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 Tire Industry Association (TIA) has revealed the outcome of its 2026 Board of Directors election, with four industry figures selected to serve three-year terms. Kelsey Jarman, Director of Sales for off-the-road tyres at ESTI, and Jason Rook, President and CEO of ITDG, are joining the board for the first time. Craig Stevens, General Manager of Big Horn Tire, and Adam Moffatt, Executive Director of the Tire Dealers Association of Canada, who also serves the Ontario Tire Dealers Association, have both been re-elected as returning members.

The association expressed enthusiasm for the leadership, perspectives and experience these individuals will contribute as they help steer TIA and advance the tyre industry. The newly elected and re-elected board members are scheduled to be formally inducted on 2 November 2026 during TIA’s Annual Membership Meeting, which will take place at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The association extended its congratulations to all four individuals.

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Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH (DUNLOP) has unveiled a comprehensive winter and all-season tyre portfolio for the 2026 season, targeting European drivers who face unpredictable cold-weather conditions. The range covers high-performance passenger car and SUV applications, blending dependable winter traction with year-round versatility. The lineup includes the DUNLOP WINTER, WINTER SPORT 5, SP WINTER SPORT 4D and SP WINTER SPORT 3D winter tyres, alongside the DUNLOP ALL SEASON 2 for those seeking a single year-round solution.

The DUNLOP WINTER addresses drivers prioritising balanced low-temperature performance. Its directional tread and multidirectional sipes evacuate water and slush efficiently, supporting grip and stability, while lightweight materials reduce rolling resistance and aid fuel efficiency. It earned an ‘Exemplary’ rating in last year's Auto Bild tyre test, also praised for strong value. The WINTER SPORT 5, fitted as original equipment on selected Mercedes-Benz models, uses wide, deep grooves for efficient water evacuation and predictable cold-weather handling.

For enthusiasts, the SP WINTER SPORT 4D offers direct steering response through a lightweight construction, interlocking sipes, V-shaped snow grooves and an adaptive winter compound that promotes even contact-patch pressure. It is trusted as original equipment by Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. The SP WINTER SPORT 3D, original equipment on selected Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen models, combines three-dimensional interlocking sipes for snow traction and braking with a Shape Lock System that maintains tread stability at higher speeds.

Completing the portfolio, the DUNLOP ALL SEASON 2 delivers a balance of summer and winter tyre benefits across varied conditions. Its 3D interlocking sipes aid winter traction, while a reinforced carcass supports stability and handling on both wet and dry surfaces, providing year-round confidence for European motorists.

Marcus Schulz, Assistant Manager – Product Planning, Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said, "Winter no longer necessarily means facing months of snow and ice, with often milder temperatures adding to the unpredictability of the weather. This makes it even more important to have tyres that can cope with a wide range of weather conditions. With our winter portfolio, DUNLOP offers tyres designed to meet the increasingly diverse conditions and ensuring drivers can rely on consistent performance.

"In DUNLOP's first full year with Sumitomo Rubber Industries, we are entering a new chapter in Europe. By continuously strengthening and expanding our product portfolio, we are enhancing the brand's competitiveness and laying the ideal foundation for a successful and safer 2026 winter season.”

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Michelin has broadened its agricultural trailer tyre lineup with the launch of the MICHELIN WORKXBIB. Designed primarily for tipping trailers, slurry tankers, manure spreaders and similar farm equipment, the new addition complements the existing MICHELIN TRAILXBIB, which features the company’s patented Ultraflex technology for reduced soil compaction.

Engineered to handle the demands of trailer platforms, the WORKXBIB combines endurance, high load capacity and reliability for intensive road use. It supports loads of up to 6,500 kg at speeds of 65 kmph and is offered in a size range tailored to current vehicles, drawing on Michelin’s innovation to deliver dependable performance.

The tyre’s flat crown and reinforced, serrated shoulders provide a larger footprint, promoting stability even under heavy loads and at high speed. A steel-belted crown, robust carcass and bead area, and a high-performance rubber compound enhance puncture resistance. Serrated shoulders improve stability on sloping ground, while large tread blocks self-clean to reduce maintenance. This design delivers up to 80 percent longer life than the previous generation of Michelin trailer products.

For contractors and farm owners, the result is fewer tyre replacement and maintenance stops, greater equipment availability and better-controlled operating costs. The replacement market rollout begins with size 600/55 R26.5 in October 2026, followed by three additional sizes in the second quarter of 2027: 650/55 R26.5, 600/60 R30.5 and 560/60 R22.5.

Tom Saunders, Agricultural Beyond Road Customer Engineering Support Manager at Michelin, said, “In a sector marked by increasingly intensive road use and demanding field performance, we’ve developed the MICHELIN WORKXBIB for contractors and farmers. Our latest fitment has a wide range of applications from public works and civil engineering through to haulage and livestock farming.”

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Tegeta Green Planet participated in a Circular Economy Action Platform meeting hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Georgia on 6 October. The session examined packaging waste management and the need for technical regulation from a business standpoint, with participants exploring existing practices and the challenges tied to the issue.

Attendees stressed that an effective waste management system would serve environmental goals while giving businesses a clear and predictable operating environment. Shalva Akhvlediani, Director of Tegeta Green Planet, presented the company’s vision and hands-on experience. Discussion topics included the Extended Producer Responsibility system, the role of businesses in waste management and practical obstacles to advancing a circular economy in Georgia.

As an EPR organisation, Tegeta Green Planet helps producers and importers meet their environmental obligations and supports an effective waste chain spanning collection, proper treatment and conversion into a resource. Akhvlediani detailed the company’s work with used tyres, waste oils and automotive batteries, noting that a sustainable system demands coordinated cooperation among businesses, government and other stakeholders alongside practical experience.

The meeting underscored the value of technical regulation, with clear requirements and strong enforcement seen as ways to develop waste management, reinforce responsible business practices and encourage more efficient resource use. Developing a circular economy remains a key focus for Tegeta Green Planet, which continues working with the business, public and educational sectors so that waste management moves beyond regulatory compliance toward reuse and recycling opportunities.

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