Toyo Tire Holdings of Europe GmbH (TTHE), the European holding company of Toyo Tire Corporation, has announced a pioneering industry-university partnership with the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, focusing on the research and development of sustainable raw materials.

Novi Sad, the second-largest city in Serbia, is home to the University of Novi Sad, a prominent institution of higher education in Central Europe. With 14 faculties, over 50,000 students, and a faculty roster exceeding 5,000, it stands as a cornerstone of Serbian education.

With a production base in the country, Toyo Tire is committed to advancing technology in both Serbia and Europe through this collaborative effort, in line with its dedication to supporting educational initiatives in Serbia.

The joint research group is associated with the Faculty of Technology, internationally recognised for its expertise in rubber technology. Toyo Tire's ambitious goal is to achieve 40 percent utilisation of sustainable raw materials in its products by 2030, ultimately reaching 100 percent by 2050. It is fitting to commence research and development in this field at a university whose founding faculties include the Faculty of Agriculture, drawing upon its extensive knowledge and regional resources.

This partnership will propel Toyo Tire's global efforts to develop sustainable raw materials, capitalising on any breakthroughs from such industry-university collaborations.

Specialty material solutions provider Trinseo has announced that it has established a tool that provides cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.

The tool features nearly 6,000 Trinseo products, which can be accessed by customers to know the exact carbon footprint associated with a particular product.

On the other hand, LCA assess the environmental impacts of a product beyond PCF, including the use of resource, human health, ecological impacts, and more. This data the company said is crucial for understanding the environmental impact of products, allowing effective material comparison, enhancing R&D innovations, and ultimately contributing to a customer’s sustainability goals.

The Trinseo’s PCF and LCA tool follow the TfS guidelines and the latest European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology and are compliant with the GHG Protocol and ISO standards 14040, 14044, and 14067.

Longxing Chemical Stock has announced plans to acquire 100 percent of China Rubber (Chongqing) Carbon Black from CSRC (Singapore), according to a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The target company is a key producer of carbon black, a vital material used in the manufacture of automobile tyres and other rubber products.

Longxing Chemical initially proposed purchasing a 55 percent stake in the company, with its actual controller, Liu Jiangshan, set to acquire the remaining 45 percent. However, the plan has been revised, and Liu Jiangshan will no longer participate in the acquisition.

The updated proposal is still in the planning stage, with specific terms and conditions yet to be finalised. Further details are expected as the process progresses.

PPG has formally announced the completion of the sale transaction of its silicas products business for USD 310 million (approximately) in pre-tax proceeds to Qemetica, a leading manufacturer of soda ash, silicates and other speciality chemicals.

The deal covers PPG’s precipitated silicas manufacturing plants in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Delfzijl, The Netherlands. Additionally, Qemetica will lease silicas production and R&D activities from PPG in Barberton, Ohio and Monroeville, Pennsylvania.

Tim Knavish, Chairman and CEO, PPG, said, “We are pleased to complete this transaction with Qemetica, and I want to thank the silicas products business employees for their dedication and commitment to the business and to PPG customers throughout the years.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has increased the price of its SIS polymer products by USD 330 per MT.

The company said the price hike was due to continued increase in raw materials and process chemicals.

The price hike will be global and comes into effect from 1 January 2025.