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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Continental has signed on as a global partner of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), with the agreement set to run from the 2026/27 season through 2029/30. The deal, negotiated by the IBU’s exclusive global marketing partner Infront, covers the LaVita IBU World Cup, the IBU World Championships and the Loop One Festival.

Biathlon’s close ties to winter make it a fitting fit for the tyre maker, which frames the sport as a natural setting for a partnership rooted in a positive view of the cold season. Athletes contend with shifting snow, weather and course conditions, blending endurance with shooting precision, a combination that mirrors Continental’s emphasis on preparation and confidence.

The tie-up places Continental inside one of EMEA’s strongest winter sports properties. The IBU calendar features 54 LaVita World Cup races and 12 World Championship races, many staged in key European winter markets, with Germany, France and Sweden among the largest EMEA television audiences for the sport. Beyond reach, European biathlon fans show a strong affinity for individual mobility, as 88 percent own at least one car, 80 percent drive at least semi-regularly and 59 percent drive regularly.

For the IBU, the cooperation adds an internationally established mobility brand to a partner platform that accompanies athletes and fans across the season, opening chances to develop fan experiences and market activities around major competitions. The deal extends Continental’s longstanding sports engagement in EMEA, giving it a season-long platform that links biathlon’s emotional pull with winter mobility relevance, on the idea that proper preparation turns winter conditions into possibilities rather than limits.

Alexandra Gaillard, Head of Marketing, Continental, said, “Our partnership with the International Biathlon Union brings together two organisations that share a common belief: challenging and unpredictable conditions do not have to limit what is possible. They can create opportunities for those who are prepared. Whether on the biathlon course or on winter roads, determination and the right equipment make all the difference when conditions change. Together with the IBU, we want to inspire people to rediscover winter and embrace the possibilities it offers, helping them navigate changing conditions safely and confidently.”

Ferdinand Hoyos, Head of Business Area EMEA, Continental, said, “Biathlon is a natural fit for Continental: success in the sport depends on the perfect combination of performance, precision and control in winter conditions, just as it does for our winter tire portfolio. For decades, biathlon has been one of the most popular and successful winter sports on the Olympic stage, and throughout those decades, Continental has remained a trusted leader in winter tyre technology. This shared commitment to excellence, performance and reliability makes for a great partnership and provides a strong platform to engage with fans, customers and retail partners across EMEA.”

Felix Bitterling, Commercial & Marketing Director, IBU, said, “With Continental, we are welcoming a strong and renowned brand to the biathlon family. The company’s commitment to quality, innovation and performance resonates perfectly with the values of our sport and federation. Biathlon provides an excellent platform for global visibility while creating meaningful engagement opportunities with our passionate fan base.”

Marco Sautner, Managing Director, Infront Germany, said, "Continental has seen firsthand the value that winter sports can create for leading brands. Biathlon's passionate fan base, strong presence in key European markets and range of activation opportunities provide an excellent platform to build on that success. It is hugely satisfying to bring together two organisations that stand to benefit from a long-term collaboration."

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Sun Auto Tire & Service has entered a strategic partnership with Interstate Batteries, designating the company as the primary battery provider for the Sun Auto Network. The announcement marks a significant development for one of United States’ largest independent automotive service providers.

Operating over 600 locations across 27 states, the Sun Auto Network encompasses more than 70 local and regional automotive service brands. This partnership represents another step in Sun Auto's ongoing efforts to strengthen operations and enhance customer experience through leading category partners.

Interstate Batteries, a battery specialist with national scale and strong consumer awareness, brings dedicated category expertise, marketing resources and nationwide support to the network. The company's products are now available at Sun Auto locations nationwide, combining Sun Auto's growing service footprint with Interstate's specialised expertise and distribution capabilities to create greater consistency in product availability, promotions and warranty support.

With over 70 years of industry presence, Interstate Batteries is recognised as one of North America's most trusted consumer battery brands. Sun Auto locations will support Interstate's warranty coverage, offering customers convenient access to warranty service across the network. The partnership advances Sun Auto's broader strategy of leveraging national network strength to improve products, resources and support for its local brands.

Tony Puckett, Chief Executive Officer, Sun Auto Network, said, "As we grow the Sun Auto Network, we're continually looking for ways to use our scale to make our local brands stronger and deliver more value to our customers. That means aligning with partners who bring deep expertise in their category and can support us consistently across the country. Interstate Batteries brings a trusted brand, specialised battery expertise and nationwide capabilities that make them a strong fit for our network and the customers we serve."

Lain Hancock, President and Chief Executive Officer, Interstate Batteries, said, "Interstate Batteries is proud to partner with Sun Auto Network and serve one of the nation's largest automotive service networks. Sun Auto's scale, customer-first approach and commitment to excellence make them an ideal partner. This agreement creates an exciting opportunity to support more than 600 locations operating under trusted local brands while ensuring drivers have access to dependable battery solutions wherever they travel."

