Valebridge Media Services (VMS) has announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2023 edition of the Recircle Awards, the event organised to promote and recognise sustainable innovation, production processes, management and services in the tyre retreading and recycling sector.

The shortlist, chosen from a preliminary list of candidates nominated by the public, has once again been compiled by the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee, made up of 14 experts, including respected tyre industry journalists, industry association heads and independent consultants from around the world.

The shortlisted nominees for the 15 award categories open to public vote are as follows:

Best Tread Rubber Supplier

- Dobermann

- Marangoni

- Pre-Q Galgo

- Silvercap

- Vipal Rubber

Best Retreading Equipment Supplier

- Central Marketing

- Italmatic

- Matteuzzi

- TRM

- Vipal Machinery

Best Tyre Recycling Industry Supplier

- Eco Green Equipment

- Eldan Recycling

- Fornnax

- Rubberjet Valley

- Tallants Navarro

Best Tyre Derived Recycled Product

- Ceyes: City Green Panels

- Michelin: Tyres containing rCB

- Rubtec SpA: Rubtec Rubber Bumpers

- Shredded Tire: Miami Echo Construction Blocks

- XTyre Global: Evaporation Inhibitor Floating Panel

Employee of the Year

- Ankita Saikia (Tyromer)

- Bernardita Diaz (SustrendLab)

- Camilla Raffaelli (VM Rubber)

- Fabricio Nedeff (Vipal)

- Ron Elliott (Pre-Q Galgo)

Best Passenger Retreader

- Black Star

- Fedima

- Insa Turbo

- Malatesta Pneumatici

- Radburg

Best OTR Retreader

- Community Tire

- FM Pneus

- Marangoni SpA

- Reifen Wagner

- Renova Peru

Best Truck & Bus Retreader

- Continental

- Insa Turbo

- Marangoni SpA

- Unigoma

- Vaculug

Mechanical Tyre Recycling Award

- Duramos SAS

- E-Cova

- Genan

- Murfitts

- Rembre Tyres

Tyre Devulcanization Award

- DRI Rubber

- EFG Polymers

- GRP Ltd

- Rubber Matters

- Tyromer Inc.

Tyre Pyrolysis Award

- Contec SA

- Ecolomondo Corp

- Kal Tire Chile

- Pyrum Innovations

- Scandinavian Enviro Systems

Best Retreading Accessory and Consumables Supplier

- Italmatic

- Marangoni

- Tech Europe

- Vipal Rubber

- VM Rubber

Best EPR Scheme     

- Circol ELT

- SDAB

- Seginus

- Signus Ecovalor

- Valorpneu

Best Tyre Recycling Research Project

- Blackcycle: The Blackcycle Project

- GEC Compounds: Research into the creation of Genesis Evolution Compounds

- María Esther Fernandez: The Application of Textile Waste from End-of-Use Tyres in the Production of Fibre Cement

- Patricio Muñoz / SustrendLab: The Recovery and Re-use of tyre sawdust in the manufacture of solid tyres for forklifts

- SustrendLab: Research into the extraction of T-Phite from tyres

Best Company Director

- Alexey Gryshchenko (Yashina)

- Hernan Diez Vargas (ANRE)

- Jorge Crespo (Vaculug)

- Matthias Leppert (Marangoni)

- Thomas Sorensson (Scandinavian Enviro Systems)

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In line with previous editions of the Recircle Awards, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Tyre Recycling Sector will be decided by the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee and announced during the ceremony in Bologna in November. 

David Wilson, the Chairman of the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee and Publisher of Retreading Business y Tyre & Rubber Recycling, wanted to highlight the notable increase in nominations with the 2022 edition, “Since we launch the Recircle Awards, we have delighted with the reception it has received year after year. But this edition has once again, exceeded our expectations. We have received more than 1,100 individual nominations, which is 250 more than last year,” commented Wilson. “It is very satisfying to see the Recircle Awards continuing to establish itself further at an international level in each edition. We will continue to be committed to recognising the efforts of people, institutions and companies who promote the values of the circular economy in our sector. We wish good luck to all the nominees in the final vote,” concluded the Chairman of the Recircle Awards Nominations Committee.

Valebridge Media Services also announced that the voting window is now open for the 2023 edition of the Recircle Awards. The public can now vote for their candidates after registering themselves on the website of the 2023 Recircle Awards: https://recircleawards.com/categories-2023/. The voting system allows for only one vote per person per category. Registered voters from the 2022 edition are encouraged to use their credentials from the previous year to log in and vote. 

Voting in the 2023 Recircle Awards is open until 23:59 GMT on Friday, September the 8th, 2023, with the 2023 Recircle Awards being announced on Thursday the 16th of November 2023 in an awards ceremony which is due to take part within the framework of Futurmotive – Expo and Talks organised by the trade fair Autopromotec in Bologna, Italy.

