Cabot Receives ACC Awards For Safety And Waste Management

Cabot Receives ACC Awards For Safety And Waste Management

Cabot Corporation has received two 2026 Responsible Care awards from the American Chemistry Council for its performance in workplace safety and environmental management.

The company received the Waste & Water Stewardship Award and the Facility Safety Award at the ACC Responsible Care Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Cabot was also named one of two finalists for the Responsible Care Initiative of the Year Award.

The Waste & Water Stewardship Award recognised the company’s handling of synthetic gypsum produced by the air pollution control system at its manufacturing site in Franklin, Louisiana. Cabot said it had identified a reuse application for the material in the cement industry, diverting nearly 15,000 metric tonnes of synthetic gypsum from landfill in 2025.

The company said the initiative helped it meet air emissions control requirements while reducing waste through the reuse of byproducts.

The Facility Safety Award recognised employee health and safety performance across Cabot’s US manufacturing operations, with nearly all of the company’s US manufacturing sites receiving the award based on their 2025 performance.

“We are honored to be recognized by the ACC for our leadership in advancing safety and sustainability performance,” said Jennifer Chittick, senior vice-president, safety, health and environment, and chief sustainability officer at Cabot.

“At Cabot, we believe our employees are our most valuable asset, and our long-standing commitment to safe working conditions, employee involvement in safety efforts, and workplace wellness is deeply embedded in our culture to ensure that all employees, contractors, and visitors return home safely each day.

“Furthermore, we remain committed to protecting the environment and reducing our impact through focused initiatives that drive lasting, positive change while strengthening our environmental performance in the communities where we operate.”

The ACC’s Responsible Care Awards programme recognises companies for environmental, health, safety and security performance, sustainability and chemicals management.

Cabot joined the ACC in 2010 and adopted the chemical industry’s voluntary Responsible Care initiative and Responsible Care Global Charter, aimed at improving health, safety, environmental and security performance across operations.

Hankook Lands Control Tyre Deal For Australia’s ‘APCES’ Endurance Championship

Hankook Lands Control Tyre Deal For Australia’s ‘APCES’ Endurance Championship

Hankook Tire has secured a new role as the Official Control Tyre Supplier for the 2026–2027 season of the Australian Production Car Endurance Series (APCES), following a partnership with the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC). The APCES is a newly launched endurance championship created by the ARDC and Motorsport Australia, designed to continue the country’s legacy of production car racing. The series will feature production-based vehicles competing across eight performance-based classes, labelled X, A1, A2, B1, B2, C, D and E.

Hankook will exclusively supply its Ventus TD (Z221) R-Spec tyres to all participating teams, working alongside official trackside supplier Gary’s Motorsport Tyres. The control tyre format, which equips every competing vehicle with identical tyre specifications and performance, is intended to provide consistent racing conditions throughout the championship. The semi-slick tyres feature an optimised tread pattern and advanced compound technologies, delivering strong dry grip, stable cornering, excellent braking and superior heat resistance even under prolonged high-speed driving.

The championship will begin its opening round at Sydney Motorsport Park on 30 and 31 May, with additional races scheduled at Sandown International Raceway in August and Queensland Raceway in September. The final round is set for March 2027 at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, as part of the iconic Bathurst 6 Hour endurance race. The overall series champion will be determined at that concluding event.

Hankook has already built a strong reputation in Australian endurance racing as the official tyre supplier for the Bathurst 6 Hour, and it continues to sponsor other local events including the First Focus Radical Cup Australia Series, the Precision National Sports Sedan Series and the Hyper Racer Hankook Australian Drivers’ Championship. Moving forward, the company plans to strengthen its global premium brand position by using racing data from extreme motorsports conditions, combined with its global innovation R&D infrastructure, to develop ultra-high-performance tyre technologies.

Bridgestone Secures 11th Consecutive GM Supplier Of The Year Award

Bridgestone Secures 11th Consecutive GM Supplier Of The Year Award

Bridgestone Corporation has extended its legacy of excellence with General Motors by securing a 2025 Supplier of the Year award, marking the company’s 11th consecutive win and 24th overall. The honour was announced during GM’s 34th annual awards ceremony in Austin, Texas. Out of a vast network exceeding 20,000 suppliers, Bridgestone emerged as one of only 103 companies across 14 countries to receive this distinction.

