Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality carbon materials, has been awarded the prestigious Platinum sustainability rating by EcoVadis, ranking it within the top one percent of all assessed companies globally. This honour recognises the firm’s enterprise-wide leadership in integrating sustainability across its operations, innovation and value chain.

The evaluation specifically commended its strong performance across four key areas: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. This achievement is further validated by extensive third-party certifications, with over 75 percent of operations certified to international standards including ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, SA8000 and ISO 27001, underscoring the consistency and strength of its sustainability management systems.

John Loudermilk, President and CEO, Birla Carbon, said, “This Platinum rating reflects the steady progress we are making in embedding sustainability at the core of our business. Our growth strategy is geared towards delivering sustainability through innovation, operational excellence and responsible practices across our global footprint. We continually invest in sustainability and circularity-driven processes, keeping our operations sustainably efficient while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, communities and employees. Our sustainability strategy, Share the Future, serves as a roadmap to a sustainable future and guides our actions towards our aspiration of reaching net zero carbon emissions over the next 25 years. Being recognised among the top one percent of companies globally is a testament to the commitment of our teams worldwide.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. recently conducted an educational seminar for local natural rubber farmers in partnership with the Surat Thani branch of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). This marked the 10th such event since the programme's inception in 2020, involving 50 local farm households. Attendees received complimentary fertiliser, developed with RAOT's expertise, as part of the ongoing support.

The seminar curriculum covered essential agricultural topics, including soil and plant nutrition, correct fertiliser application and methods to prevent contamination in natural rubber. To commemorate the 10th seminar, the programme was expanded to include guest speakers from local government, police and healthcare. These guests addressed broader community and safety issues, such as human rights for foreign and minority workers, road safety and occupational health. A particular focus was placed on practical well-being, with the local hospital director offering guidance on preventing injuries during tree tapping and managing encounters with poisonous insects.

Post-event feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed that they gained new, systematic knowledge about cultivation practices, despite years of experience. Several noted that hearing directly from a rubber manufacturer reinforced the critical importance of purity in their product. Others found the health and safety advice immediately useful. The engaging delivery of the seminar was also highlighted, with one farmer mentioning a desire to recommend the valuable and enjoyable experience to peers.

This initiative is a direct implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Yokohama Rubber and RAOT in January 2020. The MoU focuses on economic support for farmers and improving supply chain traceability, aligning with the company's Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber. Hosted in the region where Yokohama’s Thai natural rubber processing subsidiary, Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd. (YTRC), operates, the seminar exemplifies the policy's guideline to support small-scale farmers within the supply chain.

As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama Rubber is committed to advancing these principles. The company views such efforts as integral to creating shared value under its sustainability slogan, ‘Caring for the Future’, and contributes to broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of sustainable raw material procurement.

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In a significant event for India’s rubber sector, Minister for Ports, Co-operation & Devaswoms V N Vasavan inaugurated a ceremony for the transfer of innovative latex-based paint technology. This eco-friendly paint, a product derived from natural rubber, was developed by the Rubber Products Incubation Centre of the Rubber Research Institute of India. The technology was formally handed over to Kerala Paints Industries Private Ltd., with the Minister highlighting the event's historic nature for launching a sustainable product and stressing the importance of increasing domestic natural rubber consumption to improve grower returns.

Rubber Board Executive Director M Vasanthagesan outlined the centre's role in converting research into market-ready goods, reaffirming the Board's dedication to creating innovative, value-added rubber products. The gathering also heard remarks from several key figures, including Mahatma Gandhi University's K V Dayal, RRII Director Dr Debabrata Ray, RRII Senior Scientist Dr Shera Mathew and Kerala Paints' Managing Director Midhun P Pullumettel.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for November 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

While a modest rise in global production of 1.3 percent is anticipated for the year, this follows a revised, lower output forecast for Indonesia. Concurrently, worldwide demand is projected to grow by a more subdued 0.8 percent, bolstered by an upward adjustment in Indonesia's own consumption figures.

Recent price pressures have emerged due to this combination of uncertain supply, influenced by unpredictable weather patterns and generally muted demand. However, there are sporadic positive indicators, including noticeable recoveries within the tyre sector across some regional markets.

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Bolder Industries is positioning itself at the forefront of circular economy innovation with its next-generation Antwerp facility, promising to recycle 6.6 million tyres annually while slashing greenhouse gas emissions by over 80 percent. While the company has proven its technology in the US with BolderBlack and BolderOil, scaling operations to Europe will test both supply chain resilience and market adoption. Beyond environmental claims, the facility’s success will hinge on replicating consistent product quality at commercial volumes, navigating regulatory frameworks and maintaining customer confidence amid global demand for sustainable industrial materials.

Bolder Industries recently secured a EUR 32 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund and an additional EUR 2 million from the Flanders region to support its Antwerp facility, which will recycle over six million tyres annually.

Scheduled to begin operations by 2027, the plant will utilise wind power and on-site heat to produce sustainable materials like BolderBlack and BolderOil, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Construction is set to commence in 2026, marking a major step towards sustainable manufacturing in Europe.

The plant will serve as a cornerstone for Europe’s circular economy ambitions and strengthen the company’s position in the growing global market for sustainable industrial materials.

