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 Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) participated in CSCAP 2026, a regional forum on Accelerating Sustainable Consumption and Production for Climate Justice and Value Chain Resilience in Asia-Pacific. The event took place on 23–24 September 2026 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. ANRPC was represented by Secretary-General Dr Suttipong Angthong upon the organisers' invitation.

The two-day forum was organised by AFMA, FeedUP@UN, Sustainism and the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). It gathered policymakers, industry leaders, smallholder cooperatives, civil society organisations, climate scientists and development practitioners from across Asia-Pacific. Discussions centred on SDG 12, SDG 13 and SDG 15, emphasising links between high-level policy and practical implementation in natural rubber, coconut and sugarcane sectors.

Rubber figured heavily in the discussions. On day one, a high-level panel examined sustainable rubber and derivatives, traceability and deforestation-free supply chains, weighing how producing countries handle the EU Deforestation Regulation, cross-border compliance and national biodiversity frameworks from farm to tyre. Later sessions explored affordable monitoring, reporting and verification tools for smallholders, sustainability-linked finance and a rights-based approach to climate justice.

Dr Angthong shared ANRPC's perspective on conditions in producing countries, where smallholders account for the vast majority of global output. He emphasised that sustainability requirements must be paired with practical support, fair pricing and affordable traceability solutions. This, he argued, would ensure smallholders are not shut out of sustainable markets but instead benefit from the transition.

Dr Angthong said, “Natural rubber is the livelihood of millions of smallholder families across our member countries. The shift towards deforestation-free, low-carbon supply chains is an opportunity for our sector – but only if it is inclusive. CSCAP 2026 provided a valuable platform for producers, buyers, regulators and financiers to work together on solutions that are credible, affordable and fair to farmers. ANRPC will continue to serve as the voice of producing countries in shaping these solutions.”

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Pirelli & C. S.p.A. (Pirelli) and ABET High Tech Solutions S.r.l. (ABET HTS) were formally notified on 28 September 2026 of a Prime Ministerial Decree approved on 24 September 2026. The measure followed a Golden Power Procedure initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office after the two companies submitted a joint notification concerning their defence-sector activities and related plans.

Central to that notification was a co-development agreement announced on 5 August 2026. The arrangement covers joint technological work on remote-controlled electric ground vehicles intended for rescue operations in particularly difficult and extreme environments and on challenging surfaces.

The decree identified as strategically significant for Italy’s defence system, under Article 1 of Legislative Decree No. 21 of 2012, both the defence-related work of Pirelli and ABET HTS and the co-development agreement itself. Consequently, the Cabinet exercised special powers over the matter.

Acting on maximum precaution and to safeguard fundamental national defence and security interests, the decree imposed techno-organisational measures on both firms. These are designed to protect industrial property rights, know-how, products and related data of strategic value while ensuring continuity and standards in their research and development activities in the sector, both current and future. Pirelli and ABET HTS received the decision favourably.

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Titan International, Inc. is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Titan Strong Seller Associate Dealer Program, a decade defined by partnership, expansion and mutual achievement with its Associate Dealers and Master Distributors. What began as a dealer engagement initiative has grown into a central pillar of the company’s strategy, now counting hundreds of additional Associate Dealers and more than double the participation seen in its first full year. Over 30 percent of current members have remained with the programme since its early days, underscoring its success in retention, consistency and lasting value.

Associate Dealers in the programme consistently deliver strong results, supported by a broad set of benefits built to drive business growth and operational excellence. These include uncapped earning potential through volume incentives, priority access to new products and pre-order opportunities that offer a critical time-to-market edge and ongoing training and education. Hundreds of dealers receive instruction through Titan University and Advanced TIA Tire Service Training, while marketing support and sales tools are available via Titan’s dealer portal, THE HUB. Members also gain access to hundreds of products across multiple segments, opening new revenue streams and customer opportunities. Together, these elements form an ecosystem connecting dealers to Titan’s expertise, innovation and support network.

Titan’s industry partners demonstrate proper demounting techniques during the 2024 Advanced TIA Ag and OTR Tire Service Training.

