Rubber certainly has its role to play in forest landscapes across the world, with natural rubber plantations having risen as a substantial basis of deforestation. One element that addresses deforestation concerns is the correct certification of rubber – be it natural or synthetic. International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally leading certification system, works with the objective of providing sustainability solutions for fully traceable and deforestation-free supply chains, inter alia involving the rubber industry. ISCC was one of the presenters at the Tire Technology Expo 2022 at Hannover, Germany, and Dr Jan M Henke, Director, ISCC, threw light on the nitty-gritty of certifications in the rubber industry, their clients in the tyre and rubber industry and more, in an interaction with Tyre Trends.

Can you tell us about your global sustainability scheme?
Our global sustainability and carbon certification scheme has certified companies in more than 100 countries. We certify entire supply chains from farms to plantations and forestry, and also the point of origin of waste and residues, biogenic and fossil waste. This is also covering rubber and natural rubber. Moreover, we cover biogenic waste and residues, including fossil waste, like carbon black, which is, again, used in the rubber industry. We also certify pyrolysis, where recycled mixed plastic waste can help produce synthetic rubber out of the pyrolysis oil. And we certify the entire supply chain, sustainability of raw material.

What is Meo’s role?
Meo initiated ISCC in a multi-stakeholder process a long time ago. It once was a Meo project and went on to become an operations and certification scheme. It was even recognised by the European Commission and some other authorities. It later got segregated from Meo, and ISCC is governed by the ISCC Association with more than 200 members.

So, what role does Meo play in this in case of certification?
Certification is always by independent, third-party certification bodies. ISCC is the standard development. Today’s ISCC was once a project of Meo. It then went on to become independent and operational, and was no longer a project but an individual entity running and further developing and improving the certification scheme.

The operations of the certification system, database, registration, qualification, training programme, integrity programme, the website and all the day-to-day business is done by ISCC. We are currently incorporating 45 certification bodies that are actually doing the on-site audits based on the ISCC standard.

Is ISCC recognised by the European Union?
Yes, it is being used in many sectors, like in bio energy, bio fuel, renewable transport fuels etc. In fact, ISCC is also recognised by the European Commission and by companies based on their sustainability standards and different industry initiatives.

Hence, ISCC is active on a really broad scale, covering different types of raw materials, natural rubber being one of them. We are also covering waste and residues for pyrolysis and their outputs. We then go to all the different end markets, which can be polymers, rubber, tyres, packaging, all types of plastic products, bio energy or any type of renewable fuels, aviation fuels, maritime fuels etc. This is global and is being used in more than 100 countries.

Tyre companies are talking about sustainability, but the larger part of the industry is of small stakeholders, especially in the natural rubber segment, where traceability and accountability are the main issues. How do you see this?
That’s a big challenge, especially in rubber production. At the cultivation level, there are a lot of small holders. There also exist large plantations that are easier to implement and certify. However, it’s definitely a bigger challenge with the small holders; it always depends on how well they are organised, whether there are certain structures, cooperatives or some central units.

Can you tell us about the certification of natural rubber?
The certification of natural rubber is definitely possible. Palm oil is maybe another example where the setup is quite similar sometimes. Also, with respect to the small holders, sometimes the companies are the same. Furthermore, we are very active in the palm oil sector with ISCC. We now also see a demand for natural rubber sustainability certification.

Is there a different process for getting certified in the rubber industry or is it a standard process?
It’s a standard process. It works on plantation. In fact, it works more or less the same as for palm plantations. But you certainly need to make sure that all the small holders reach a certain level, which is difficult. So starting out, bigger plantations may be easier because it’s easier for them to properly prepare for the certification audits. And then, you need to involve more farmers, step by step.

Who decides the standard process to get the certifications?
ISCC develops the standards and the requirements in the multi-stakeholder process. It then comes down to a company saying that it wants to become certified, use ISCC and also make certain claims and communications to its customers and stakeholders. They then reach out to a certification body, that is cooperating with ISCC. Following this, the certification body will do the audit on site – the third-party auditor will also make a decision on the issuance of the certificate.

