In response to the growing scale and operational complexity of modern European farms, Bridgestone has introduced its first-ever agro-industrial tyre, the VH-IND. Designed as a versatile solution for mixed field and hard-surface use, this new product aims to maximise equipment uptime and cost efficiency for farmers and contractors.

The VH-IND is engineered to provide exceptional traction and control across diverse terrains. Its innovative pattern design generates 12 percent more pulling force and exhibits four points less slip percentage than the Michelin BIBLOAD, its main competitor. This ensures optimal grip both on the field and the road. Furthermore, the tyre demonstrates superior stability in demanding conditions, stabilising eight percent quicker than the same competitor, a result of the optimal balance between its reinforced carcass and vertical stiffness.

Productivity is enhanced through a market-leading load capacity, which is supported by an additional body ply. This construction allows the VH-IND to carry up to 500 kilogrammes more than the Michelin BIBLOAD. The tyre is also designed for an extended service life, contributing to a lower total cost of ownership. This durability is achieved through a deep, 35.4-millimetre tread that contains up to 20 percent more rubber volume, coupled with optimised pressure distribution.

These performance characteristics are further reinforced by Bridgestone's ENLITEN Technology, a next-generation engineering approach that focuses on delivering customised performance and enhanced sustainability. The Bridgestone VH-IND tyre will be available across Europe from September 2025, launching initially in the key segment size of 460/70R24.

Andrea Marconcini, Director Agriculture at Bridgestone EMEA, said, “Bridging field and hard surfaces, the new Bridgestone VH-IND addresses the growing demand for versatile, high-performance solutions for telehandlers and backhoe loaders. As farms scale up and operational complexity increases, the Bridgestone VH-IND offers the perfect balance between field and hard surface traction and durability – supporting productivity across diverse applications. We’re thrilled to finally introduce it to the market as Bridgestone’s first agro-industrial product.”

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In a strategic move to amplify its influence, the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) has rebranded itself as Recycling Europe. This pivotal change underscores a unified mission to champion the continent's recycling sector during an era defined by global competition, resource insecurity and urgent climate imperatives. The rebrand powerfully communicates the industry's essential contribution to achieving key EU goals, including climate neutrality, a circular economy and enhanced industrial resilience.

While honouring its founding principles and representing all material streams, from metals and plastics to paper and textiles, Recycling Europe is now positioned to drive even greater policy impact. The confederation will intensify its advocacy for a forward-looking regulatory framework that actively enables recycling markets, accelerates innovation and firmly embeds circularity as the cornerstone of Europe's economic future. This includes pushing for policies that support open markets for recycled raw materials and incentivise investment in advanced sorting and processing technologies. By doing so, Recycling Europe aims to secure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the European industry, ensuring that recycling is recognised as a vital solution for both environmental and economic challenges, and paving the way for sustainable growth for generations to come.

Julia Ettinger, the association’s Secretary General, said, “Recycling Europe embodies the evolution of the Confederation into a unified, forward-looking voice for recyclers across the continent. While our name has changed, our mission remains the same: to ensure that recyclers are recognised and empowered as indispensable partners in building Europe’s circular and resilient economy.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has published its Integrated Report 2025 on its global (English-language) sustainability website. This document offers a holistic overview of the company’s strategic direction and operational endeavours, connecting its commercial objectives with its sustainability ambitions.

Guiding these efforts is the company’s current medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2026 (YX2026). This initiative is fundamentally integrating sustainability into the core of Yokohama Rubber's business strategy. The objective is to accelerate activities that not only foster sustainable corporate growth but also contribute positively to local communities and address broader societal challenges.

First introduced in 2022, the integrated report is designed to provide stakeholders with a transparent and consolidated view of the company’s performance. It systematically combines key financial data, including management strategies and business results, with critical non-financial information covering social, environmental, human resources and governance policies. The report’s framework is informed by international standards, including the International Integrated Reporting Framework and Japan's Guidance for Collaborative Value Creation, and is structured around priority issues identified through the company’s materiality assessment.