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Lassa Tyres has launched its new Snoways 5 and Competus Winter 3 winter tyres to address shifting demands across passenger car and SUV markets. Both products carry the company's EV Ready designation, confirming their compatibility with electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles. The Snoways 5 has additionally secured the TÜV Performance Mark, recognising its strength in key winter and wet handling criteria.

Designed for improved control on snowy and wet surfaces with enduring performance, the Snoways 5 surpasses its predecessor in snow, wet and wear results, as verified by independent TÜV testing. It also improves its rolling resistance label by one grade, cutting energy loss for more efficient driving. TÜV SÜD testing found measurable gains over the competitor average in snow acceleration, snow braking, lateral snow grip, aquaplaning, wet braking and lateral wet grip, alongside lower rolling resistance. Notable improvements include roughly 4 percent better aquaplaning and 3 percent gains in both snow acceleration and lateral snow grip.

The Competus Winter 3 brings this winter design to SUVs, tailoring the Snoways 5 pattern and technologies for larger, heavier vehicles. It offers assured braking and controlled handling on snow and wet roads, with next-generation winter technology delivering stronger snow and wet performance plus greater fuel efficiency. Its EV-Ready construction suits electric and hybrid SUVs while keeping drivers confident throughout winter.

Lassa has expanded its winter range in response to growing demand for larger rim sizes. Snoways 5 comes in 46 sizes spanning 15 to 21 inches, while Competus Winter 3 offers 42 sizes from 16 to 21 inches. This brings European passenger car and SUV winter fitment coverage to 84 percent, with 18-inch and larger fitments reaching 75 percent. Both tyres will launch across Lassa markets for the 2026 winter season.

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New research findings from a doctoral dissertation by Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bogdahn examine how end-of-life tyres can yield high-quality recovered carbon black (rCB) through pyrolysis while delivering substantial environmental benefits. The work, titled ‘Production and Environmental Assessment of High-Quality Carbonaceous Materials from End-of-Life Tyre Pyrolysis’, was presented in condensed form at an AZuR Chemical Recycling Project Group meeting in Dillingen/Saar on 1 October 2026.

The dissertation tackles how end-of-life tyres can be recovered and recycled to maximise their value. Pyrolysis is identified as a complementary technology that helps close recycling gaps in the circular economy and offers an alternative to fossil-based carbon black, a material that plays a crucial role in determining tyre properties.

In the pyrolysis process, rubber granules from processed tyres undergo thermal decomposition without oxygen, producing three main streams: solid rCB, tyre pyrolysis oil and pyrolysis gas. Previous evaluations of such technologies often separated technical and environmental perspectives, relied on secondary data and lacked standardised methodologies, making findings difficult to compare.

Image credit: Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bogdahn

Bogdahn overcomes these limitations by integrating a technology-specific process model with a detailed life cycle assessment model. This combination enables a scientifically robust environmental evaluation of pyrolysis and its secondary raw materials using reliable primary data. A central component is a process model that mathematically describes material conversion by combining reaction kinetics, reactor behaviour and mass and energy balances.

Starting with laboratory-scale experiments, the model was scaled up and validated using a pilot-scale rotary kiln at the Institute of TH Köln. Comprehensive laboratory analyses of feedstocks and products supported development and validation. Optimal conditions for the investigated system were found at 650 degrees Celsius with a residence time of about one hour, achieving complete material conversion and high-quality recovered carbon black. Product distribution was roughly 40 percent rCB, 37 percent TPO and 23 percent pyrolysis gas by weight.

Image credit: Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bogdahn

Using validated primary data, Bogdahn conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment and developed a methodological matrix covering relevant standards and guidelines to address inconsistent approaches. In the rotary kiln baseline scenario, one metric tonne of recovered carbon black results in a global warming potential over 100 years of about 918 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalents, compared with the International Carbon Black Association’s global industry average of 3,910 kilogrammes for conventional fossil-based carbon black, a reduction of approximately 77 percent. Even after a quality adjustment for lower carbon content, the reduction remains about 70 percent. The study followed ISO 14067 and underwent independent external critical review under ISO 14071, also covering TPO and sustainable carbon black.

Further improvements remain possible. Emissions mainly stem from electricity consumption and gas combustion, with rCB processing accounting for about 44 percent, pyrolysis gas cleaning and combustion about 36 percent and tyre shredding about 19 percent. Sensitivity analysis confirms that renewable electricity offers substantial additional greenhouse gas reductions, reinforcing that a circular economy achieves genuine sustainability only when powered by renewable energy. Enhancing material quality through demineralisation and activation could enable higher substitution rates for fossil-based carbon black.

Image credit: Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Bogdahn

A central conclusion extends beyond pyrolysis itself. Raw materials, tyre manufacturing, the use phase and recovery pathways form an interconnected system spanning the entire tyre life cycle, closely linked to the carbon black, chemical, steel and energy sectors. Achieving circularity requires collaboration across systems and industries, along with greater methodological harmonisation and stronger integration of industrial value chains. The AZuR network’s work reflects this need, recognising that extended tyre use, repair, regrooving, retreading, mechanical recycling and appropriate chemical recycling must all function as interconnected elements of the value chain.

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