Can tyre manufacturers get different certifications? For instance, one for natural rubber and another one for synthetic rubber? Or do they get one for all?
If tyre manufacturers source raw material for manufacturing from natural rubber but also synthetic rubber and everything under ISCC, then it’s one audit. Then the auditor would look into aspects of the volume of natural rubber being used that has been certified, although upstream. If one buys from certified suppliers and if the same auditors check, then aspects like the share of the certified synthetic rubber being used, the share of carbon black, etc. are taken into account. And finally, everything can be put together and a certain claim can be made.

Can tyre companies get a separate certificate for natural rubber?
Yes, they can. They can have separate certificates for natural and synthetic rubber both, or even of everything together. As for the final tyre, let’s say, if it’s 20 percent natural rubber and 20 percent synthetic rubber (40 percent of the tyre), then they can make certain sustainability claims on use of sustainable, circular materials etc.

What is the value of a certification?
It’s no deforestation – that’s key when it comes to natural rubber. When you certify, ‘no deforestation’ is the core requirement and deforestation is not allowed under ISCC. It is about additional environmental and social human rights criteria. This fits fine in this part of ISCC’s sustainability standard. And then it’s certainly about traceability in the supply chain, all the way in the end to the final tyre. And if this is established, then you can certainly make claims about the rubber or the final tyre, saying that it has been sustainably produced, based on sustainably sourced raw materials etc.

Plus, if you do this in a smart way, then you can actually cover the natural and synthetic rubber. Natural rubber and synthetic rubber are both very important parts of the final tyre. Both can be covered under ISCC.

Deforestation is a big issue, mainly in Southeast Asian and African countries. How difficult is it to keep an eye on that?
It’s not always easy to handle. Deforestation is not allowed under ISCC; there is a cut-off date of January 2008. If there was deforestation after January 2008, one cannot become certified. However, replanting or a change from palm to rubber is not considered as deforestation.

For example, if you have a palm plantation and if you cut it and plant rubber after 25 years, then that’s not deforestation. That’s just normal replanting.

Also, ISCC is certainly doing assessments, supported by remote sensing. Our core principle is no deforestation, which is very important to ISCC and its stakeholders. ISCC is not just us doing the operations in Cologne; there’s the ISCC Association for the multi-stakeholder dialogue. It has over 200 members from entire supply chains, industries, plantation companies, mineral oil, chemical companies, converters etc. We also have research organisations from different regions involved. In fact, also a number of non-governmental organisations are members of the ISCC Association.

The association meets annually and makes important strategic decisions and elects the ISCC Board. Due to the representation of the research sector and non-governmental organisations, there is quite a good balance of what people want and further development.

Can you tell us about the commercial benefits involved in having a certification?
There is a big value in it. It reduces sustainability risks for companies, helps to establish monitoring, protects the license to operate and has commercial value. For example, the OEMs ask for more sustainable products or lower greenhouse gas emissions. They all have climate neutrality commitments in place and need to start delivering step-by-step now; they need to show what are the activities that they are engaged in and how those improve sustainability in the overall supply chain. Here, ISCC certification can be used.

How do you maintain transparency in certification as a third party?
There is an annual audit. The certificate is valid for one year and then there is a re-certification. The company needs to provide evidence in every re-certification that the rules are being followed. And if they are not, a renewal of the certificates is not possible.

We certainly have quality management and training for companies and the auditors as well, who conduct on-site audits. What’s more, we have our own integrity programmes, where we send out our own auditors. These auditors work for ISCC and double-check the performance of the companies and the work of third-party auditors. Therefore, this integrity programme is key. We have the website where all the certificates are being published and the entire standard is public.

Do you help companies improve their sustainability supply chain?
No, we don’t consult. At ISCC, we are not involved in supporting the companies in order to improve. We have the standard and we conduct the training for companies. The preparation for the audit is not where ISCC is involved; it’s independent from that type of work. And the certification bodies are not allowed to consult in parallel either. ISCC is the independent standard that is used to certify that companies fulfil the sustainability requirements.

