However, as is evident now, we were caught unawares. Mutated strain of the virus took India in its stride as we were yet to work out a robust vaccination strategy. To curb the spread and manage the health emergency getting out of control in view of paucity of beds, oxygen and ventilators, a large number of states-imposed lockdowns and other restrictions which continue till date. 

As is normal under such circumstances, the economy bears the brunt and that is what seems to have happened. The fragile economic recovery seen in the second half of FY21 seems to have gone derailed. Consumer confidence has hit a new low as shown in a recent survey. Different rating agencies and multilateral organizations have downwardly revised the growth projections for the current fiscal year. From a bullish 11-13% growth (in view of base effect), the projections are now for growths in single digits only.

Needless to say, the pitch for economic revival is queered.  But, curiously, as Covid infections come off from the peak levels and the recovery rates go up, a new kind of confidence is building up. The infection rates are coming down with as much alacrity as they had peaked.

Certainly, there is no room for any complacency as premonitions of a third wave have already been made. However, the vaccination strategy to inoculate a large number of Indians by the end of the year holds much hope. It has been observed that those countries that have already inoculated over 50% of their population have witnessed much less morbidity and mortality rates.

What also holds out hope are a range of high frequency indicators which show the resilience of the Indian economy and the entrepreneurship that shines through whenever an opportunity is provided. The economic growth in the fourth quarter of last fiscal has been better than expected. From a contraction of 24.4% and 7.4% in the first and second quarters, the economy turned around in the third one with 0.5% growth and ended the year with 1.6% growth in Q4.

There are a range of other indicators too. Industrial performance measured by IIP grew by 22.3 percent in March. Merchandise exports grew by 197 percent in April. The output of eight core infrastructure sectors grew by robust 7% in March. Manufacturing PMI has remained at a high of over 55 in March and April. GST revenue collection set a new record of Rs. 1.4 lakh crore in April.

If the tyre  production data for FY21, as released recently, is anything to go by, Tyre Industry will continue to put the wheels of economy in motion against all odds. No doubt, Tyre Industry's overall numbers are down in FY21. However when looked closely, there is ample evidence that points to the resilience  in the sector. Truck & Bus (T&B) tyre production, the bellwether of economy has turned in better performance in FY21 over FY20. And this despite the fact that April’20 was a washout in view of nationwide lockdown. Both T&B and Passenger Car tyre production touched significantly higher figures in March this year with T&B tyre production crossing 20 lakh numbers, a historic high.

FY21 will also go down as a landmark year when Radial Truck & Bus tyre production equalled that of Bias tyre production. Tyre exports from India have charted an upward trajectory in the second half of previous fiscal as the stability was achieved in the exports markets.

Forecast of a normal monsoon (third in a row) and the upcoming festive season can provide much-needed impetus to the economy if vaccination drive accelerates and Covid appropriate measures are followed strictly.

No doubt, the situation is still in a flux, and it is too nascent to gauge the true impact of the second wave on economic growth.  But ramping up the vaccination drive and inoculating the entire adult population as early as possible will help.

And there is a major shift again in the vaccination policy. As this column gets on the editor’s desk, the federal government has decided to provide free coronavirus vaccines to states for inoculation of all above the age of 18.

FY 21 could not live up to the expectations that most Indians had. Hope the next year will. (TT)

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Georgian company Tegeta Motors, through its environmental arm Tegeta Green Planet, recently spearheaded a major cleanup effort by removing roughly 2,000 illegally discarded tyres from a former landfill near the settlement of Giorgitsminda, Georgia. The operation addressed years of unchecked dumping that had endangered local soil, water and community health.

Despite the challenging terrain, the contaminated site was fully cleared within days using the company’s own resources and in strict adherence to safety protocols. All collected tyres are now set to undergo recycling in line with technical regulations, transforming a longstanding environmental hazard into a manageable waste stream.

This initiative reflects the broader mission of Tegeta Green Planet, which operates under the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR). Beyond simply remediating a single location, the organisation aims to raise public awareness about the severe consequences of uncontrolled automotive waste disposal, ensuring that collection, transport and recycling are carried out lawfully.

The company has a history of such actions, having previously organised similar cleanups in Tbilisi and Bakuriani. With roughly 45 collection points across Georgia, Tegeta Green Planet encourages responsible disposal through its recycling initiative. Authorised in 2022 to manage the national EPR scheme for waste tyres, the organisation has since attracted nearly 350 manufacturers to its collective compliance system.

Shalva Akhvlediani, Director, Tegeta Green Planet, said, "We are delighted that, as part of a joint initiative between Tegeta Motors and Tegeta Green Planet, we have implemented another large-scale project and cleared the contaminated area of car tyres. Such activities significantly reduce the negative impact on the environment, especially considering that the collected waste is recycled in full compliance with technical regulations. We have carried out similar projects many times before. Last year alone, Tegeta Green Planet collected and recycled more than 6,000 tonnes of automotive waste – tyres, batteries and used oil. We are proud that these figures are growing every year, and in this way, we are contributing to the development of a circular economy and environmental protection in our country. We ask our citizens to report any areas contaminated with automotive waste to us. This can be done via the Tegeta Green Planet website or the Tegeta app, and we will respond accordingly.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has expanded its network with the addition of Granuband, a Dutch leader in high-quality tyre recycling, as its newest partner. As a prominent manufacturer of rubber granules, Granuband strengthens AZuR’s mission to advance a sustainable circular economy for tires across Europe through its expertise in material recovery.

