XINGDA, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of steel tyre cords, has unveiled its second annual sustainability report for 2022, showcasing its latest strides in its sustainability endeavours. Notably, a significant portion of its shipped volume in 2022, at 32.89 percent, consisted of super-high or ultra-high tensile strength steel cord—a crucial component for electric vehicle (EV) tyres—reflecting XINGDA’s commitment to a greener product lineup, said the company.

Remarkable progress has also been made in reducing carbon emissions per ton of steel cord produced. In comparison to 2021, there was an impressive 18.31 percent reduction in carbon emissions, marking substantial headway in fulfilling their carbon reduction pledge. This commitment has garnered certification from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Addressing the evolving demand for recycled feedstock from tyre manufacturers, XINGDA embarked on trials to create steel cord and bead wire from wire rods produced through the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) process, incorporating up to 40 percent scrap steel. With plans to enhance the ratio of scrap steel, the company is set to commence deliveries of products made from EAF-based wire rods to clients in 2023.

Environmental and social impact assessments have been extended to all key suppliers, a pivotal move by XINGDA to foster a sustainable supply chain. The company achieved a significant feat by providing sustainable procurement training to all procurement personnel.

In community and human capital development, XINGDA’s workforce received an average of 21 hours of training per person in 2022. By 2025, the company aspires to elevate this figure to an average of 40 hours of vocational training annually for each employee.

XINGDA’s commitment to sustainability has been acknowledged through a “B” rating on the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire. Additionally, XINGDA stood out as the exclusive recipient within its industry peers in the CSA Yearbook 2023 China Edition, a compilation by S&P that recognizes exceptional Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) performance among publicly traded companies in China.

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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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