Just concluded 2021 will stand out as a defining year for the tyre industry in India as it embarked upon an ambitious initiative – Charting a path to greater raw material security by attaining self-reliance in natural rubber (NR) availability.

The journey to become self-reliant is not new for the Indian tyre industry. The industry was amongst the first ones to become self-sufficient much before the slogan of being Atma Nirbhar was coined. For years, India has been producing practically all the tyres it requires making it one of the few countries that are self-dependent in tyre manufacturing. Much before a vehicle is rolled out, the tyre Industry is ready with the fitments having worked out specifications and standards to the minutest details.

While India has developed globally competitive tyre manufacturing capabilities, realising the vision of being Atma Nirbhar necessitates achieving self-sufficiency of the entire value chain in view of strong backward and forward linkages.

In this context, the ATMA NR project, launched during the year, attains all the more importance. Natural rubber is a key raw material for the Indian tyre industry. Unlike the global scenario where the ratio is skewed in favour of synthetic rubber, Indian industry stands out for its unique preference for NR.

However, NR demand has been outstripping domestic supply and the gap is widening. Going forward, the situation may become more challenging for the NR Consuming interests. Imports may not be sustainable considering the strategic importance of NR as raw material and also in view of large outflows of foreign exchange that the Government has been trying to discourage.

As one of its kind initiatives that could hold a template for several other raw material intensive sectors, the NR Project is designed to implement the scheme for developing a substantial 200,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the North Eastern states financially supported by major tyre companies, represented by ATMA with technical support and coordination by the Rubber Board.

This collaborative project in PPP mode involving tyre majors, Rubber Board and financing institutions is a landmark initiative where the consuming industry would be contributing directly to the development of plantation.

The project took off early in the year with a visit to the North East (Tripura, Meghalaya & Assam) by top leadership from ATMA Member companies along with Dr KN Raghavan, Executive Director of Rubber Board in February 2021 to get a first-hand understanding of ground level situation and connect with state leadership and policy makers.

Minister for Commerce & Industry (CIM), Government of India Piyush Goyal has been the prime motivating force, mentoring the project at every step right from the inception. A meeting convened by the Minister in the month of June 2021 discussed threadbare the launch of the project and the road ahead. The CIM proposed a meeting with the chief ministers of North-Eastern states to take them on board, seek their full support and fast track the project. The CIM even offered to speak to the CMs to inform them about the wider benefits of the NR Project for their respective states.

Since availability of planting material locally in North East states was a challenge, plans were made to transport the saplings from Kerala to the North East by rail. Few thousand saplings were initially sent as a pilot which reached Guwahati in good condition.

 It was an emotional moment for all the stakeholders in natural rubber sector, when the first full consignment was sent by a special train 'Bharathappuzha - Brahmaputra Rubber Express', to Azara, Guwahati, from Thiruvalla Railway Station on 10th July 21. It carried 1.33 lakh rubber saplings packed in specially designed cartons. These saplings were distributed in the NE states for planting in the identified areas.

Eventually, Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura formally launched the NR Project under Chief Minister's Rubber Mission on 14th August 21 at Pathaliaghat in Sepahijala district of Tripura and the project is shaping up well ever since.

 India has emerged as a front runner as the world pursues alternatives to China in the field of manufacturing. Given the spirit of entrepreneurship backed by the policy reforms, the country is poised to play its due role in the global supply chains.

At the same time, the need for raw material security cannot be over emphasised as India looks to become the manufacturing hub of the world. It goes to the credit of the Government that it has shown keen interest in enabling policies to encourage domestic manufacturing, including tyre and allied sectors.

The fact that the ATMA NR Project could see the light of the day under the shadow of ongoing pandemic says a lot about the commitment of all the stakeholders to fight against odds. That surely augurs well for raw material security and sustainability as we welcome the New Year.

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DUNLOP has entered the Italian Rally Championship this season with former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen at the wheel. Backed by parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Kovalainen competes alongside his longstanding co-driver Patric Öhman for Gino Scuderia in a Citroën C3 Rally2 fitted with DUNLOP DIREZZA 201R and 301R racing tyres.

DUNLOP’s involvement in the championship forms a key part of its global motorsport strategy, offering ideal conditions for tyre development under real-world competitive pressure. The variety of asphalt surfaces encountered provides valuable data on performance, durability and vehicle dynamics, helping transfer insights into future road tyre advancements. Kovalainen, drawing on extensive experience from Formula 1 and international rallying, has been closely involved in high-performance tyre development and will use his technical feedback to support DUNLOP’s rally tyre evolution.

As Italy’s premier rally series and one of Europe’s most demanding asphalt championships, the CIAR features seven closed-road rounds known for high speeds, technically challenging stages and extreme demands on drivers, cars and tyres. The series regularly attracts competitors from the World Rally Championship and European Rally Championship, reinforcing its reputation as a tough and respected battleground.

With two rounds completed, the season began in Tuscany in March with a 12th-place finish. A mechanical issue ended their challenge in Sicily on 14–16 May, but the duo returns to contest the championship on 4–6 June in Verona, followed by events in Rome, Alba and Cassino before the finale in Sanremo. The programme strengthens DUNLOP’s European motorsport presence and boosts brand visibility, underscoring its ambition to combine technological progress with top-level sporting performance.

