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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Sri Trang Group has formally inaugurated its annual internal sports tournament, the Somwang Cup 2026, reinforcing its dedication to employee welfare and organisational cohesion. The event is designed to enhance both physical and mental health among staff while simultaneously fostering a robust sense of unity and team spirit. This initiative is a core component of the group’s broader sustainability strategy, which prioritises the continuous improvement of its employees’ quality of life.

The official opening ceremony took place on 1 August 2026 at the Kickoff Arena in Hat Yai, Songkhla, featuring competitions in men’s football and women’s volleyball. The tournament has drawn significant participation, with over 800 employees from 11 different companies within the Sri Trang Group across Thailand. The men’s football competition, now in its fourth year, includes 44 teams, while the women’s volleyball event, in its second consecutive year, features 26 teams.

The competitive structure will see the leading squads from both disciplines progress to the final rounds scheduled for December. These culminating matches will determine the championship titleholders, with a combined total of more than THB 200,000 in prize money at stake.

Beyond the athletic contests, the Somwang Cup places a premium on positive sportsmanship, with Fair Play and Outstanding Athlete Awards recognising exemplary conduct. Having evolved into a cornerstone of the group’s corporate culture, the event is instrumental in building strong internal relationships and a resilient foundation for sustainable business growth.

Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Group CEO of Sri Trang Group, said, “At the heart of Somwang Cup 2026 is our commitment to creating a space where Sri Trang Group employees and members of the surrounding communities, particularly local young people who attend and support the competitions, can build meaningful relationships and strengthen their physical and mental well-being through sport. The event also provides an opportunity for younger generations to learn the value of teamwork. I believe that an organisation’s success should not be measured solely by its business performance or the results of a competition but also by the quality of life and well-being of its employees.”

Pirat Fuengfha, Sourcing Division Manager, and Veerin Auengteerasuwan, Human Resource Division Manager of Sri Trang Agro-Industry Public Company Limited (STA), together with Phuriwatt Seesuk, Community Engagement Manager of Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Public Company Limited (STGT), jointly commented, “Employees are one of the organisation’s most valuable resources. We are therefore committed to enhancing their quality of life and supporting both their physical and mental well-being. Organising football and volleyball competitions encourages employees to exercise regularly while also providing an opportunity for colleagues from different teams and locations to connect and participate in activities together through sport. We firmly believe that healthy, happy and engaged employees are a vital force in driving Sri Trang Group towards sustainable growth.”

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Triangle Tyre was honoured with the ‘2026 Green Development Model Enterprise Award’ at the 5th International Green Zero-Carbon Festival & ESG Leadership Summit in Shanghai on 29 July. The accolade recognises the manufacturer's sustained environmental commitment, operational sustainability framework and mature governance capabilities, aligned with the summit's theme of advancing green development.

The summit convened hundreds of leading enterprises for discussions on zero-carbon factories, low-carbon transitions, ESG deployment and circular economies. The award evaluates performance across strategic planning, technological innovation, clean energy adoption, supply chain management and social responsibility.

Triangle Tyre has integrated carbon neutrality into corporate strategy, establishing emission reduction targets for 2030 and a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050. The company holds energy efficiency ‘Leader’ status from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and national ‘Green Factory’ recognition. Manufacturing initiatives have reduced carbon intensity per product unit, while a biomass boiler retrofit increased renewable energy share.

In R&D, the company expands sustainable materials like recycled rubber and bio-based feedstocks. Supply chain efforts include green supplier evaluations, raw material traceability and a ‘zero deforestation’ pledge, with ESG metrics integrated into supplier management. The company also supports occupational health systems and public welfare initiatives. This award reflects Triangle Tyre's enduring sustainability commitment and plans to deepen ESG implementation for industry-wide green transformation.

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Maxion has released its inaugural global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), marking a unified evaluation of environmental performance across its major product categories and two dozen manufacturing sites worldwide. This comprehensive study shifts the company from fragmented individual assessments to a cohesive global framework that covers both aluminium and steel wheel production.

The assessment, adhering to ISO standards and the Environmental Footprint 3.1 methodology, analysed 16 impact categories based on 2024 operational data. A substantial reliance on primary information from essential production phases has bolstered the study's credibility and precision. The results emphasise that raw materials, especially aluminium and steel, are the primary drivers of the product carbon footprint, pointing to material sourcing and supplier collaboration as crucial areas for future mitigation strategies.

By establishing this consistent global benchmark, Maxion enhances transparency and facilitates more informed customer discussions. The standardised data not only improves comparability across its wheel portfolio but also aids in pinpointing new opportunities for environmental reduction, supporting the sustainability requirements of clients and stakeholders alike.

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Apollo Tyres Ltd has marked two decades of collaboration between its Vredestein brand and the Ennstal-Classic, following the conclusion of the 2026 edition of the prestigious European historic rally. The event, held from 22 to 25 July, reinforced a partnership that has endured since the brand’s acquisition by Apollo in 2009.

This year’s rally featured nearly 200 historic vehicles traversing a 1,000-kilometre Alpine route, attracting motoring enthusiasts from across the continent. A central feature of the ongoing affiliation is the Vredestein Youngster Trophy, a category designed to foster interest in classic cars among younger participants.

Beyond event sponsorship, Apollo Tyres continues to expand its Vredestein Classic tyre portfolio, introducing new sizes and advanced materials for contemporary safety and performance. The comprehensive range, including Sprint Classic, Sprint+, Grip Classic, Snow Classic, Transport Classic and Quatrac Classic, offers period-correct styling for a wide array of vintage passenger cars, sports cars, commercial vehicles and 4x4s.

Udyan Ghai, Group Head – Marketing, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said, “This event brings together some of Europe’s finest historic vehicles and gives us the opportunity to share our passion for automotive heritage. Through our support of the Vredestein Youngster Trophy and continued investment in our Classic tyre range, we are helping enthusiasts enjoy their classic vehicles safely in all conditions.”

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