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Indian manufacturer invests in radial tyre capacity and electric vehicle products as it seeks growth in domestic and export markets

JK Tyre and Industries is expanding production capacity and pushing into higher-value tyres as the Indian manufacturer seeks to capitalise on strong vehicle demand, the shift towards premium cars and the growth of electric mobility.

The company plans to invest in additional truck and bus radial and passenger car radial capacity, while broadening its distribution network and developing products for overseas markets. The strategy comes as a sharp increase in raw-material prices threatens to erode the benefits of rising sales.

Nearly 30 percent of JK Tyre’s passenger car tyre volumes in the first half of the financial year came from premium products with wheel sizes of 16 inches and above, Managing Director Anshuman Singhania told analysts on the company’s second-quarter earnings call. The segment has grown at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the past two to three years.

The shift towards larger tyres reflects changing consumer preferences in India’s car market, where manufacturers are increasingly catering to buyers seeking more premium vehicles. JK Tyre is seeking to capture that demand while maintaining its position in commercial vehicle and agricultural tyres.

Electric mobility and premium products

Electric mobility is another area of growth. The company said its electric vehicle tyre volumes rose by more than 24 pe cent quarter on quarter. It also highlighted its position in electric trucks and buses, and said the MG Hector Tomahawk had been launched with its Ranger HPE electric vehicle-specific tyres.

JK Tyre is investing in research and development and using artificial intelligence and machine learning in product design, manufacturing and supply-chain management. The company is also expanding its range of specialist off-the-road tyres, targeting applications where product performance and specifications are important purchasing considerations.

Expanding distribution

The push into premium products is accompanied by an effort to widen the company’s reach among customers. During the second quarter, JK Tyre added more than 250 pit shops and more than 80 dealers and distributors, almost half of the latter in rural markets. It also expanded its fleet accounts.

The replacement market, in which vehicle owners buy tyres independently of new vehicle purchases, accounted for about 60 percent of standalone revenue.

Demand remained strong across several categories. Truck and bus radial tyre volumes supplied to original equipment manufacturers increased 76 percent year on year, while passenger car radial volumes rose 14 percent. Farm tyre demand also grew, although management warned that uneven rainfall in some agricultural regions could weigh on the farming season.

JK Tyre expects demand to remain healthy in the second half of the financial year, supported by infrastructure spending, freight movement and vehicle manufacturers’ year-end purchasing. It expects high-single-digit growth in the truck and bus replacement market and mid-single-digit growth in passenger car tyres over the medium term.

Raw-material inflation

The outlook is less straightforward on costs. Raw-material prices have risen by about 30 percent over the past six months, according to management, amid supply-chain disruption and geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict in West Asia. The company expects a further increase of 4–5 per cent in its raw-material cost basket in the third quarter.

JK Tyre plans to raise selling prices by a similar amount, but acknowledged that passing on higher costs is difficult in the replacement market, where customers are sensitive to price. Price increases under contracts with vehicle manufacturers are partly linked to input-cost indices, but take time to feed through.

The company is relying on higher selling prices, a more favourable product mix and cost efficiencies to protect profitability. Its ability to do so will be tested if commodity inflation persists.

Capacity and export plans

Capacity expansion is central to the growth strategy. JK Tyre said projects worth about INR 13 billion covering truck and bus radial and passenger car radial tyres were under implementation, following the completion of projects worth INR 14 billion. Utilisation at its Indian plants was above 90 percent across key segments, leaving the company looking to add capacity to meet demand.

JK Tyre is also looking overseas for growth. The company is assessing opportunities arising from the India-UK free trade agreement and has developed products specifically for European markets. Management said it was already supplying some European markets, but did not confirm any material increase in UK orders or shipments following the trade agreement.

Exports from India rose 14 percent sequentially in the second quarter.

Mexican subsidiary recovers

Its Mexican subsidiary, JK Tornel, is meanwhile continuing a recovery programme focused on operational efficiency, quality and modernisation. Management expects sales to move towards levels comparable with the previous year in the third and fourth quarters. It also reported triple-digit growth in shipments from Mexico to the US on a quarter-on-quarter basis, against a backdrop of uncertainty over US trade policy and the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

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Kuraray America, Inc. (KAI) returned as a sponsor of the Galveston Bay Foundation’s Bike Around the Island, with 21 cyclists completing a 43-mile ride on 17 October 2026. The event coincided with the 20th anniversary celebration of Bike Around the Bay, reinforcing KAI’s support for the Foundation’s conservation mission.

Although the ride spanned a single day, the cause continues year-round through initiatives such as the River, Lakes, Bays ’N Bayous Trash Bash and oyster reef monitoring at Sweetwater Nature Preserve. These programmes protect the Bay’s waters, restore coastal habitats and preserve regional biodiversity. KAI contributed to that mission by mobilising nine volunteers alongside participating employees, family members and friends, collectively raising more than USD 8,300 for GBF’s conservation efforts.

