DUNLOP’s natural rubber procurement subsidiary, SUMITOMO RUBBER SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., which operates as part of the supply chain partner Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd., has been leading a major sustainability effort in Indonesia. Together with its Indonesian subsidiary PT Hok Tong, the Singapore-based producer and distributor launched the Traceability and Transparency Pilot Project, also known as the SNR Project, in South Sumatra in 2022. The initiative was designed to directly support smallholder natural rubber farmers in the region.

The project has successfully raised natural rubber productivity while simultaneously improving the earnings of local farmers. By enabling growers to achieve a stable income on existing farmland, the initiative has reduced pressure to expand agricultural areas. This outcome has contributed meaningfully to curbing deforestation that would otherwise result from farm expansion, demonstrating positive environmental and economic results for the DUNLOP Group’s sustainable procurement efforts.

Natural capital, including natural rubber, is recognised by the DUNLOP Group as an essential foundation for its sustainable business activities. Following the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, the group has assessed its dependence on and impact upon natural capital, along with associated risks and opportunities. Continuing to use natural rubber as a sustainable resource has been identified as a major management objective for the future.

Most natural rubber production is carried out by smallholders rather than large plantations, and insufficient knowledge of cultivation and processing methods can lead to lower productivity and unstable incomes. These factors also risk driving farm expansion and deforestation, as well as creating social issues in production areas. To address these challenges, the DUNLOP Group undertakes support activities aimed at improving smallholder productivity and living standards.

In collaboration with Halcyon Agri, support focused on enhancing traceability, transparency and producer welfare in South Sumatra. Using RubberWay, a risk assessment tool for natural rubber, the project identified risks related to wage levels and agricultural practices. Over roughly three years from 2022 to 2025, including a pandemic-related suspension, more than 1,000 farmers received assistance through field investigations, raw material distribution mapping, productivity training, fertilisers and guidance on fertilisation. As a result, natural rubber yield increased by up to about 19 percent, and farmers’ earnings rose by approximately 25 percent in the target region.

Halcyon Agri commented: “At Halcyon Agri, we believe that the long-term resilience of the natural rubber industry is closely linked to the well-being of smallholder farmers. Through our subsidiary, PT Hok Tong, and in partnership with DUNLOP, we are advancing a CSR programme in Jambi Province to strengthen farmer capabilities through training, agricultural inputs and on-the-ground support. We are honoured to collaborate with DUNLOP, whose strong commitment and investment have been instrumental in enabling this initiative. Through this partnership, we aim to enhance productivity, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable practices across the supply chain. We believe this collaboration will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the natural rubber industry and create meaningful value for all stakeholders.”

Mulyono, a farmer who received support, said, “After the application of fertilisers, the leaves and bark of a rubber tree showed clear improvements in their conditions, and the health states of the entire tree improved. The leaves became even greener, and the bark became thinner, which made tapping easier. As a result, the rubber yield increased from approximately 100 kg to around 125–130 kg. Support from Halcyon Agri and DUNLOP has led to the improvement of our livelihood, and we expect a project like this to continue in the future.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Maxam Tire has broadened its range of solid skid steer tyres by launching the MS705 NM, a non-marking iteration of its current MS705 model. The new tyre targets construction machinery operated indoors or on surfaces where leaving marks is undesirable.

By pairing the resilience of a solid tyre with a non-marking tread compound, the MS705 NM suits jobs that demand protection for finished flooring and other delicate surfaces. Its solid design removes the risk of punctures and sidewall failures while also doing away with regular air pressure checks, which helps lower maintenance demands.

The tyre incorporates a three-stage, all-rubber build and an aperture sidewall that together produce a gentler ride. Steel ring reinforcement internally works to prevent wheel slip, while a heat-resistant cushion centre compound adds durability for tough applications. With this non-marking option, Maxam now gives customers greater flexibility in matching skid steer tyres to specific jobsite needs.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Evonik, a global speciality chemicals company, has outlined a three-year strategy to sharpen its focus and accelerate growth, assigning distinct roles across its business portfolio and setting specific tasks for its major German sites. Targeted growth projects are also intended to improve the group's geostrategic balance. To fund these investments, the company is relying on its Evonik Tailor Made restructuring programme to further reduce its cost base. The plan involves cutting 3,200 jobs worldwide, with roughly 2,150 of those losses falling in Germany.

