Continental reports that its tyre plant in Korbach, Germany recently gained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus sustainability certification. It is the fourth Continental factory to attain this status, after the plants in Lousado (Portugal), Hefei (China) and Puchov (Slovakia).
World Bank Group subsidiary International Finance Corporation (IFC) has sanctioned a US$100 million Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) to JK Tyre. The funding will support the expansion of tyre manufacturing capacity, focusing on passenger car radial tyres at JK Tyre’s Banmore plant in Madhya Pradesh and truck and bus radial tyres at CIL’s Laksar plant in Uttarakhand. IFC views this as an initiative that will promote energy-efficient tyre production, strengthen local supply chains, and create jobs.
A year after Tyres & Accessories last spoke with Stapleton’s managing director Andy Fern, we learnt more about how, for those selling tyres as a retailer, the kind of professional distribution partner that can help navigate and mitigate the impact of such challenges is now needed. In short, increasing complexity requires increasing professionalism.
So, how was business during the course of 2024? “Volumes have being pretty healthy, but I would say it’s been challenging with the freight cost this year”, Andy Fern explained, adding: “When I say volumes are decent, I would add that volumes are not as good as we feel they should be…I would say it’s quite a fine balance nowadays because the thing that is not stopping is that costs are increasing.
Rubber Conversion has achieved the prestigious Gold Medal in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating. This achievement places the company in the top 5 per cent of businesses globally, thus surpassing 95% of companies worldwide assessed by EcoVadis in the last year.
Sailun Group recently achieved the EcoVadis silver sustainability rating, placing the company among the top 15 per cent of businesses worldwide that participated in the evaluation. Sailun achieved bronze in 2023. The latest recognition follows the upgrade of Sailun Group’s MSCI ESG rating to “BB”.
Pirelli has once again claimed first place globally in the Auto Components and Automobiles sectors of the Dow Jones Sustainability World and Europe indices. The tyre manufacturer remains the only company in its industry to be included in both indices.
Ecovadis has awarded Kumho Tire Gold in its Ecovadis Sustainability Rating. This places the tyre maker within the top five per cent of companies evaluated.
In addition to increasing production capacity at its Wuxi passenger car tyre plant in China, Bridgestone Corporation has completed the second phase of its project to equip the Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tyre Co., Ltd. facility for generating solar power. Bridgestone has installed further rooftop panels which, since going operational in mid-November 2024, have increased the plant’s solar panel capacity to 13.029 megawatts (MW).
The European Commission has welcomed the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on its proposal to delay the start of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, claiming this longer phase-in period will “ensure proper and effective implementation” while “preserving its integrity.”
Several weeks ago, prior to visiting the Michelin plant in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, I witnessed the partial demolition of what until recently was one of the country’s most modern and efficient power plants. Capable of satisfying almost the entire electricity requirements of neighbouring Hamburg yet decommissioned after less than seven years in what the local Environment Minster called a “symbolic” gesture, the blasting of the 3-billion-euro plant’s chimneys delivered a depressing reminder of the challenges that tyre makers and other manufacturers face in Western Europe. Perhaps the Michelin team could restore some lost optimism.
Picking up on our earlier first-look relating to Michelin’s whole-life sustainability strategy and previewing the extended and more in-depth take we exclusively provide in our forthcoming Trends & Facts premium supplement, here are some further details Tyres & Accessories gleaned during a recent visit to the French tyre major’s headquarters. The wider context is necessary to understand why Michelin cares so much about both tyre wear and whole-life performance. And that was something that Gary Guthrie, SVP Automotive Global Brands Business Line at Michelin made the focal point of his presentation at the company’s global headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France:
JK Tyre & Industries has become the first Indian tyre maker to join the global corporate renewable energy initiative RE100, and just the 16th business of any type within the country. Company Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Raghupati Singhania, states that JK Tyre’s decision to join RE100 “represents our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility.
Garage equipment company SharkEye Wheel Aligners UK has made the case for making wheel alignment part of the MOT test. The company argues that ensuring UK road vehicles are properly aligned would save motorists billions of pounds a year. Proper alignment helps to minimise rolling resistance, as well as ensuring that tyres wear evenly, increasing their longevity. The firm used the occasion of a visit from Jo White MP to its new service centre in Worksop, Nottinghamshire to put forward its argument. SharkEye’s message comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlines his UK’s ambitious ‘net zero’ targets at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.
Drive systems supplier GKN Automotive has been awarded an EcoVadis Gold rating for sustainability. The rating means the company has completed its third successive year of upgraded ratings from the independent sustainability rankings organisation; it was awarded a Silver rating in 2023 and a Bronze rating in 2022. The Gold rating means GKN Automotive are ranked in the top 1 per cent of participants in its category, and the top 5 per cent of participants overall.
Continental Tyres beat Bridgestone, Hankook, Marangoni, and Michelin to win the Tyre Industry Environmental and Sustainable Solution of the Year at the NTDA’s Tyre Industry Awards 2024. The award, presented at the Association’s 94th Annual Dinner, was decided by a panel of industry experts and recognises outstanding corporate social responsibility within the tyre industry. Conti said its achievement reflects the tyre manufactures ongoing commitment to driving sustainability across all of its operations – from enhancing the efficiency of its manufacturing processes and supply chain to developing innovative, eco-friendly materials.
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