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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Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (publ) has disputed a request from Infiniteria Sweden AB and Infiniteria Europe Sàrl to terminate the company’s ongoing reorganisation. In a statement submitted to the Gothenburg District Court on 22 April, Enviro argued no grounds exist to end the process, originally approved on 27 February 2026. A creditors’ meeting on 18 March saw no opposition to the reorganisation continuing.

The dispute stems from Enviro’s decision to terminate the joint venture agreements with Infiniteria under Swedish law, calling them burdensome and loss‑making. Infiniteria filed a termination request on 15 April, which Enviro answered on 22 April. Enviro disputes the request and several supporting claims.

Enviro states the joint venture caused its financial difficulties, while its business plan shows opportunities to build a profitable enterprise using its patented technology. Infiniteria has asserted a preliminary damages claim of approximately EUR 84 million, but Enviro notes the claim is unsubstantiated and partially overlaps with ongoing arbitration announced on 6 February.

Enviro points to contractual liability caps, including EUR 3 million in the marketing and agency agreement and EUR 2 million in the license agreement. Infiniteria has not shown why these caps should not apply. Regarding the license agreement under English law, Enviro maintains termination was lawful, meaning Infiniteria’s exclusive right to Enviro’s technology has ceased.

Despite the legal conflict, Enviro reports strong global interest. A North American feasibility study is progressing faster than expected, and licensing dialogues are ongoing with around 10 stakeholders. Enviro remains determined to build long‑term value without the former joint venture’s constraints.

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Hankook Tire has released a new brand film titled ‘Formula E Rewind’, inspired by the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The company serves as the exclusive tyre supplier for the global all-electric racing series, which is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The latest cinematic work follows a previous Formula E brand film introduced in April last year.

That earlier production focused on Hankook’s advanced motorsports technologies and research supported by cutting-edge infrastructure. Its high production quality earned a Silver Prize in Sound Design at the Seoul Video Advertising Festival 2025, one of South Korea’s largest advertising awards. The newly unveiled film employs a distinctive rewind visual technique, shifting attention from racing outcomes back to the origin of technology. It emphasises that every race starts with the tyre while promoting the innovative ‘iON’ brand, the world’s first full lineup of electric vehicle tyres.

The film dynamically showcases the next-generation electric racing machine GEN3 Evo, which reaches 322 kilometres per hour and accelerates from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in just 1.86 seconds. It also features the official electric racing tyre ‘iON Race’, delivering a powerful sense of speed. By reconstructing race sequences in reverse, the video creates a fresh narrative that boosts viewer immersion. The slogan ‘Where it all begins’ and a composite logo reinforce Hankook’s positioning as a key Formula E partner.

The brand film will be distributed across Hankook’s owned media platforms, including its global website, YouTube and Instagram, aiming to engage motorsports fans, EV users and future mobility consumers.

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Solvay has significantly expanded a global framework agreement with IMI, accelerating the installation of connected industrial sensors throughout its worldwide manufacturing network. Under the extended partnership, IMI remains Solvay’s preferred supplier, with over 5,000 sensors already deployed across 25 sites in 11 countries. The ongoing rollout is enhancing operational reliability and efficiency while simultaneously lowering costs and reducing the company’s environmental impact.

The connected devices, classified as Industrial Internet of Things sensors, continuously monitor vibration and temperature on critical machinery. This real‑time data allows Solvay teams to track asset performance, prevent unexpected breakdowns, and schedule maintenance precisely when needed. The group intends to expand the sensor network to 9,000 units by 2027, reinforcing its shift from traditional time‑based maintenance to a predictive, data‑driven approach.

This sensor initiative is central to Solvay’s Essential for Generations strategy, which prioritizes operational excellence and sustainability. By leveraging real‑time information, the company predicts equipment failures, cuts repair expenses, and limits energy losses and waste. Having scaled from just a few hundred sensors in 2023 to more than 5,000 installed globally, Solvay is building a more resilient and reliable industrial footprint across all regions.

Lanny Duvall, Chief Operations Officer at Solvay, said “Digitalisation is reshaping the way we run our plants. Expanding the use of connected sensors helps us make quicker and better-informed decisions that improve safety, reliability and energy efficiency – while also making our operations more competitive and cost‑effective. It’s a concrete accelerator of the operational excellence transformation we’re driving across Solvay as part of our Essential for Generations strategy.”

Diana Garcia, Global Business Development Manager, Digital Products at IMI, said, “The complexity of modern plant operations, coupled with constant pressure on margins, means the chemical industry cannot rely on manual inspections to ensure maintenance operations are efficient and effective. Our technology provides real‑time insights that support Solvay’s move towards predictive maintenance. We are pleased to deepen this successful collaboration.”

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Nexen Tire America has detailed how original equipment tyre development has shifted from a standalone process to an integrated engineering effort conducted alongside new vehicle design. The company explains that modern vehicle complexity, driven by electrification and advanced driver systems, requires tyre engineering to begin in parallel with suspension, chassis and electronic control development. This earlier collaboration allows tyre performance to be optimised for hybrid and electric vehicle demands such as noise reduction, load capacity and rolling resistance.

Aaron Neumann, Head of the Nexen Tire America Technical Center, describes how suppliers must now adopt faster development cycles and deeper technical collaboration. The traditional model of selecting off-the-shelf tyres has been replaced by purpose-built designs tuned to specific safety, handling and efficiency targets. Electric vehicles have added further criteria including range optimisation and tyre noise mitigation.

To manage these demands, Nexen has expanded its use of simulation and modelling technologies. Finite element analysis and data-driven tyre modelling allow engineers to evaluate performance early in the development cycle, reducing the number of physical prototypes required. Despite this digital focus, physical testing remains extensive and includes laboratory procedures such as high-speed endurance, rolling resistance, uniformity, noise and flat-spotting assessments.

On-road validation involves instrumented traction and braking tests, ride and handling evaluations, treadwear analysis and durability testing across varied surfaces and climates. Each tyre’s tread pattern, construction, footprint and profile are refined through iterative testing specific to the target vehicle. While some materials overlap with replacement tyres, original equipment fitments are engineered to balance performance, efficiency and comfort.

Over the past decade, Nexen Tire has more than doubled its original equipment portfolio in North America. This growth is attributed to an engineer-to-engineer collaboration model emphasising transparency and responsiveness. Many technologies developed for original equipment programmes, including advanced compounds and tread designs, are later incorporated into replacement tyres.

For consumers, these behind-the-scenes engineering efforts result in tyres more precisely matched to vehicle performance. Neumann notes that modern tyres rank among the most complex vehicle components, having to deliver safety, efficiency and comfort simultaneously across a wide range of conditions, even if that complexity remains largely invisible to drivers.

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