In the wake of the devastating floods that struck Punjab in August 2025, a strategic partnership between Bridgestone and ADRA India successfully restored educational infrastructure and learning continuity across 20 government schools in the Gurdaspur district. The natural disaster had inflicted widespread damage on school buildings, with sanitation systems rendered inoperable, while countless students lost access to textbooks, stationery and uniforms – essential items for classroom participation.

Working in tandem with the District Disaster Management Authority, local government bodies, School Management Committees and community stakeholders, ADRA India implemented a targeted three-month rehabilitation project from October 2025 through January 2026. The collaborative approach ensured that intervention efforts reached the most severely impacted educational institutions within a region where flooding had submerged over 324 villages, causing prolonged disruption to essential services including education.

The restoration initiative prioritised the repair and upgrade of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities across 12 government schools, directly benefiting approximately 697 children through renewed access to safe and functional toilets. Beyond infrastructure rehabilitation, the project distributed comprehensive education kits to 585 particularly vulnerable students, including children from daily wage worker families, migrant households, women-led families and historically marginalised communities. This intervention alleviated the financial burden on families already strained by disaster losses while enabling students to resume their education promptly.

Sustainability remained central to the project's design, with School Management Committees receiving orientation on routine maintenance of rehabilitated facilities to ensure their long-term functionality. Infrastructure repairs incorporated enhanced durability measures specifically intended to withstand potential future flooding, thereby strengthening the resilience of educational facilities in this disaster-prone region.

Dr Aaditya Sharma, IAS, SDM Dera Baba Nanak, said, “Following the floods that affected Dera Baba Nanak Sub-Division, several government schools suffered damage to essential infrastructure, particularly Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) facilities, resulting in disruption to the education of school-going children. The restored sanitation infrastructure has helped ensure a safe, hygienic and dignified learning environment for students, especially for girl students.”

Sudhir Kulkarni, Executive Director HR, Admin & CSR, Bridgestone India, said, “Bridgestone is committed towards Serving Society with Superior Quality. This inspires us to offer the best to the communities that we serve. Education is a critical pillar for communities, and this was most impacted by the floods. We have, in our humble way, contributed towards restoring some of the educational facilities in the Dera Baba Nanak block, thus safeguarding learning and well-being when vulnerable communities needed it the most.”

Imran Majid, Programmes Director, ADRA India, said, “In post-disaster settings like Dera Baba Nanak, children are among the most vulnerable. Restoring safe and functional WASH facilities in schools is not just about infrastructure, it is about protecting children’s health, dignity and right to learn. When sanitation and hygiene are compromised, the risks of illness increase and school dropouts become more likely, especially for girls. Through the School WASH project, we are ensuring that schools become safe, hygienic spaces again, enabling children to return, stay and thrive in their education.”

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Kuraray America, Inc. marked National STEM Day on 8 November by spotlighting a community educational event that brought together 15 of its volunteers and students from the Houston Japanese Supplementary School at San Jacinto College for a day of hands-on exploration and discovery.

Participants engaged in activities illustrating how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) converge in chemical manufacturing. Experiments with superabsorbent polymer beads explored chemistry and material properties, while a tour of the college’s facilities introduced industrial equipment. Students also learned about water filtration and distillation processes and how mathematical concepts underpin scientific and engineering applications.

One student showed particular interest in the distillation tower, linking the experience to the Kuraray Group’s contributions to everyday life and its mission of achieving for people and the planet what no one else can. The event also benefited KAI volunteers, who shared technical knowledge, exchanged perspectives and learned alongside potential future scientists and engineers.

Kuraray America thanked Reiko Fuwa and Tomohiro Tani for coordinating the visit, Hans Vandommele for sharing his expertise and all 15 KAI volunteers. The company also expressed appreciation to San Jacinto College for facility access and to the Houston Japanese Supplementary School students for their curiosity, enthusiasm and thoughtful questions.

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Liberty Tire Recycling attended the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, held from 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The automotive aftermarket event, one of the industry's largest, drew over 160,000 attendees from the automotive, tyre and transportation sectors to review new products, technologies and business opportunities.

The Lakin Tire brand, a consistent SEMA exhibitor, once again used the show to reinforce industry relationships and present Liberty's tyre collection, recycling and sustainable resource management capabilities. Personnel from Grade/Used Tires, Commercial Truck Tires, Metals, Recycling and Collection, together with corporate and regional leadership, met customers, suppliers and industry professionals from around the world.

The booth received existing and prospective customers from numerous tyre and automotive segments during the week. Costco Wholesale Corporate Office, United Tires and UTU Wholesale were among the organisations that stopped by to examine Liberty Tire's products, services and nationwide reach. The company viewed the event as an effective forum for monitoring emerging market trends and demonstrating its position in recycling and sustainability, alongside its focus on innovation, workforce development and circular economy principles.

A memorable moment came when a high school shop teacher and students, attending through a special educator programme, toured the booth to learn about tyre recycling and industry operations. Liberty team members provided industry insights, outlined career pathways and acknowledged educators' contribution to developing future skilled trades professionals, supplying tyre inflation gauges for classroom use.

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Laufenn, Hankook's associate brand, earned a ‘Good’ ratingwith an overall score of 2.2 for its G Fit 4S in the Auto Bild Allrad all-season SUV tyre test published on 8 October 2026 (issue 41). The tyre competed credibly against 11 rivals from established premium marques, finishing competitively in a 12-strong field.

Wet handling proved a particular strength, with the G Fit 4S collecting the second-highest rating shared with other models. Aquaplaning resistance also impressed, as the tyre held its line until stability began to fade at roughly 100 kmph (62 mph). In snow, it recorded the third-shortest braking distance, matching two other contenders.

Testing spanned snow, wet and dry disciplines, each weighted equally in the final ranking, with a third-generation MINI Countryman serving as the test vehicle. Snow assessments were carried out in New Zealand, while European venues hosted the wet and dry evaluations. The jury's conclusion underscored Laufenn's value-focused positioning, finding the G Fit 4S a solid option for cost-conscious buyers.

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Tyres Europe has underscored that tyres qualify as fully recyclable under ISO 22628:2002 and UN Regulation No. 133, describing the established methodology as a robust foundation for assessing tyre recyclability. The organisation recently set out its position on the matter.

The distinction between recyclability and actual recycling rates is central to the group's argument. Recyclability refers to the technical potential of a product and its materials to be recycled, while the real rate hinges on treatment capacity and demand for secondary raw materials. Regulatory frameworks should therefore separate the two concepts clearly and align with an internationally recognised standard.

Tyres consist of rubber compounds, chemical additives and reinforcing textile and steel cords, and at end of life they are separated into rubber, textile and steel fractions, all of which existing mechanical or chemical routes can recycle. Mechanical processing yields rubber granules and powders usable as secondary raw materials across many applications, recovered textiles can be further processed and valorised, and cleaned recovered steel can re-enter metal recycling and steelmaking.

Tyres Europe pledged continued cooperation with policymakers and value-chain partners to strengthen circularity and maximise recovery of valuable tyre materials in Europe, with the full paper available on its website.

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