A global cross-functional team at General Motors determines the winners based on performance across key categories such as safety, innovation and resilience. The evaluation process considered each organisation’s results throughout 2025 alongside their alignment with GM’s fundamental values and ambitious future objectives. This rigorous selection method highlights the importance of consistent execution and shared strategic vision.

The recognition directly supports Bridgestone’s internal E8 Commitment, an ethos built around eight values beginning with the letter E, including Ecology and Extension. By crafting innovative tire solutions for GM, the Japanese company effectively advances its pledges on both ecological responsibility and technological extension. This synergy between corporate values and customer recognition reinforces Bridgestone’s position as a reliable partner.

David Colletti, President of Consumer Original Equipment Tires, North America, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, said, “This recognition reflects the strong relationship between Bridgestone and GM. Together, our shared dedication to innovation, quality and performance continues to fuel long-term success.”

Shilpan Amin, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer, General Motors, said, “Supplier of the Year is one of those key moments our whole team looks forward to every year because it highlights the partnerships behind every vehicle we build. The results our suppliers deliver throughout the entire product development cycle are central to our ability to deliver world-class vehicles to our customers. When our suppliers, such as Bridgestone, lean in with us on new technology and flawless execution, we can move faster, compete harder and unlock more value across the entire supply chain.”

Tyres Europe Joins Industry Alliance Demanding Stronger EU Trade Defence

Tyres Europe Joins Industry Alliance Demanding Stronger EU Trade Defence

Tyres Europe has joined a broad alliance of European industry associations urging the European Union to strengthen its trade defence policy. The coalition warns that unfair trade practices, combined with structural overcapacity and state-led market distortions worldwide, are intensifying pressure on local manufacturers. European producers must contend with high energy costs, strict environmental rules and complex regulations, placing them at a clear disadvantage compared to rivals benefiting from less transparent conditions.

The signatories have made clear that they do not seek protection from competition itself, only fairer conditions under which to compete. They argue that a truly global level playing field is essential to protect Europe’s industrial base, sustain competitiveness and allow EU companies to continue investing, producing and preserving jobs within the continent. Without such balance, the long-term viability of key sectors remains at risk.

As an immediate step, the coalition calls on the European Commission to assign more staff to the trade defence units within DG Trade. According to the statement, these services are severely understaffed in absolute numbers and relative to the EU’s main global partners. This shortage undermines Europe’s ability to respond effectively to foreign trade distortions in a timely manner.

Reinforcing DG Trade’s investigative capacity is therefore presented as a crucial short-term priority. Tyres Europe and the other associations contend that targeted staffing increases would significantly enhance the EU’s resilience against global market imbalances. Such a move, they believe, would help safeguard fair competition without erecting unnecessary barriers to international trade.

Hankook Tire Strengthens Honda Partnership With Fifth Supplier Excellence Award

Hankook Tire Strengthens Honda Partnership With Fifth Supplier Excellence Award

Hankook Tire was conferred with the ‘Excellence in Quality and Delivery’ award during Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s ‘2025 Supplier Excellence Award’ ceremony, which took place in Columbus, Ohio, this past April.

Honda annually evaluates suppliers across North America based on criteria such as quality, delivery, value and innovation. Out of 56 honourees this year, Hankook Tire stood out due to its systematic quality management, stable supply capabilities and advanced product development competitiveness.

This latest accolade marks Hankook Tire’s fifth recognition from Honda, following previous wins for ‘Excellence in Value’ in 2016 and 2020, and ‘Excellence in Delivery/Value’ in 2018 and 2023. Since establishing a partnership with Honda in 2013, Hankook Tire supplies original equipment tyres for key SUV models including the CR-V, HR-V, Pilot and Passport, as well as global sedans like the Accord and Civic.

Building on this recognition, the tyre manufacturer aims to deepen its collaboration with Honda and expand its presence as a premier global brand in North America. Leveraging its integrated quality and technology system – supported by the Technoplex headquarters, Hankook Technodome R&D center and Hankook Technoring test track – the company continues to serve over 50 global automakers and plans to further enhance its AI-driven quality management through sustained R&D investment.