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.

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”