The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. recently conducted an educational seminar for local natural rubber farmers in partnership with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). This marked the 10th such event since the programme's inception in 2020, involving 50 local farm households. Attendees received complimentary fertiliser, developed with RAOT's expertise, as part of the ongoing support.

The seminar curriculum covered essential agricultural topics, including soil and plant nutrition, correct fertiliser application and methods to prevent contamination in natural rubber. To commemorate the 10th seminar, the programme was expanded to include guest speakers from local government, police and healthcare. These guests addressed broader community and safety issues, such as human rights for foreign and minority workers, road safety and occupational health. A particular focus was placed on practical well-being, with the local hospital director offering guidance on preventing injuries during tree tapping and managing encounters with poisonous insects.

Post-event feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed that they gained new, systematic knowledge about cultivation practices, despite years of experience. Several noted that hearing directly from a rubber manufacturer reinforced the critical importance of purity in their product. Others found the health and safety advice immediately useful. The engaging delivery of the seminar was also highlighted, with one farmer mentioning a desire to recommend the valuable and enjoyable experience to peers.

This initiative is a direct implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Yokohama Rubber and RAOT in January 2020. The MoU focuses on economic support for farmers and improving supply chain traceability, aligning with the company's Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber. Hosted in the region where Yokohama’s Thai natural rubber processing subsidiary, Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), operates, the seminar exemplifies the policy's guideline to support small-scale farmers within the supply chain.

As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama Rubber is committed to advancing these principles. The company views such efforts as integral to creating shared value under its sustainability slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, and contributes to broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of sustainable raw material procurement.

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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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A USD 1.4 million equipment enhancement at Liberty Tire Recycling’s Cameron, North Carolina, facility is set to significantly boost its processing capabilities. This upgrade, enabled by the state’s sustainable financial backing of its scrap tyre programme, will allow the facility to handle an extra 3,300 tonnes of material annually, representing nearly 300,000 passenger tyres.

A key improvement is the increased capacity to process truck tyres, which are more challenging to recycle due to their size and durable steel components. The resulting crumb rubber, highly sought after by manufacturers, will be directed towards producing floor mat bases and rubber tiles made entirely from recycled material. This material also serves as a component for athletic tracks, synthetic turf, rubberised asphalt and various moulded products.

This capital investment follows North Carolina’s legislative action to redirect tyre disposal fees into the state’s scrap tyre management system, a move that includes compensating counties for collection and recycling expenses. With North Carolina establishing itself as a centre for tyre recycling, Liberty Tire indicates it is evaluating further multi-million-dollar investments and job creation across its other operations in the state.

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