At the second rest stop, KAI volunteers welcomed cyclists with encouragement and a chance to reconnect before the next stretch. For cycling team captain Diana Maya, the stop became a meaningful moment of teamwork and connection, illustrating how employees and volunteers supported both the event and one another. Special recognition went to Maya and Johnny Alvarado, KAI’s volunteer lead, for coordinating this year’s participation, and the company expressed appreciation to every cyclist, volunteer, employee, family member and friend who contributed time, energy and encouragement.

The 20th anniversary marked two decades of bringing cyclists, volunteers, corporate partners and community members together for Galveston Bay. KAI congratulated the Foundation on the milestone and affirmed its commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship, supporting efforts that protect natural ecosystems surrounding the communities where employees live and work. From cycling 43 miles to volunteering at rest stops and supporting year-round conservation, KAI’s participation reflected a shared commitment to protecting Galveston Bay for future generations.

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Goodyear is continuing its holiday partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program by hosting toy drives at all three of its blimp bases, marking the 16th year of the tradition. The events offer community members a rare chance to step inside the iconic Goodyear Blimp hangars while contributing to local children’s holiday celebrations.

Guests at each location are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, with all donations supporting Toys for Tots campaigns in the respective blimp base communities. Over the past 16 years, these drives have collected more than 300,000 toys and raised over USD 875,000 for the Marine Toys for Tots Program, brightening the holidays for children and families nationwide.

The Ohio Wingfoot Lake base will host a drive-through event 4–6 December from 2–7 p.m., allowing residents an exclusive behind-the-scenes look before dropping off donations to a US Marine representing Toys for Tots. In Florida, Pompano Beach will hold open house hangar tours on 6 December from 11 a.m.–5 p.m., with registration available online. California’s Carson location will welcome attendees on 4 December from 2–5 p.m. and 5 December from 9 a.m.–1 p.m., with tour spots reservable beginning 1 November.

Founded in 1947, Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December and distributes them as Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children in the communities where campaigns are conducted. The blimp bases will also accept mailed toy or monetary donations, with details available on the Goodyear Blimp website and Facebook page. 

Joni Fitch, Director of Community Engagement, Goodyear, said, “For 16 years, this tradition has brought our communities together around the holidays in a uniquely Goodyear way. Opening our blimp hangars gives us a special opportunity to welcome our neighbours and support Toys for Tots in helping make the holidays brighter for local children and families.”

Retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, Chief Revenue Officer of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Goodyear back for their 16th year as a National Corporate Donor of the Marine Toys for Tots Program. With their generous support, we will be able to fulfil the Christmas holiday dreams of thousands of less fortunate children, who otherwise might have been forgotten."

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Bridgestone has unveiled a new generation of aircraft tyres designed for the Boeing 737, delivering improved wear performance through optimised design. The tyres were first introduced on aircraft flown by partner airlines, helping to enhance their operational efficiency, and the company now intends to extend their availability to carriers worldwide. From 2027, tyres incorporating the advanced technology are scheduled to be fitted to a broad range of aircraft.

The launch comes as aviation continues to recover rapidly from the Covid-19 pandemic, a rebound that has brought labour shortages and made operational efficiency more critical than ever. At the same time, the sector is stepping up sustainability efforts in support of the International Civil Aviation Organization's target of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Bridgestone refined the technology using extensive flight data supplied by partner airlines together with its own simulation tools, carrying out thorough evaluations and verification across a wide range of conditions.

The new tyres preserve the high durability of the company's existing Revolutionarily Reinforced Radial (RRR) technology while markedly improving wear resistance and curbing uneven wear through a new tread compound and an optimised contact profile. Casing durability has also been strengthened via an optimised sidewall design. Combined with advanced tyre wear prediction solutions developed alongside airlines and with retreading, the tyres support greater operational efficiency and lower CO2 emissions without compromising safety or reliability.

The new compound, which improves carbon black reinforcement and dispersion through Bridgestone's proprietary NanoPro-Tech molecular control technology, delivers better wear balance during landing and taxiing. Compared with the previous product, the tyre achieves more than 20 percent additional landings per tyre, reducing replacement downtime and maximising aircraft utilisation for high-frequency operators such as domestic carriers, while helping to lower operating costs.

Separately, the combination of flight data and simulation enabled Bridgestone to optimise contact conditions for aircraft-specific surfaces, including runways and taxiways, producing more uniform contact and cutting irregular wear seen on certain routes by more than 20 percent. This lowers the risk of unplanned replacements and flight delays, supporting on-time performance and easing the burden on maintenance teams. Further optimisation of the sidewall design based on RRR technology has extended tyre durability, and because roughly 80 percent of the materials in a retreaded tyre can be reused from the original, retreading reduces CO2 emissions at the manufacturing stage.

Bridgestone's aircraft tyres hold the leading installation share among airlines ranked in the top 10 of the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2025, underpinning safe and reliable operations. The company aims to maximise the productivity and economic value of airline operations, in line with the ‘Extension’ and ‘Economy’ commitments set out in the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, while enabling longer tyre life with lower resource consumption and emissions.

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