At the annual strategy meeting, the executive and supervisory boards reviewed plans through 2030. Interim CEO Claus Rettig said the industry faces a structural and economic crisis, and Evonik will use this polycrisis to reshape old structures and improve its positioning. Many parts of the business are still growing, so efforts will concentrate on strengths, future topics and lucrative markets, with better cost positions creating room to manoeuvre.

Transformation will proceed at every level. Healthcare and biotechnology projects in Canada and Slovakia, worth several hundred million euros, will strengthen the portfolio, while business units are aligned by role as growth drivers or cash generators. A new business line, Designed Polymer Solutions, bundles growth areas in aerospace, automotive and gas separation, including biogas and hydrogen. Asia and America offer strong opportunities, and further investments there are under review. Each of the six major German sites will receive a clear profile, with implementation starting shortly.

Evonik is also exiting activities with no internal prospects. Rettig said long-term leadership requires leading in what the company does, and volatility demands flexible responses. Closures of smaller sites fit this approach, and divestments of C4 chemicals and infrastructure are progressing as planned. Tailor Made's second phase begins in 2027 and runs to 2029. Measures will be finalised by late 2026, including unfilled vacancies, early retirements and voluntary severance departures. Chief Human Resources Officer Thomas Wessel said Evonik has long lived social responsibility and maintained intensive dialogue with employee representatives, and this transformation will be completed together.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Continental recently showcased its new TerrainContact A/T2 tyre during a five-day driving event in Iceland, held from 14 to 18 September 2026. Journalists and invited customers tested the tyre across winding roads, rugged highlands, glaciers and volcanic terrain.

Starting at Þingvellir, the group travelled through Iceland's Western Highlands and the Kaldidalur valley, where gravel routes highlighted the tyre's blend of on-road comfort and off-road traction. The TerrainContact A/T2 targets pickup and SUV owners who mainly drive on pavement but require extra grip when conditions change.

Compared with its predecessor, the tyre offers better wet braking and snow traction while preserving a quiet ride and off-road ability. A new tread compound boosts wet performance, greater tread depth aids snow grip, and optimised zig-zag grooves and traction teeth add control on loose or snowy surfaces. It carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and is engineered with electric vehicles in mind.

Okan Sen, National Marketing Manager, Continental Tire Canada, said, “The TerrainContact A/T2, as one of the best-balanced performance all-terrain tyres in the market, was developed for drivers who want the freedom to explore without compromising their everyday driving experience. Iceland was the perfect setting to bring that versatility to life, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the tire across the kind of changing terrain it was designed to handle.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

A new Oxford Economics study commissioned by Tyres Europe underscores the tyre sector's vital economic and social contribution, arriving as Brussels shapes its Industrial Accelerator Act to reinforce European industrial competitiveness. The report, titled ‘The Critical Importance of the EU Tyre Industry’, makes the case that EU industrial policy ought to encompass the finished products sustaining Europe's economy and essential services, rather than focusing solely on raw materials and technologies.

Through the lens of tyres, the research maps the relationships between European manufacturing capacity, reliance on external sources and the smooth operation of mobility, freight and public services. It concludes that EU-produced tyres potentially enabled freight, agriculture and passenger transport, directly yielding EUR 1.5 trillion in GDP – 9 percent of the EU's total – and providing work for 30.5 million people, 13 percent of EU employment.

The study further reveals exposure on both sides of the tyre value chain. Imported intermediate inputs constitute 11.9 percent of EU tyre production value, exceeding the EU economy average of 7 percent, while natural rubber supplies depend wholly on imports. In 2024, imported tyres made up 40 percent of newly fitted tyres across the EU, a proportion that continues to climb.

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “Economic resilience depends not only on access to materials but also on retaining the capacity to transform them into safe, advanced products in Europe. The Industrial Accelerator Act is an opportunity to recognise strategically-important finished products and support competitive manufacturing in Europe. A strong EU tyre manufacturing base reduces reliance on external suppliers and helps build a more resilient, competitive automotive value chain.”

Pete Collings, Managing Director, Oxford Economics, said, “Europe’s tyre industry is far more than a manufacturing sector: it is a critical enabler of mobility, trade and wider economic activity. Our analysis shows that EU-produced tyres support hundreds of billions of euros in GDP and millions of jobs across key customer sectors, while the industry itself depends on complex global supply chains. The findings underline the economic value of maintaining a strong European tyre manufacturing base.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!