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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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has closed the application phase for its startup competition, LOOP THE TYRE 2026, as of 15th May. Innovative project teams and startups from Germany, Austria and the Netherlands submitted a range of forward-looking concepts focused on advancing the sustainable tyre circular economy. The entries collectively highlight a strong innovation potential within the industry.

The submitted projects cover a wide technical spectrum, including advanced devulcanisation and recycling processes, functionalised recyclates for new tyre production and artificial intelligence solutions for quality control and tyre sorting. Other notable concepts feature chemical-free rubber waste recycling methods and novel applications for used tyres in flood control, infrastructure management and disaster relief. This diversity underlines the growing role of new technologies and business models in fostering a climate-friendly circular economy.

An independent expert jury, comprising Dr Danka Katrakova-Krüger from TH Cologne, AZuR network coordinator Anna-Maria Guth, Dr Ulrich Giese of the German Institute for Rubber Technology and Stephan Rau from the German Rubber Industry Association (wdk), is reviewing all submissions. The winners are scheduled to be determined by 1 June 2026.

Regardless of the outcome, AZuR has invited all participants to the awards ceremony at THE TIRE COLOGNE 2026 on 11 June at 2 pm. The winning startups will receive a total prize money of EUR 6,000 and a free two-year AZuR partnership, granting access to the Europe-wide network and increased industry visibility. Through LOOP THE TYRE, AZuR continues to promote business ideas and technologies that extend tyre material life cycles, conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions.

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Tegeta Holding and Tegeta Green Planet have joined a large-scale greening campaign to restore the Rustavi riparian forest along the Mtkvari River. The initiative, implemented in partnership with Rustavi City Hall and Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, aims to rehabilitate one of the city’s most vital ecological zones.

During the latest phase of the project, employees of Tegeta Holding took part in tree planting alongside volunteers, while representatives of Tegeta Green Planet engaged participants in discussions on circular economy principles and environmental responsibility. The first stage of the restoration plan includes planting 10,000 endemic trees and plants, funded by the Environmental Protection Fund.

The Rustavi riparian forest, stretching approximately 300 hectares between the old and new bridges, serves as a natural air filtration zone for the city’s industrial area and hosts around 140 bird species. Beyond restoring native flora, the project also envisions developing picnic and tourist infrastructure, with active involvement from local youth, athletes, actor, and private sector members as part of corporate social responsibility efforts.

Parallel to the greening campaign, Tegeta Holding launched an internal Green Challenge for its employees, organising a paper collection point at its headquarters and across its branches. Nearly one tonne of waste paper was collected and sent to a recycling partner, saving an estimated 15 trees. The holding also recognised the most eco-friendly branch and department as part of the initiative.

Dedicated to Earth Day and its 2025 slogan ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, Tegeta has now participated in the riparian forest restoration for three consecutive years. Volunteers previously planted 3,000 saplings, and this year’s efforts have expanded significantly. The Green Challenge has also become an annual tradition, with over three tonnes of waste paper collected to date. In exchange, the company receives books donated to rural libraries for children.

Environmental protection remains a strategic pillar of Tegeta Holding’s corporate social responsibility. Together with Tegeta Green Planet, the company collects thousands of tonnes of automotive waste annually, including tyres, batteries and oils, for compliant recycling. It is also expanding its electric vehicle charging network, using hybrid and electric vehicles in its fleet, installing solar panels and running customer engagement campaigns such as ‘Don’t Throw It Away – Recycle It’, alongside cleaning, greening and youth education initiatives.

Mariam Japaridze, Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator, Tegeta Holding, said, “Environmental protection and raising public awareness are among the strategic pillars of Tegeta’s corporate sustainability efforts. We are pleased that tree planting has become part of a project that aims to bring new life to the Rustavi riparian forest. Tegeta has extensive experience supporting similar initiatives. It is especially important for us that Tegeta employees themselves participated in the project. We are proud to contribute both to the greening of Rustavi and the improvement of its ecosystem, as well as to strengthening an internal organisational culture focused on collecting and recycling paper waste.”

Shalva Akhvlediani, Director, Tegeta Green Planet, said, “The activities of ‘Tegeta Green Planet’ are directly connected to environmental protection. The company’s mission is the management of specific waste streams, including recycling, recovery and processing. Alongside recycling environmentally harmful waste, we actively support initiatives focused on greening, forest restoration and ecosystem improvement. The Rustavi riparian forest once played a vital role in the life of the city, but the situation changed in the 1990s: the forest was cut down, biodiversity deteriorated and the ecosystem was damaged. At ‘Tegeta Green Planet,’ we fully understand our responsibility in helping restore this area to its original condition. We hope that such an important and large-scale project will continue in the future.”

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Zeon Corporation has announced a strategic investment to expand production capacity for dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) at its GPI plant, located within the Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. The initiative will raise DCPD output by roughly 20 percent from current levels. DCPD serves as the primary raw material for Cyclo-Olefin Polymers and COP optical film, which are central to the company’s C5 business and its growth trajectory. The new facility will secure a stable DCPD supply without boosting production of piperylene or other commodity chemical materials while also utilising previously unused components to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Construction is set to begin in the second half of fiscal 2026, with completion scheduled for September 2028.

The Mizushima Plant, Zeon’s flagship facility, commenced operations in 1969 and is known for the GPI process (Geon Process of Isoprene), the company’s proprietary extractive distillation technology that isolates high-purity active components from C5 fractions in naphtha. Products from this process include isoprene, DCPD, piperylene and 2-butyne, which are used in synthetic rubbers, COP, petroleum resin and synthetic aroma chemicals.

Under the company’s STAGE30 medium-term business plan, Zeon has positioned COP and COP optical film as key growth drivers, anticipating steadily expanding demand. DCPD is also a raw material for other high-profit products such as RIM compounds. To meet rising demand without procuring additional C5 fractions, Zeon developed a technology that enables the use of previously unused feedstock components. This new process is expected to cut CO2 emissions more effectively than conventional extraction methods, supporting carbon neutrality goals.

Through STAGE30, Zeon is restructuring its portfolio via selection and concentration, and this latest investment aims to boost competitiveness while further expanding the C5 business. The company continues to address market needs and societal expectations, striving to contribute to more comfortable living standards worldwide.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has launched its first Apollo Rural Mobile Store, a new initiative aimed at improving last-mile connectivity and tyre access in rural India. The fully equipped mobile van was flagged off by company Vice President Rajesh Dahiya at a special event.

The customised vehicle travels to villages, allowing customers to explore and purchase tyres without long journeys. Stocked with a curated product range and staffed by trained representatives, the mobile store offers on‑the‑spot guidance on tyre selection, usage and maintenance. The first unit began operating in Pandavapura village, Mandya, Karnataka, with plans to deploy 25 such stores nationwide over the next 18 to 24 months.

The launch event also included a free health check‑up camp organised with the Apollo Tyres Foundation, underscoring the company’s community commitment. By combining convenience with expert support, the mobile store aims to empower rural customers to make informed decisions for safe and efficient vehicle operation.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President – Commercial, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “This initiative reflects our commitment to bridging access gaps in rural markets. By bringing our products and expertise directly to the customers’ doorstep, we aim to simplify the buying journey and ensure that even the most remote communities have access to the right mobility solutions.”

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