Hankook Tire’s manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China, has received the National Green Factory recognition from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. Hankook Chongqing plant is leading the green transformation of industries with the commitment to sustainability at its core, the company said in a release. 

This award is given to leaders of green manufacturing in line with the industrial green development plan of China after a series of strict assessments including self-assessment, independent third-party audits and evaluations from experts and government departments. This year’s list includes 662 green factories, 989 green design products, 52 green industrial parks and 107 green supply chain management demonstration enterprises. 

The company said that being a responsible company with goals to minimise environmental impact and foster a healthy community, it has long been advocating green growth. By achieving the National Green Factory recognition with its Chongqing plant, Hankook demonstrated once again its pioneering role in the field of sustainability, the release said. 

Taking an environmentally-friendly design approach since the early construction stages, the Hankook Chongqing plant facilities were made with non-toxic, environmentally-friendly building materials, and orchestrated in a way to optimise the use of natural sunlight. Promoting low carbon footprint, all the equipment are of high-energy efficiency exceeding the national standards.  

Hankook Chongqing plant also established a committee dedicated to eco-friendly operation and management, and set its own green development plan. It includes the implementation of an energy conservation target responsibility system (ECTRS), which works by allocating a mandatory target to each workshop and job and effectively involving all employees to take part. These efforts were well received, with Hankook Chongqing plant having acquired the ISO 14001, a global certification that recognises excellent environmental management systems. 

Energy efficiency maximization is aided by the implementation of an energy management centre. It schedules the optimal usage and operational conditions of energy sources through timely and science-based decision-making processes. For the past three years, a total of 21 energy-saving technologies have been adopted. As a result, approximately 2,296 tce of energy, measured by the amount of energy released by burning one tonne of goal, is being saved every year. 

Throughout its entire manufacturing process, Hankook Tire strives to minimise energy wastes by utilising harmless materials, using renewable energy and recycling resources. This affects end-products as well. In compliance with the company's product design guideline "Hankook Tire Green Design Requirements", technologies for improving fuel economy were employed to tire structure design which led to reduced rolling resistance. 

Seunghyeon Kang, Vice President and Plant Managing Director of Chongqing Plant, said, “We are glad to receive the National Green Factory recognition from Chinese government. As we have been taking proactive environmental initiatives and take the topic of sustainability very seriously, green manufacturing is the ultimate choice for us. Continuing our journey to net-zero, Hankook Tire Chongqing will take on Energy Innovation Project and further accelerate the green transition.” (TT)

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Tegeta Green Planet and Shine Energy, both affiliated with Tegeta Holding, have launched a joint educational initiative to raise environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people. The project addresses modern challenges such as environmental protection and sustainable development.

Company representatives are visiting schools across Tbilisi to hold informational meetings, presentations and workshops. The programme begins with presentations, followed by interactive games and activities designed to help students retain the information. At the end of each session, participants receive symbolic gifts and prizes as motivation.

Tegeta Green Planet focuses on teaching students the principles of specific waste management, including how to properly handle used tyres, batteries and oils. The sessions explain why proper waste management is essential for environmental protection and how it connects to the circular economy. Meanwhile, Shine Energy educates young people on the importance of energy, its everyday use and why developing renewable and sustainable energy resources is crucial.

The initiative is not limited to schools. In the near future, both organisations will expand their efforts to universities, aiming to broaden awareness about environmental protection, waste management and energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to foster environmentally responsible attitudes among the younger generation, helping build a more sustainable and conscious society.

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Zeon has been recognised as a Supplier Engagement Leader in the 2025 Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) conducted by CDP, a United Kingdom-based international environmental nonprofit organisation. This achievement represents the first time the company has received the highest possible rating in this assessment.

The evaluation measures how corporations address climate change within their supply chains, focusing on responses to the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire across five critical areas. These include governance, emissions targets, Scope 3 emissions management, risk management and overall supplier engagement strategies.

Zeon earned the top rating for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through supplier collaboration, a group-wide initiative, alongside continuous dialogue maintained via procurement activities. Guided by its philosophy of contributing to planetary preservation and human prosperity, Zeon remains committed to sustainable management. The company reaffirmed that it will continue working with suppliers and other stakeholders to tackle climate change and meet societal expectations.

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German chemical group WACKER has announced a price increase of up to 15 percent for its resins, dispersions and dispersible polymer powders produced at its European and US facilities. The adjustment takes effect on 1 June 2026, or as existing customer contracts permit. The move is designed to allow the company’s Polymers division to maintain high product quality, deliver technological innovations and provide superior customer service and technical support. It will also support investments aimed at securing future growth in key markets.

Rising costs for raw materials and logistics have forced the pricing measure, with the Polymers division being particularly affected. The recent conflict in the Middle East has caused significant disruptions across global commodity markets. As a direct result, prices for energy, raw materials and transportation have climbed sharply.

Despite the increase, WACKER remains focused on sustaining its commitment to customer support and long-term capability. The company underscored that the adjustment is necessary to continue meeting market demands while ensuring operational stability and future-oriented development across its focus markets.

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Pirelli North America has launched its first closed-loop circular recycling initiative, marking a significant step in the company’s broader strategy to increase recycled and bio‑based content in its tyre production. The project has received the Tire Recycling Foundation’s Value Chain Collaboration Award.

The programme recovers scrap tyres generated during Pirelli’s own North American manufacturing process. These materials are sent to Bolder Industries, which applies ISCC PLUS‑certified pyrolysis technology to produce BolderBlack recovered carbon black. Pirelli then reintroduces this material into new tyre production at its North American facilities, partially replacing virgin carbon black. The effort is part of a wider Pirelli plan to expand such industrial ecosystems across the group’s production network, aiming to valorise waste by reintegrating recovered materials into tyre manufacturing.

Beyond the award, the initiative reflects Pirelli’s broader circularity approach, which includes ongoing work to boost recycled and bio‑based material usage. The company targets over 80 percent bio‑based and recycled content in its best‑performing products and forty percent in total production by 2030.

Claudio Zanardo, CEO, Pirelli North America, said, "The Rome plant is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in Pirelli. This initiative reflects an approach focused on increasing the use of recovered materials within existing production processes. It is part of a broader effort to gradually integrate raw materials derived from recycled resources into our products while maintaining consistency in performance and quality."

Tony Wibbeler, CEO, Bolder Industries, said, "Our collaboration demonstrates that a traceable, mass-balance approach to tyre-to-tyre circularity is not only achievable, but it's ready to scale inside a premium manufacturing environment, meeting real performance and certification requirements at every step. This is the kind of progress the industry has been working toward for many years."

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