The 2025 report builds upon the previous year’s version, which was recognised with a Nikkei Integrated Report Award for Excellence. This latest edition features enhanced content in strategic areas of significant stakeholder interest, such as global strategy, off-highway tyres, technology and production. It also demonstrates a more deliberate approach to presenting non-financial information by clearly linking it to the six capitals of integrated reporting, as defined by the International Integrated Reporting Council.

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In a significant achievement for its sustainability programme, Triangle Tyre has been awarded a Gold Medal by EcoVadis, a prominent global assessor of corporate social responsibility. This accolade, which places the company within the top five percent of all evaluated businesses, also marks a milestone as Triangle Tyre is the first Chinese tyre manufacturer to receive this level of international recognition, having earned a high score of 81 points in its inaugural assessment.

The company’s success is rooted in a comprehensive strategy that integrates ecological and social principles across its operations. Environmentally, Triangle Tyre is committed to green design and manufacturing, focusing on creating low rolling resistance tyres and establishing a circular production model. The adoption of a Life Cycle Assessment system allows the company to systematically minimise the environmental footprint of its products from raw material sourcing and manufacturing through to use and eventual recycling.

Social responsibility is another cornerstone of its approach. The company fosters a workplace built on international labour standards, emphasising occupational health, safety and equitable treatment for all employees. By offering structured career development, competitive benefits and a culture of inclusion, it aims to nurture employee loyalty and maintain stable labour relations. This commitment to ethical conduct extends to its supply chain, where Triangle Tyre implements responsible procurement policies, integrating sustainability criteria into its supplier selection and management to build a more transparent and accountable global network.

Underpinning all these efforts is a firm dedication to business ethics, supported by a robust compliance and anti-corruption framework designed to ensure all international operations meet the highest legal and moral standards. This Gold Medal recognition is seen not as a final destination but as a catalyst for further advancement. Triangle Tyre intends to leverage this achievement to deepen its sustainability initiatives, using innovation and management enhancements to drive its green transformation and deliver even safer and more efficient products to the global market.

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The Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 has firmly established itself as the benchmark in the all-season tyre category, securing decisive victories in two major independent tests. Auto Bild magazine, in an extensive 30-tyre comparison (purchased directly from the market in the 225/40 R18 size), awarded it first place overall with an ‘Exemplary’ rating, praising its perfectly balanced performance. The publication highlighted its exceptional safety on wet roads, with top-tier aquaplaning resistance, coupled with superb dry road capabilities thanks to excellent handling and braking. Its strong results extended to snow traction and durability, leading Auto Bild to also crown it the 2024 ‘Best Product of the Year’ in its category.

This dominance was echoed by Tyre Reviews, which named it ‘The Best All-Season Tyre’ for the second year running. Their rigorous testing regime, which pitted nine tyres in size 205/45 R17 against dedicated summer and winter references across 15 different evaluations, found the Cinturato All Season SF3 to be an exceptionally capable all-rounder. The tyre topped the charts in critical dry performance metrics like braking and lap times while also excelling in wet conditions with class-leading aquaplaning resistance and handling. It further demonstrated impressive snow traction and braking, ultimately ranking number one in snow handling, all while maintaining refined, low noise levels.

Developed for medium and compact cars, this tyre is the product of sophisticated virtual modelling at Pirelli's R&D centre. This approach allowed engineers to holistically optimise all elements of the tyre's design. The advanced compound incorporates new polymers and is moulded for enhanced uniformity, which reduces rolling resistance and noise. A key innovation is the directional tread pattern, which uses wider grooves and adaptive 3D sipes. These sipes intelligently transform from linear to zigzag as the tyre wears, proactively preserving snow grip even as the tread depth diminishes. This technical excellence is validated by an A-rated wet braking performance on the European label and the TÜV SÜD Performance Mark certification.

Capitalising on the success of the Cinturato, Pirelli has expanded this winning formula to the SUV market with the new Scorpion All Season SF3. This model translates the acclaimed technologies and balanced performance to meet the specific demands of larger, heavier vehicles. Available in a range of sizes from 17 to 21 inches, the Scorpion All Season SF3 also incorporates Pirelli's Elect technology, featuring solutions specifically tailored to enhance the performance of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, cementing Pirelli's position at the forefront of all-season tyre development.

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