Apollo Tyres has announced that as a responsible and progressive tyre manufacturer, it has made further commitments in the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) space. The company has undertaken the following commitments towards sustainability –

• Commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. This would entail improving Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission intensity by 25 percent by 2026, against baseline year of 2020, and an increase in renewable power in total power share to 25 percent by 2026.
• Improving water withdrawal intensity by 25 percent by 2026 against baseline year of 2019.
• Commitment to improve its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) to 12 percent globally by 2026.
• Increasing usage of sustainable raw material to 40 percent by 2030.

Speaking about the defined targets, Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “With an aspiration to be carbon neutral by 2050, we are working towards creating climate-resilient operations. Dedicated teams and investments are being made in energy-saving initiatives and towards renewable energy to be prepared for the future and to contribute towards a decarbonised tomorrow.”

Apollo Tyres claims that it has systems in place to monitor and analyse its GHG emissions, which are independently verified by a third party and reported annually in its sustainability disclosures. The company has undergone climate risk assessment as per the taskforce on Climate Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) framework. Based on the identified areas, mitigation strategies have been formulated and an action plan drawn to put them into action, states Apollo Tyres.

With the Andhra Pradesh facility in India already running completely on biomass, the company has accelerated its journey towards renewable energy usage across operations and to move away from fossil fuels. According to Apollo Tyres, the Chennai plant has guaranteed a supply of 40 million units through its investment in solar power. Similarly, the Vadodara facility has captive capacities for solar and wind energy. Given the energy crisis in Europe, the operations are continuously improving upon its energy efficiency, claims the tyre manufacturing company. At an overall organisation level, nearly 10 percent of power requirement in FY22 was met by renewable sources. The company states that it is committed to increase this to 25 percent by 2026.

Apollo Tyres, in line with international tyre manufacturers, has taken an ambitious goal of achieving 40 percent sustainable material in its tyre compounds by 2030. As per the company, the split up of sustainable materials will be 30 percent biomaterial and 10 percent recycled material. The company is investing in R&D and manufacturing to achieve the above target by conducting a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for its products.

According to Apollo Tyres, the tyre manufacturing company gives paramount importance to the judicious use of water. Several steps have been taken within the organisation to ensure the reuse and recycling of water, in addition to increasing the awareness regarding the same in the communities around. As per Apollo Tyres, the tyre company monitors the specific water withdrawn per tonne of product and has a roadmap to reduce it over a period. This water footprint is independently assured by a third party and reported in sustainability disclosures.

The company claims that it understands the importance of harnessing the power of D&I amongst its workforce. It further states that it has been bringing in changes in policies and practices, undertaking targeted recruiting and building global cross-cultural teams.

Apollo Tyres Ltd has secured a one-season shirt-sleeve sponsorship agreement with AS Monaco, one of French football's most successful clubs, to increase awareness for its premium Vredestein brand.

This partnership will leverage Ligue 1's ranking as the fifth most watched football league in the world to raise awareness of Vredestein's award-winning products among a large audience in France and abroad. On November 22, AS Monaco's home league game against Brest will have the new sleeve branding for the first time. The Vredestein brand will be heavily promoted at Stade Louis-II for the 2024–2025 season, including on player sleeves and LED screens around the field. Exclusive social media initiatives will further help make the brand prominent, reaching a large and interested audience.

Yves Pouliquen, Vice President – Commercial, Europe, Apollo Tyres, said, “This partnership is an exciting opportunity to strengthen Vredestein’s presence in one of our key markets. AS Monaco’s rich history and commitment to excellence mirror our focus on performance and innovation. We look forward to building a successful relationship with the club and celebrating its achievements this season.”

Thibaut Chatelard, Marketing and Revenue Director, AS Monaco, said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Tyres and its Vredestein brand to the family of AS Monaco partners. This collaboration makes sense in view of the values we share, such as the constant pursuit of performance and excellence. There’s no doubt that this new support will be precious for the rest of our season, which promises to be thrilling.”

Nexen Tire, a leading global tyre manufacturer, has launched the Nexen N´Blue S tyre, adding to its range of summer tyres and providing drivers with advanced safety, energy efficiency and superior driving stability in wet and dry conditions.

Developed using highly dispersed silica and equipped with an optimised structural design, the Nexen N´Blue S tyre provides reduced road noise and improved driving stability. The tyre features an innovative tread compound, formulated with hydrophilic fillers and microstructure-controlled polymers, and provides lower rolling resistance and exceptional dry and wet grip. The tyre also excelled in test results by demonstrating an 11 percent improvement in wet braking distance compared to its predecessor.

Apart from providing excellent performance, the Nexen  N´Blue S also scores high on the sustainability index. The tyre provides an eco-friendly solution for environmentally conscious drivers by minimising fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The Nexen N´Blue S summer tyre is available in 58 sizes, which makes it compatible with different types of vehicles.

Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. is all set to expand its investment project in Binh Duong province of Vietnam, with the phase 3 of expansion commencing in early 2025. This was discussed at a recent meeting between Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), and Kim Hyun Ho, General Director of Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd.

The meeting was held on 13 November at the Administrative Centre of Binh Duong province, as per an official statement. Apart from the company’s investment till date and the planned investment for phase 3, the two also discussed about the challenges and obstacles regarding procedures and processes to have more land funds to expand the manufacturing plant, along with taking measures to tackle the obstacles. Kim Hyun Ho also conveyed to the PPC Chairman that Kumho Tire Vietnam Co., Ltd. belongs to South Korea's Kumho Tire Group and is currently ranked 10th in the car tyre manufacturing industry.

The company had invested in a tyre manufacturing plant in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in 2007 with a total initial investment of USD 308 million, which was supplemented by another USD 300 million in 2021. This extended the factory scale to six hectares and increased the production capacity to 12.5 million tyres annually. With the expansion in early 2025, the company will raise its total investment to USD 908 million and increase the factory's production capacity to 17 million tyres annually. The expanded capacity is expected to be operational by early 2026.

Yokohama-ATG, a leading manufacturer of all-terrain and off-the-road tyres, has expanded its Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range of forklift tyres with the launch of white, non-marking tyres.

The Galaxy MFS 101 SDS range consists of puncture-proof SDS tyres with extended wear limits designed for high-intensity working shifts and long durability. These are premium, solid rubber tyres developed for tough demands, a long service life and high driving comfort. The addition of white, non-marking tyres is specifically aimed at clean working environments.

Marked by a 3-stage construction process, the forklift tyres feature reduced heat build-up, effective shock absorption and minimised vibrations. The pattern design guarantees a smooth ride and good steerability thanks to its continuous centre lug and circumferential grooves. Furthermore, the flat walls and wide flat profile offer excellent stability when using a forklift for vertical stacking. The tyres are also equipped with anti-slip steel beads for improved rim fitment

In a case study on a CAT 2.5-tonne forklift that was used for handling heavy pallets on asphalt, the Galaxy MFS 101 SDS outshone the competitors with impressive performance. The tyre delivered an approximate 900 working hours before replacement against competitors’ 500 working hours.