Adaptability has been central to the programme’s longevity. Instead of remaining static, Titan has continually refined the initiative to keep it competitive, relevant and valuable amid rapid market change. To mark the milestone, the company unveiled a new ‘Decade of Strength’ emblem and updated marketing materials. Anniversary initiatives include a lowered first-tier incentive threshold, allowing dealers to begin earning rewards earlier in the year, special recognition for founding Associate Dealers and exclusive events such as a dedicated Associate Dealer and leadership dinner during Titan University in January and an upcoming event at the Farm Progress Show.

Looking ahead, Titan remains committed to strengthening its dealer network through continued investment in training, product innovation and programme improvements. The Titan Strong Seller Associate Dealer Program will keep serving as a strategic growth platform, helping dealers expand into new segments, seize emerging opportunities and stay competitive in a shifting marketplace.

Kendra Mann, Director of Aftermarket Sales, said, “For the past decade, the Titan Strong Seller Associate Dealer Program has reflected our unwavering commitment to our dealers’ success. This is not a transactional programme; it is a true growth partnership. By continuously investing in training, expanding product access and refining incentives, we’ve built a model that empowers dealers to grow their businesses while staying closely connected to Titan.”

Sam Morrison, Sales Programs and Promotions Manager, said, “What makes this programme unique is the combination of direct access to Titan and the strong partnerships we’ve built with our Master Distributors. Together, we’re able to provide Associate Dealers with the support, expertise and resources they need to succeed in their local markets.”

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Michelin-backed Biotech Open Platform has commenced operations at its new facility in France, with its first advanced fermentation projects now underway. The EUR-20-million site is located in the Sustainable Materials Centre within the Michelin Innovation Park – Cataroux in Clermont-Ferrand.

The platform supports start-ups, industrial companies and R&D organisations in developing, optimising, scaling up and validating fermentation-based processes, aiming to ensure more innovations progress from laboratory scale to conditions representative of industrial production. It offers integrated fermentation, purification and bioprocess development capabilities, including a complete fermentation line with a capacity of up to 15m³ and semi-industrial purification systems that remain rare in Europe. These capabilities meet the most stringent standards, particularly those applicable to food production, and enable production of sufficient volumes for application testing and validation stages preceding potential commercial production.

As scrutiny of fossil-based ingredients and resources grows, industrial biotechnology and advanced fermentation are opening opportunities to produce molecules, ingredients and materials from renewable resources. Advanced fermentation, including precision fermentation, uses microorganisms such as yeasts, bacteria, microalgae and fungi as ‘microfactories’ capable of producing proteins, enzymes, food ingredients, cosmetic actives and bio-based materials for sectors including food and beverages, cosmetics, agriculture, chemicals and biomaterials.

Announced in 2024, the platform was born from a joint initiative by Danone, Michelin, DMC Biotechnologies, Crédit Agricole Centre France, Clermont Auvergne Innovation and Greentech. Dedicated teams and its own infrastructure guarantee strict project confidentiality and intellectual property protection, while Clermont Auvergne Métropole and the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund, have supported creation of this strategic biotechnology infrastructure.

Florent Menegaux, Chairman, Michelin Group, said, “With the inauguration of Biotech Open Platform, we are turning a strong conviction into an industrial reality: biotechnology will play a major role in the sustainable transformation of many sectors. By providing companies with an open infrastructure and leading expertise, we want to accelerate the transition from research to industry. For Michelin, this is an opportunity to explore new ways of replacing certain molecules currently derived from petrochemicals with more sustainable, bio-based alternatives. More broadly, this platform aims to become a catalyst for innovation in support of European competitiveness.”

Khadidja Romari, Chief Executive Officer, Biotech Open Platform, said, “Biotech Open Platform was created to address a very concrete challenge in biotechnology: how to move from a promising process at laboratory scale to a robust process that can work at industrial scale. The infrastructure is important, but equipment alone is not enough. Scale-up requires experience, technical know-how and the ability to solve the issues that appear as the process moves from one scale to another. Confidentiality and protection of intellectual property are also essential for the companies we work with. Our role is to help them move faster and more securely towards industrialisation.”

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