What are the other segments that you cover in the tyre industry?
It’s the entire supply chain. Petrochemical industries, tyre manufacturers etc. can all be covered. This also includes everything from plantations to the end product in the tyre industry.

Which is the easiest and the toughest one to certify?
All elements of the supply chain need to be covered.

This can sometimes be a challenge in the beginning, so as to convince your suppliers and also get certified. But, in truth, we have more than 6,000 certificates under ISCC. So there are already a lot of players that have valid certificates, and now this is starting to move into the space of rubber and tyre manufacturers.

Can you tell us about your clients in the rubber and tyre industry?
We have requests from many tyre producers right now. Some producers are certified already. Plus, we have requests for carbon black and first requests for natural rubber. We see the number of requests increasing, and we do have first certificates and first registrations from tyre producers. So we expect this to rise further as the industry needs to show compliance with their sustainability and climate neutrality commitments.

We see the entire tyre industry now targeting sustainability. So how do you find more opportunities and what’s your plan to get more client support?
ISCC started to get really further engaged in the rubber and tyre industry about a year ago; the industry has started understanding the standards, participating in ISCC trainings, joining our stakeholder events etc. Therefore, step by step, they got to know ISCC better and what it could do for them. They have now even started to get involved and do certifications, including reaching out all the way to the cultivation of natural rubber.

Are you going to focus on the Asian market?
Yes. In fact, we already have a few hundred certificates in Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in the region. These markets are truly important. Our other key markets are North America and Europe, while we are also active in Africa and South America.

We are, eventually, trying to do more and convince people to become certified, show compliance to sustainability requirements, engage in a continuous improvement approach to become more sustainable and then allow manufacturers to really make claims.  

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TyreSafe, UK’s charity dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, is calling for a shift in driver mindset, moving beyond reliance on enforcement to foster a culture of proactive vehicle safety. This follows new research from Uswitch that exposes a disconnect in how motorists approach maintenance. While the threat of penalty points prompts some action, it falls short of establishing consistent safety habits. TyreSafe argues this ‘safety gap’ reveals the limitations of an enforcement-led strategy, suggesting true road safety depends on motivating drivers to perform checks to protect lives rather than merely avoid punishment.

The findings paint a complex picture. Although over 4.8 million penalty points were issued in 2025, with the vast majority linked to speeding, only a third of motorists conduct vehicle checks specifically to evade penalties. While a significant majority of drivers with existing points altered their behaviour after being penalised, only half believe penalty points enhance road safety. For TyreSafe, this highlights a clear challenge: consistent vehicle maintenance has not yet become an automatic, routine part of driving habits.

This gap between awareness and action is particularly critical for tyre safety, a ‘silent risk’. Unlike speeding, which is highly visible and rigorously enforced, tyre defects often go unnoticed until they contribute to a serious incident. The statistics are stark, with an estimated six million illegal tyres on UK roads. Each year, tyre defects cause over two million MOT failures and result in thousands of penalty points. Given that tyres are the vehicle’s only contact with the road, their neglected state represents a persistent and underestimated danger.

In response, TyreSafe advocates for education alongside enforcement, warning that relying on fear of fines fosters reactive compliance rather than a preventative mindset. To address this, TyreSafe urges road users to embrace the simple ACT protocol: regular checks of air pressure, condition and tread depth. By encouraging drivers to internalize these routine habits, TyreSafe believes it is possible to bridge the gap between knowing what is safe and consistently acting on it, preventing thousands of needless incidents caused by poorly maintained tyres.

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “Enforcement clearly has a role to play in improving driver behaviour, but it cannot be the only motivator. What this data highlights is a safety gap. If only a third of drivers are checking their vehicles to avoid penalty points, we need to ensure everyone is checking them for the right reason – to stay safe. Tyres are a hidden risk. Unlike speeding, they’re not always visible and often go unchecked until something goes wrong. But when tyres fail – whether through low tread, incorrect pressure or damage – the consequences can be immediate and severe. The reality is that many tyre-related incidents are entirely preventable. A few simple checks, carried out regularly, can make a life-saving difference. We need to move beyond a culture of compliance driven by enforcement and towards one where tyre safety is seen as a fundamental part of responsible driving.”

