Vipal Rubber has been named as the official trophy sponsor for the 2023 Recircle Awards, the globally-facing industry awards event recognising sustainable innovation, production processes, management and services within the tyre retreading and recycling industries. The announcement was made by Valebridge Media Services (VMS).

As trophy sponsor, Vipal Rubber will receive a number of key promotional benefits provided by VMS and the awards official media partners, Retreading Business and Tyre & Rubber Recycling, business journals for the tyre retreading and recycling sectors. These include video, emailing, website and social media benefits, key coverage in the post-awards supplement to be published by the media partners, press release support and a video podcast on Retreading Business’s popular Retreadcast.

The awards themselves, produced by Spanish design specialists, Neusus Upcycling, feature a twisted column of black crumb rubber derived from end-of-life tyres, supported by a base manufactured from recycled copper, and are in keeping with the sustainability goals of the Recircle Awards concept.

Leandro Rigon, International Business Director, Vipal Rubber, commented, “The whole concept of tyre retreading is about preventing tyres from being disposed of early in life and giving them multiple lives, instead of generating a premature waste. It also prevents the production of a whole new tyre to replace one that is still in a condition to give much of its potential. Whenever a tyre is retreaded, the use of natural resources allocated to produce a new unit is reduced to a third or even less, according to several studies. For us at Vipal, this is a massive contribution to the world’s circular economy, and we believe that the Recircle Awards is a strong vehicle to promote and recognise such a great activity, that still has much room to expand and contribute to our planet. Raising awareness for this activity is definitely a great step for taking good care of our home.”

David Wilson, Managing Director, Valebridge Media Services, said, “Vipal Rubber has been a major supporter of the Recircle Awards since the event’s launch in 2020, and we are delighted that the company has decided to become trophy sponsors of the 2023 awards. The support of major players like Vipal and our other partner/collaborators from within the tyre retreading and recycling industries is of vital importance in underlining the key contribution made by the tyre industry to the circular economy, and will continue to help cement the position of the Recircle Awards as the leading industry awards event for our sector.”

The 2023 Recircle Awards will be officially launched on 8 March, 2023 at Tyrexpo Asia in Singapore. The  winners will be announced during Futurmotive - Expo & Talks, the new event devoted to energy and ecology transition and new business models for the automotive industry, to be held from 16-18 November, 2023 in Bologna, Italy.

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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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Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality carbon materials, is joining forces with the Indian Carbon Society (ICS), the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) to host the Conference on Advanced Carbon Materials (CACM) 2026. Scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 February 2026 at the BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, this event underscores Birla Carbon's deep expertise and ongoing dedication to progress in the carbon materials sector. The company’s commitment is evident through its evolving portfolio, which features industry-leading carbon black, carbon nanotubes and sustainable carbon innovations.

During the conference, Birla Carbon will showcase how its engineered carbon solutions are driving next-generation energy systems and advancing nanotube-enhanced materials. Presentations will highlight developments in customised carbon black architectures designed to improve durability and performance in tyres, rubber products and specialised applications. Additionally, the company will share progress on low-carbon materials derived from bio-based and circular feedstocks, contributing to a wider transition towards sustainable manufacturing practices.

CACM 2026 aims to unite leading scientists, technologists and industry professionals in the field of carbon science and engineering. The event seeks to encourage collaboration among academic, industrial and research sectors, highlight groundbreaking innovations and address key strategic and national priorities in the development of advanced carbon materials.

Dr Ann Schoeb, Chief R&D Officer and Energy Systems, Business Head, Birla Carbon, said, “Innovation in carbon materials is at the core of Birla Carbon’s DNA. Our commitment to advancing material science drives us to collaborate with leading academic and research institutions that share our vision for the future. Carbon materials will play an increasingly critical role in enabling high-performance and next-generation applications across industries. At the same time, they are instrumental in enhancing sustainability and circularity, supporting the transition towards a lower-carbon economy and improving quality of life globally.”

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