Speaking exclusively to Tyre Trends, Chief Executive Officer Tony Wibbeler shared a thorough insight into the company’s strategy and technology, reflecting the company’s readiness to scale proven solutions to commercial volumes.

“Bolder is beyond an ambitious idea. Since 2019, we have demonstrated years of commercial success with BolderBlack and BolderOil, which are now supplied across thousands of applications in tyres, rubber, plastics and coatings. Our US operations have proven our technology at scale and the Antwerp facility is not a pilot project; it is backed by the European Commission’s Innovation Fund through CINEA as part of the NextGen Thermal Tire Re-use (N2TR) project with full capacity targeted for spring 2027,” explained Wibbeler.

“We’ve built traceability and certification frameworks like ISCC Plus, ensuring customers receive validated, circular and consistent materials. We’re not proving the concept, we’re scaling a proven solution to meet accelerating global demand,” he added.

BolderBlack, the company’s flagship product, is already integrated into more than 3,000 global applications including tyres, manufactured rubber goods, inks, coatings and plastics. BolderOil complements this by serving high-value markets such as petrochemicals, solvents, carbon black feedstocks and sustainable fuels.

“We do not focus on what others are doing. Our steadfast focus is on delivering consistent, high-quality solutions to customers who demand reliability. Our technology has consistently delivered high-quality products for over five years, making us one of the few companies with a proven commercial-scale history,” Wibbeler noted.

The company sources its feedstock exclusively from post-consumer and post-industrial end-of-life tyres and scrap rubber obtained through partnerships in the US and Europe. “Because we are not tied to oil markets, our products are shielded from oil volatility and tariffs. That

stability enables predictable pricing, typically at a discount to virgin carbon black,” contended Wibbeler.

QUALITY STANDARDS

Meeting stringent tyre maker quality standards is a continuous process. Aside from traditional certifications like ISO 9001, the company has learned a tremendous amount from its customers. “While audits can be daunting, we embrace their experiences and utilise their suggestions to improve our manufacturing processes continually,” noted Wibbeler.

The Port of Antwerp facility is designed to recycle approximately 6.6 million tyres annually at full operation. The process achieves an over 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reduces water use by more than 90 percent compared to conventional carbon black production. This represents a major step forward from traditional tyre disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration, which are resource-intensive and environmentally harmful.

Strategically located on a 55,152-square-metre site within the NextGen District, the Antwerp facility will house four proprietary reactors and a state-of-the-art finishing line. The plant will be powered predominantly by renewable energy including wind power and recovered heat, underscoring the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Complementing the Antwerp operation, Bolder’s US expansion in Terre Haute, Indiana, will recycle a comparable volume of tyres, producing 18,000 metric tonnes of BolderBlack and 21,000 metric tonnes of BolderOil.

“Together, these two facilities create a robust transatlantic supply network that guarantees customers consistent and reliable volumes,” Wibbeler highlighted.

CIRCULAR HUB

The Antwerp facility also contributes to regional economic growth, creating at least 50 new jobs in Flanders and reinforcing Antwerp’s standing as a circular economy hub. Cleaner production, strategic port access and integration within Europe’s largest petrochemical cluster further enhance the plant’s operational advantages.

The company’s resilience stems from multiple business safeguards. These include geographic diversification, alignment with ISCC Plus and European Union frameworks and securing commercial offtake agreements before capacity expansions.

The company recently secured a significant equity investment from Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm with expertise in scaling infrastructure projects across the US and Europe, to support growth.

“Our customer base spans the largest tyre manufacturers globally and smaller players alike. This segmentation strategy places BolderBlack into thousands of products, from performance tyres to wetsuits, exemplifying our market reach,” Wibbeler affirmed.

While BolderBlack is already in mainstream production for some manufacturers, others remain in pilot phases. Multi-year offtake contracts ensure operational stability for existing and future capacities.

Regarding the pyrolysis oil produced in the recycling process, the company emphasises a commitment to true circularity. “Our primary markets for BolderOil are carbon black oil feedstock and petrochemicals, supporting circularity goals in tyre and rubber goods industries. We anticipate entering sustainable fuels markets in Europe, though nothing has been finalised currently,” stated the executive.

Addressing concerns around pyrolysis potentially delaying landfill issues, Wibbeler said, “That critique is both misinformed and shortsighted. Pyrolysis is just one step in our broader process. Our traceable tyre-to-tyre reuse model effectively solves the problem rather than delaying it.”

Bolder Industries is actively engaged in industry forums and circular economy initiatives, promoting sustainable materials and tyre recycling advancements, highlighting its leadership role beyond operational activity. The company has achieved multiple certifications and complies rigorously with environmental and quality standards and maintains a Silver EcoVadis rating, reflecting corporate responsibility.

The growing global recycled materials market further positions it to capture market share as industries elevate environmental compliance and sustainability.

Wibbeler concluded with an ambitious outlook, stating, “The industry faces many challenges ahead. Our aim for the next decade is to expand globally, deepen partnerships and deploy a range of technologies to deliver scalable, traceable circular solutions. That’s the role we are committed to playing.” 

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