The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., held a seminar in association with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) in December 2024 to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber.

The event involved fifty agricultural households from the Surat Thani region. The participants gained a deeper comprehension of the selection and planting of natural rubber seedlings, the purpose and impact of fertiliser application and the significance of keeping foreign materials out of natural rubber. Additionally, fertiliser created using RAOT's specialised knowledge was given to each participating family. For a year, the farmers who attended the seminar will submit rubber samples to Y.T. Rubber's programme, which tracks changes in the physical characteristics of natural rubber as a result of fertiliser usage or lack thereof and the effects of seasonal variations on trees chosen for the survey. Yokohama Rubber's ongoing involvement in this seminar event, which has already taken place eight times since 2020, is deeply appreciated by RAOT.

Yokohama Rubber and RAOT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in January 2020 to work together to help Thai natural rubber producers financially and to enhance traceability to guarantee the natural rubber supply chain's transparency and stability. Yokohama Rubber's ‘Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber’ serves as the foundation for the MOU and the activities that fall under it.

In September 2021, Yokohama Rubber, a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), updated its ‘Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber’ and is stepping up its cooperation with GPSNR initiatives. The Procurement Policy's ‘Support for suppliers, including small-scale farmers and other parties involved in the supply chain’ premise is reflected in the recent seminar event in Thailand. Additionally, Yokohama Rubber is working to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that the UN has approved. The Yokohama Rubber Group is encouraging the purchase of sustainable raw materials, such as natural rubber, as part of these initiatives.

Green Carbon, a Japan-based developer of nature-based carbon credits, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Rubber Authority (RAOT) to launch a biochar project utilising rubber trees from the country’s extensive plantations.

The initiative, which aims to transform waste rubber trees into biochar for carbon sequestration, could become the largest carbon credit project globally, spanning approximately 4 million hectares of plantations, said the Japanese company.

The collaboration supports Thailand’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and aligns with RAOT’s mandate to oversee and modernise the rubber industry.

Rubber trees, typically felled after 25 years of latex production, will now be repurposed to enhance soil carbon storage. This will generate tradable carbon credits while improving plantation sustainability.

Project Highlights

1. Carbon Credit Generation: Waste rubber trees will be processed into biochar, and the resulting soil carbon sequestration effects will be quantified to produce carbon credits.
2. Agricultural Research: Biochar will be tested as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers, potentially enhancing rubber plantation productivity.
3. Industry Transformation: Green Carbon will assist RAOT in aligning with global environmental standards, including forest certifications and compliance with EU regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Expansion plans

Green Carbon aims to replicate this model in other major rubber-producing nations, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, to drive broader decarbonisation efforts across Southeast Asia.

The global reclaimed rubber market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5 percent from 2025 to 2034, driven by cost-efficient alternatives to virgin rubber and a shift towards circular economy practices, as per a report prepared by Polaris Market Research & Consulting LLP.

The report further added that the market size is expected to rise from USD 1.6 billion in 2025 to USD 3.95 billion by 2034.

Market dynamics and growth drivers

The report said the market’s growth is underpinned by the increasing adoption of circular economy models, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

The Reclaimed rubber, sourced primarily from end-of-life tyres, reduces waste while offering a sustainable alternative to virgin materials. Regulatory pressures on waste management and carbon reduction have accelerated its adoption globally.

The report added that technological advancements are also bolstering the industry. Modern techniques, such as devulcanisation, have significantly improved reclaimed rubber quality and production efficiency, addressing the limitations of traditional recycling methods.

Automotive sector leads demand

The automotive sector remains the largest consumer of reclaimed rubber, driven by sustainability targets and cost considerations. Automakers face stringent emissions regulations and rising pressure to reduce environmental footprints, prompting increased use of reclaimed rubber in tyres, seals, and other components.

Regional trends

Regarding regional trends, the report said North America currently dominates the reclaimed rubber market and is expected to maintain its leadership throughout the forecast period. However, growing demand across Europe and Asia-Pacific, fuelled by industrial and automotive expansion, will further accelerate global market growth.

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.