief sustainability officer. “The improvement in our Water Security score demonstrates our leadership in this critical area, and we remain committed to advancing our sustainability strategy across all domains. This progress was made possible by our dedicated, global team, and we remain focused on driving further improvements in the years ahead.”

CDP assesses companies on environmental impact across climate change, water security and deforestation, using a scale from D for Disclosure to A for Leadership. In 2025, more than 24,800 companies were rated, representing about two-thirds of global market capitalisation.

Cabot said the results underline its focus on transparency and responsible environmental management as it continues to execute its sustainability strategy.

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