Established in 1991, Granuband specialises in the mechanical recycling of end-of-life tyres using state-of-the-art facilities to produce premium rubber granules and powders. These materials are exported globally for use in sports surfaces, infrastructure projects, industrial goods and various technical applications, showcasing the versatility of recycled rubber.

Beyond manufacturing, Granuband plays a critical role in the collection and logistics of used tyres, traditionally focusing on passenger car tyres in the Benelux region. In recent years, the company has expanded its operations to include truck, agricultural and other specialised tyre categories, driven by a longstanding commitment to innovation in technology, logistics and new applications.

Since 2024, Granuband has operated under Circtec, an international firm specialising in advanced tyre pyrolysis. This integration merges Granuband’s mechanical recycling strengths with Circtec’s chemical recovery technology, creating a comprehensive system that recovers nearly all tyre components. Together, they aim to boost recycling rates, optimise raw material use, cut CO₂ emissions and develop new recyclable materials. Granuband’s addition to AZuR notably reinforces the mechanical recycling pillar, a vital component of the circular economy.

Network coordinator Christina Guth said, “With Granuband, we are expanding our network to include an important player in the mechanical recycling of used tyres. High-quality rubber granules are key to closing the material cycle and reducing dependence on primary raw materials.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. hosted its 12th Panel Discussion on Biodiversity as an online event on 6 March 2026, bringing together a wide range of participants from 121 locations across Japan. This annual gathering serves as a platform for reflecting on the significance of biodiversity conservation. This year’s programme featured a keynote speech by Dr Kaoruko Kurata, a professor at Yokohama National University’s College of Education and Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, titled ‘Creating a Well-Being Society from the Perspective of Biocultural Diversity’. Following her address, the event highlighted the Yokohama Rubber Group’s own conservation efforts, with a lively discussion themed ‘Nature Positive Initiatives through Collaboration between Communities and Companies’ moderated by Dr Tetsuya Kitazawa, Director of Ecology Path Inc. and a lecturer at Edogawa University. The exchange included the company’s employees alongside representatives from local governments, businesses, non-profit organisations, and civic groups.

A central case study presented was the ongoing work at Kameyama Satoyama Park, a Nature Symbiosis Site. Under a support agreement with Kameyama City in Mie Prefecture, Kameyama Bead Company, a tyre bead manufacturing and sales subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber, conducts activities such as removing invasive species and maintaining the park grounds. A city official joined to discuss these efforts, which helped all participants deepen their understanding of practical conservation measures.

Since the adoption of the global nature positive goal at COP15 in December 2022, momentum has grown worldwide, including in Japan. The Yokohama Rubber fully supports this direction and has been an active participant in the TNFD Forum and the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity since January 2023. The company advances conservation across its value chain through initiatives like the YOKOHAMA Forever Forest tree-planting events, water quality and biodiversity monitoring and community awareness programmes at its global sites, alongside promoting agroforestry on natural rubber farms. Operating under its sustainability management slogan, Caring for the Future, the company remains committed to creating shared value by addressing social issues through its core business activities.

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Comerio Ercole is all set to make a significant impact on the global stage in April 2026 with its participation in three major industry events – India Rubber Expo (IRE) 2026, Techtextil 2026 and Chinaplas 2026. The exhibitions will be an opportunity for the company to present cutting-edge developments focused on efficiency, sustainability and product quality while strengthening relationships with customers and partners from around the world. Drawing on its extensive heritage in calendering technology, the company will highlight how its advanced, high-performance systems are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern production environments.

The first in this series of engagements is the India Rubber Expo, scheduled for 7 to 10 April, where Comerio Ercole will be situated at Booth L-012A. Recognised as Asia’s largest and most significant rubber industry event, this exhibition provides a key opportunity for the company to present its specialised capabilities to the regional and global rubber manufacturing community.

At Techtextil 2026, the premier international fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, scheduled for 21 to 24 April, Comerio Ercole will be located in Hall 12.0 at Stand C41, where it will showcase its latest innovations for the nonwovens sector. Simultaneously, Comerio Ercole will be present at Chinaplas 2026 (21 to 24 April), the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber, occupying Booth 2.1C85. This parallel participation underscores the company’s versatility and its ability to deliver tailored solutions across the technical textiles, plastics and rubber domains.

This busy month comes on the back of a successful presence at the recently held Tire Technology Expo 2026 (3–5 March) in Hannover, Germany. Comerio Ercole won the ‘Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year’ award and also managed to clinch a spot as finalist in three additional award categories, highlighting its pervasive leadership and innovative edge in calendering technology.

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