Covestro has introduced its next-generation Baysafe BEF flame-retardant polyurethane foam, a breakthrough in EV battery safety. Designed to prevent thermal runaway propagation between cells, this lightweight foam meets stringent global safety demands, particularly in China, where the new GB 38031-2025 standard will require fireproof batteries from 2026.

As the world’s largest EV market, China’s regulations are expected to influence global standards, making Covestro’s innovation critical for automakers. The foam’s superior flame resistance enhances safety in EVs, e-bikes and portable energy storage, addressing a key consumer concern. By combining cutting-edge flame-retardant technology with lightweight performance, the Baysafe BEF series helps drive the transition to sustainable transportation and energy storage worldwide.

With EV adoption accelerating, Covestro’s material solutions support manufacturers in meeting stricter safety requirements while enabling international expansion. Beyond encapsulation, the company offers polyurethane-based battery covers and shock-absorbing components, strengthening its position in the fast-growing new energy sector.

Akhil Singhania, Global Head of PU Specialties in Covestro’s Tailored Urethanes Business Entity, said, “This innovation represents a significant step towards enabling sustainable mobility through enhanced safety. By launching our advanced flame-retardant technology, Covestro reaffirms its commitment to innovation and strengthens our product portfolio to meet the evolving needs of the EV industry.”

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Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuraray Co., Ltd., has inaugurated the Kuraray Asia Pacific Centre in Singapore's Science Park. This new facility will function as a dedicated technical support hub for the Asian market. Its primary focus will be on providing specialised expertise for growing regional demand in PVOH resin, EVAL EVOH resin and activated carbon products.

Equipped with advanced material evaluation and analysis laboratories, the centre is designed to deliver prompt and tailored solutions to meet specific local customer requirements. It will also act as a platform for open innovation, fostering collaborative development and product demonstrations to generate new value.

By establishing itself within the concentrated research environment of the Singapore Science Park, the centre aims to accelerate market development and attract global talent through strategic partnerships. This initiative is a key part of the Kuraray Group's strategy to address emerging customer needs, explore new applications and strengthen its overall business expansion throughout the region.

Lim Wey-Len, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board, said during the opening ceremony on 1 September: “We welcome Kuraray and other like-minded companies to leverage Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, talent pool, and regional connectivity to scale impactful and sustainable solutions from here.”

Tomoyuki Watanabe, Director and Managing Executive Officer, and President of the Vinyl Acetate Resin Company at Kuraray, said, “By offering a place for co-creation with our customers, we hope to drive the rapid market growth in the region.”

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

According to the report, natural rubber prices exhibited significant volatility in July. This instability was driven by a combination of adverse weather conditions impacting production, ongoing geopolitical tensions and international trade tariffs. After an initial phase of ample supply and muted demand, market sentiment shifted as concerns over potential supply disruptions prompted a notable increase in purchasing activity.

The report further projects a modest global production increase of 0.5 percent for 2025, while demand is anticipated to grow by a slightly higher 1.3 percent. However, this growth is expected against a challenging backdrop of a potential global economic slowdown. Complex US tariff policies and their widespread ripple effects are primary factors contributing to what may become one of the most subdued years for economic expansion since the pandemic.

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Continental is establishing a groundbreaking industrial process for recycling complex rubber waste through a strategic acquisition of key patents and the launch of a new pilot facility. This initiative, led by its ContiTech division, leverages advanced pyrolysis technology to transform end-of-life rubber products into valuable raw materials, creating a sustainable alternative to fossil resources.

The core of this innovation is a thermal decomposition process where waste rubber is heated in a low-oxygen environment. This breaks the material down into its core chemical constituents, one of which is a high-quality oil with properties mirroring traditional crude oil. This output is particularly significant as it can be directly used in the manufacture of new plastics and rubber goods, effectively closing the material loop.

A major historical obstacle for the industry has been the difficulty of recycling vulcanised rubber, whose altered chemical structure resists conventional separation methods. Pyrolysis successfully circumvents this challenge, cleanly decomposing the material to recover not only oil but also carbon black and other energy sources. The widespread adoption of pyrolysis has been hindered until now by the complexity of purifying its outputs to meet industrial standards. Continental’s new facility, originally developed by British start-up LowSulphurFuels, directly addresses this hurdle with a specialised purification process, making large-scale rubber recycling both technically feasible and economically attractive.

This advancement is especially critical for complex rubber products like composite hoses and specialised seals, which were previously nearly impossible to recycle efficiently. By converting this challenging waste stream into a high-grade resource, Continental is driving progress towards a circular economy. This move also reinforces the company's position as a leader in sustainable innovation, complementing its extensive patent portfolio and ongoing projects focused on material recovery and developing eco-friendly solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors.

Dr Michael Hofmann, Chief Technology Officer, ContiTech, said, “With this technology, we’re closing a crucial gap in the circular materials economy: we’re able to recover high-quality raw materials from rubber waste, which we can then feed back into the chemical material cycle to create new products without relying on crude oil. We’re thus demonstrating how innovation can become the driving force behind sustainable industrial processes – and how a previously untapped raw material cycle can be made economically viable.”

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Following a resolution by its Board of Directors on 29 August 2025, Zeon Corporation has formally revised the total investment for its upcoming cyclo olefin polymer (COP) production plant. The new total investment is now projected to be approximately JPY 78.0 billion (approximately USD 525.70 million), a significant increase from the initial estimate of approximately YEN 70.0 billion (approximately USD 471.77 million) announced in June 2024.

This upward revision is attributed to anticipated increases across key construction areas, including rising costs for labour, raw materials and equipment. The updated financial framework incorporates both confirmed and projected cost escalations to ensure accurate budgeting. Zeon Corporation intends to fund the entire investment through a combination of internally generated capital and loans from financial institutions.

The new facility remains on schedule for completion in the first half of fiscal year 2028. Due to this timeline, the substantial investment is not expected to materially affect the company's consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2026. The project is a central pillar of the company’s medium-term business strategy, identified as a major future growth driver.

The decision to proceed with the plant underscores the strong market outlook for Zeon’s cyclo olefin polymers. These advanced materials are prized for their superior optical clarity, extremely low water absorption and high purity. While already established in applications like optical films and lenses, demand is growing rapidly from the medical and semiconductor industries. By expanding its production capacity, Zeon aims to capitalise on this robust and expanding demand, thereby strengthening its market position and enhancing its corporate value over the medium to long term.

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