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Triangle Tyre released its 2025 Sustainability Report on 29 April 2026, marking the company’s second full public accounting of its environmental, social and governance performance. The document outlines progress across all three ESG pillars since the previous disclosure.

Over the past year, the Chinese tyre manufacturer achieved several international firsts following its stock market listing. Triangle Tyre earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal, becoming the first domestic tyre company to receive that recognition, and also joined the United Nations Global Compact along with the China Environmental Protection Foundation. These moves signalled deeper global engagement on ESG issues.

The company’s sustainability leadership gained further validation through multiple external honours. Triangle Tyre appeared in the 2025 China Corporate ESG Blue Book Case Studies and the 2025 China Corporate ESG 100 Index. The China Listed Companies Association additionally named it a best practice case for corporate sustainable development, underscoring its rising influence at home and abroad.

In line with national carbon peaking and neutrality goals, Triangle Tyre pushed forward with green manufacturing by adopting energy efficient technologies and clean production processes. Its 2025 energy performance earned a place on a national list of leading enterprises in key industry energy efficiency, published by three central ministries. The company achieved a two percent year on year reduction in comprehensive energy use while building a low carbon energy management system.

Sustainability efforts extend across the product lifecycle, including tyres for the new energy vehicle market that combine ultra-low rolling resistance with high load capacity to extend driving range. The company is also pursuing a circular economy target of recycling and reusing 100 percent of end-of-life tyres by 2050. Recognised as a 2025 Shandong Social Responsibility Enterprise and a longtime best employer, Triangle Tyre maintains a people centred workplace while supporting rural revitalisation, education and disaster relief.

The company further integrates ESG standards into its supply chain with a zero-deforestation commitment and sustainability criteria for supplier assessments. As China enters the first year of its 15th five-year plan, Triangle Tyre continues to rely on technological innovation to become a globally leading tyre manufacturer, aiming to deliver greener and safer mobility solutions worldwide.

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CarbonX has extended its strategic partnership with European LFP battery manufacturer ElevenEs into 2026. The new phase transitions from initial material validation to advanced industrial-scale testing, aiming to strengthen the local supply chain for LFP batteries across Europe.

As the only LFP Edge cell producer in Europe, ElevenEs supports the regional ecosystem by offering its EdgeLabs R&D infrastructure. This platform integrates CarbonX’s carbon-based anode material into full-scale prismatic LFP blade-type cells, where rigorous benchmarking against global standards validates performance, lifespan and safety.

By providing specialised services, ElevenEs acts as an industrial catalyst for CarbonX, helping the Dutch material innovator move from laboratory to market-ready applications. The cooperation is designed to result in a conditional offtake arrangement upon the successful achievement of technical milestones.

Nemanja Mikać, CEO, ElevenEs, said, “Our continued partnership with CarbonX demonstrates how ElevenEs acts as an industrial engine for the European battery ecosystem. We don’t just validate materials; we provide the manufacturing excellence and R&D infrastructure necessary to scale promising European technologies. ElevenEs experts team actively supports suppliers to build a resilient, energy-independent supply chain for the future.”

Rutger van Raalten, CEO, CarbonX, said, “Signing this agreement with ElevenEs marks a significant step forward for CarbonX and reinforces our shared commitment to building a resilient, sustainable battery materials ecosystem. Beyond strengthening our supply chain, this partnership contributes directly to Europe’s strategic ambition for energy independence, accelerating the transition to locally sourced, low carbon critical materials.”

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Liberty Tire Recycling has unveiled two major corporate documents detailing its 2025 environmental and risk management strategies. For the first time, a Climate Risk & Resilience Report aligned with international financial disclosure standards accompanies its annual sustainability findings. These publications collectively highlight how the firm’s green initiatives support both circular economy goals and lasting financial health.

Operational data from the past year shows significant efficiency gains. By tightening energy and fuel oversight, the company cut location-based Scope 2 pollution by six percent and market-based emissions by 10 percent, while energy intensity improved eight percent. Across 219 million scrap tyres, an 81 percent reuse rate was maintained. Outside auditors awarded an EcoVadis Bronze rating, placing Liberty among the top third of assessed firms, and a Recircle Award celebrated its circular innovation.

Workplace safety and community investment also saw notable progress. Employee turnover fell nine percent relative to previous figures, and lost‑time injury rates dropped 11 percent. Charitable contributions exceeded USD 216,000. The new climate resilience document explains how environmental risks are factored into daily operations and long‑range planning, reinforcing the connection between responsible practices and corporate durability.

Thomas Womble, CEO, Liberty Tire Recycling, said, "At Liberty, sustainability is core to our operations and how we show up for our partners and communities. We’re proud of the progress reflected in this report and grateful to our employees whose dedication makes it possible. We remain focused on continuing to drive progress through continued collaborative efforts with the manufacturers and retailers."

Amy Brackin, Senior Vice President – Sustainability, Liberty Tire Recycling, said, "We have said from day one – putting sustainability at the core of our operations would produce better results for the environment and our business. This year’s report continues to demonstrate that Liberty is a leader in both the tyre recycling industry and the sustainability sector more broadly."

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