Continental has announced that it will discontinue its agricultural tyre business by the end of 2025 and concentrate its commercial speciality tyre business on material handling, earthmoving and port operations tyres. Following a thorough business analysis, the decision reflects what Continental refers to as growing commoditisation in the market for agricultural tyres. The company stated that it has been challenging to sustain its long-term goals in the industry due to persistent market disruptions.

This strategic repositioning primarily affects workers at its tyre manufacturing in Lousado, Portugal. Continental is convinced that it can provide the majority of the impacted workers a different position within the company and will help them all during this transition. Continental will fulfil all contractual supply obligations to its agricultural tyre clients through the end of 2025, namely with its TractorMaster, Tractor70, Tractor85, CombineMaster, and CompactMaster tyre lines. Continental's commercial speciality tyres business will continue to include the popular multi-purpose tyre ranges.

Paul Williams, Head of Continental Commercial Specialty Tires, said, “We are proud of the contributions we as a team have made to the agricultural industry and the trustful relationships we have built with our customers and partners. Sharpening the focus of our Commercial Specialty Tires business will further leverage our resources towards our strengths in material handling, earthmoving and port operations tyres.”

Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), a leading public sector oil and gas company, has launched the MAK Rubber Spray Oil in a convenient 26 kg pack, which will make it accessible for small and marginal rubber growers.

M Vasanthagesan IRS, Executive Director of the Rubber Board, unveiled the pack at an event held at Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), Kottayam. 

He emphasised on the importance of consumer-centric innovations, highlighting that India has been a global leader in controlling rubber diseases. "Ensuring the well-being of farmers and improving ease of use should be a priority when launching new products. It is commendable that BPCL has introduced spray oil in smaller, more practical packaging."

Sohail Akthar, Marketing Head, BPCL, said, "This innovation will significantly support small-scale rubber growers who do not require large volumes of spray oil for fungicide applications. By offering the product in smaller, more accessible packs, we ensure that even marginal farmers can effectively protect their crops."

The event also saw addresses by several key industry figures, including Dr M D Jessy, Director-in-Charge, RRII, Moncy P Kurian, Managing Director, Manimalayar Rubbers, Dr Shaji Philip, Principal Scientist, RRII and Jenny C L, Territory Manager, Lubes, BPCL.

Following the formal launch, a technical session provided deeper insights into the product’s benefits and best practices in rubber cultivation. Sarvesh Tomar, R&D Head, BPCL's Lubes Business Unit, Dr Shaji Philip and N Sali, Joint Rubber Production Commissioner, Rubber Board shared their expert perspectives on sustainable disease management and advancements in rubber plantation technology.

The event witnessed active participation from representatives of large rubber estates, Rubber Producers' Societies and independent growers, highlighting the growing interest in adopting modern, eco-friendly agricultural solutions.

Pyrum Innovations AG has announced that its Supervisory Board has extended the contract with Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Kai Winkelmann until 31 March 2030 to ensure continuity in the management of the company.

Winkelmann joined the firm in February 2021, and on 1 April 2022, he was initially named to the Executive Board as CFO. He has so far played a major role in obtaining the company's funding during his tenure at Pyrum, including last year's successful capital raise. Winkelmann is in charge of Finance, Compliance and IT in his role on the Executive Board.

Alf Schmidt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said, “We are pleased about the contract extension of Kai Winkelmann, who has proven his skills and in-depth expertise in the financial sector and at the management level in recent years. Over the last four years, he has made a significant contribution to the development of the necessary administrative structures and to the success of the company, and has promoted its rapid further development. We have confidence in his foresight and are convinced that Winkelmann will continue to play a central role in the successful implementation of the company’s goals in the years to come.”

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) has been selected once again to continue as a constituent of three internationally renowned environmental, social and governance (ESG) indexes: the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes, the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).

Bridgestone has been a part of the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes for two years in a row since 2023, the DJSI World for three years in a row since 2022 and the FTSE4Good Index Series for seven years in a row from 2018. Bridgestone's specific Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) has been steadily implemented, putting sustainability at the centre of its operations. The company's 2020 vision and Mid-Long Term Business Strategy served as the foundation for the plan.

According to the company statement, “Setting forth the vision of ‘Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company’, Bridgestone links its business to the realisation of carbon neutrality, a circular economy and nature positivity across the entire value chain. From the ‘produce and sell’ phase and the ‘use’ of its products through to their ‘renewal’ to raw materials, Bridgestone aims to build a foundation for creating sustainability value.”

The following initiatives have contributed to Bridgestone's inclusion in these indexes:

• Contributing to a circular economy and attaining carbon neutrality by using ENLITEN technology to make tyres from recycled and renewable resources, using BCMA and switching to ‘Green & Smart’ manufacturing at Bridgestone locations to increase resource productivity and energy efficiency.
• Encouragement of nature positivity through initiatives for the sustainable use of water resources and natural rubber that are closely related to the commercial operations of the firm, including strengthening assistance for natural rubber smallholders.
• Strengthening of a thorough structure and procedure for human rights due diligence that aims to identify, mitigate, avoid and disclose human rights concerns.
• Visualisation and disclosure of the impact of social contribution actions that are in line with the global goals.

German automotive company and tyre major Continental has been added another feather to its cap with bagging the ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence at this year’s Tire Technology Expo.

With this, Continental becomes the only tyre maker to have won two concurrent awards – Tire Manufacturer of the Year and Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing. The company’s Lousado facility in Portugal was also recognised for manufacturing tyres CO2-neutrally since last year.

Edwin Goudswaard, Head of Research & Development, Continental Tires, said, "We are especially proud to be the only manufacturer to be honoured twice at the Tire Technology Awards in an extremely competitive field. Both awards highlight our strong commitment to sustainable tire development and manufacturing. In such a highly competitive market, this success demonstrates our innovative prowess and our ability to actively shape the future of the industry."

Interestingly, this also marks it the fourth time that the German company has bagged the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award. The awards took into consideration tyre makers globally and were evaluated by a jury of 27 independent industry experts.

Going forward, Continental has outlined its ambition to switch all of its tyre plants to fully carbon-neutral production processes by 2040 at the latest.