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Falken Motorsports kicked off its new season in commanding fashion, leveraging the performance of Falken racing tyres to secure a podium finish at the 58th ADAC Barbarossa Prize. This event, originally intended as the second round of the ADAC RAVENOL Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) but elevated to the season opener after a cancellation, saw Sven Müller and Tim Heinemann claim third place in the No. 44 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

After qualifying 10th despite not completing a perfect lap, the duo demonstrated the tyres’ full potential. Starting driver Müller engaged in fierce battles from the opening lap, and the pair steadily advanced in their teal-and-blue Falken Porsche through the field to reach the top five by mid-race. In the closing stages, Heinemann delivered decisive overtakes, coming within a second of second place on the final lap to seal an early-season podium.

For customer team Max Kruse Racing, the Audi R8 LMS GT3, running on alternative fuel, finished 23rd with Jan Jaap van Roon, Tom Coronel and Rudy van Buuren. The sister car, driven by Dominik and Marcel Fugel alongside Benjamin Leuchter, placed 30th, while both VW Golf GTI TCR entries retired early. Falken Motorsports now prepares for the 57th Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy on 11 April, the third NLS round, building towards the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring (14–17 May).

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Celebrating more than a century in the industry, Galaxy has launched its 100+ years campaign, a tribute to its enduring legacy as a premier name in construction, earthmoving and material handling tyres. The company has launched a campaign video highlighting the brand’s longstanding record of reliability, a reputation built on strength and resilience that has made Galaxy a global leader ready for any challenge.

With a history of serving customers worldwide through specialised, application-driven tyres, the brand’s success has been driven by popular models such as the Hulk, Beefy Baby, HTSR, LDSR, Yardmaster Ultra, MFS 101 SDS and Port Max. Now, drawing upon decades of engineering know-how, Galaxy is poised to expand into the UTV and ATV market this year. This strategic move broadens its portfolio across new off-highway applications while staying true to its commitment to innovation and dependable performance.

Scheduled to run throughout 2026, the campaign reinforces Galaxy’s role as a proven, steadfast partner – equipped to handle the extra load, no matter the destination. Click here  to watch the campaign video.

Angelo Noronha, CEO, Yokohama-ATG, said, “It is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Galaxy as we celebrate over 100 years of excellence in the off-highway tire segment. The campaign showcases the brand’s success over this period, deeply rooted in customer centricity. We are grateful to our global customers, partners and stakeholders for their trust and continued support throughout this journey as the brand marches ahead to the next century.”

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Michelin India has strengthened its retail presence in Pune with the launch of three new Michelin Tyres & Services (MTS) stores in partnership with Darshan Tyres. This expansion marks a significant step in broadening the company’s retail network across Maharashtra, driven by a commitment to bringing its products closer to customers.

Strategically situated in Hadapsar, Camp and Chinchwad, the three facilities span 2,500 square feet, 1,500 square feet and 2,500 square feet, respectively, placing them in key locations to serve the city’s expanding community of premium vehicle owners. Each location is equipped to deliver the full spectrum of Michelin’s passenger car tyre offerings, supported by advanced diagnostic technology and precision equipment for services ranging from alignment and balancing to fitting and repairs.

The venture builds on a longstanding partnership with Darshan Tyres, a well-established name in Pune’s automotive aftermarket with over 35 years of experience. Together, they now operate a network of 11 stores and two advanced detailing studios, combining Michelin’s technical expertise with Darshan Tyres’ deep local knowledge and service-focused reputation.

Shantanu Deshpande, Managing Director, Michelin India, said, ““Pune continues to be one of India’s fastest-growing automotive markets, with a strong base of premium vehicle owners. The launch of three new Michelin Tyres & Services Stores reflects our focused approach to expanding our retail footprint in high-potential markets and bringing our products and services closer to customers. This expansion is aligned with our plans to introduce Made-in-India passenger car tyres, reinforcing our commitment to delivering globally benchmarked products tailored for Indian consumers.”

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