The Rubber Division of the American  Chemical Society (ACS), a non-profit society of chemists, engineers, technicians, academicians, business representatives and others relating to rubber, polymer and biomaterials used in the automotive, aerospace, residential, construction, healthcare, medical device and other similar industries, has announced that it is expanding its international educational outreach programme for students.

The programme is intended to drive student engagement and spread and accelerate innovation among the next generation of rubber industry professionals worldwide. The international outreach programme will be spearheaded by Rubber Division, ACS European Representative, UK-based Rubber Heart in collaboration with its membership & outreach director Heather Maimone.

The key ambition of the initiative is to bring more young scientists from all backgrounds at undergraduate and graduate level studying any aspect of elastomer chemistry, technology and engineering to the Rubber Division, ACS community by increasing student membership and participation in its Student Chapter programme.

By moving all its courses and webinars onto a digital platform, Rubber Division, ACS, is offering its training and educational programme to a whole new audience outside of the US. The organisation claims that over 1,000 participants have enrolled for the programme in the year 2020. Members who have paid an annual membership fee of $25 can access the training courses and the webinars for free.

The programme is open to all universities and colleges throughout the world with the opportunity for smaller faculties for smaller faculties to partner together for country or larger regional Student Chapters. The programme requires each Student Chapter to have a faculty advisor and a minimum of six student members and benefits include complimentary Student Membership, registration to the technical meetings at the Rubber Division, ACS Spring Meeting and IEC and opportunities for networking and career development.

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Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent tyre retreader, has reached out to the Net Zero All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to offer its expertise in supporting the UK’s transition to net zero. In a formal letter, the company expressed its commitment to advancing sustainable transport solutions through its circular economy approach to tyre retreading.

As a leader in emission reduction, Vaculug highlighted how its retreading process significantly cuts waste and lowers the carbon footprint of commercial fleets. The company believes its scalable, eco-friendly solutions can play a key role in helping the UK meet its climate targets.

Vaculug has invited collaboration with the APPG to demonstrate how retreading supports sustainable transport and contributes to a greener future. The company looks forward to further discussions on how it can assist in the nation’s net zero transition.

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Tyrecycle and Dampier Salt have entered into a collaboration to provide sustainable solutions for end-of-life tyres.

Several trucks of tyres will be transferred to Tyrecycle's East Rockingham site each week for processing, where they will be recycled into a variety of products, thanks to the partnership between Tyrecycle, Centurion and Dampier Salt. Tyrecycle assists Dampier Salt Ltd in achieving this by offering a completely compliant, safe and sustainable solution for recycling used tyres, guaranteeing that they are kept out of landfills and converted into useful materials in accordance with environmental laws and the company's sustainability objectives.

Ashley Battilana, Head of Trading, Mining & Strategic Development, Tyrecycle, said, “More mining companies are recognising the importance of managing their waste streams responsibly, and we’re here to work alongside them to deliver solutions for their end-of-life tyres. They know that responsible management of their end-of-life tyres is an important part of best practice operations.”

Daniel Broomhall, Supply Supervisor, Dampier Salt, said, “This partnership will help to reduce our stockpile of end-of-life tyres, lowering the risk of uncontrolled movement and fire hazards. It also supports our commitment to waste reduction by ensuring tyres are responsibly recycled, while improving the overall safety and housekeeping standards across our site. When you add to that the sustainability aspect of recycling our tyres, it’s a move that makes sense for us and we look forward to seeing where this partnership could progress to in future.”

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The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has appointed Gary Schroeder, Chief Operating Officer of Bob Sumerel Tire Company, as its new Secretary during the recent Mid-Year Board Meeting. This strategic move reinforces the association's leadership pipeline, with Schroeder now positioned to ascend to the TIA presidency for the 2027-2028 term. His official installation will occur on 3 November in Las Vegas during the Board of Directors meeting preceding the 2025 Global Tyre Expo/SEMA Show.

With a distinguished 25-year career in the tyre industry, Schroeder brings invaluable executive experience to his new role. His tenure includes leadership positions at Cooper Tyre & Rubber Company, where he oversaw global commercial tyre operations, and his current COO role at Bob Sumerel Tyre Co. Recognised for his strategic acumen and operational expertise, Schroeder has successfully guided organisations through complex challenges including mergers, technological transformations and market expansions.

Since joining TIA's Board in 2021, Schroeder has made significant contributions to the association's initiatives. His deep understanding of industry dynamics, combined with a proven track record in supply chain optimisation, sales leadership and product development, positions him well to help steer TIA through evolving market conditions. This appointment reflects the association's commitment to strong governance and forward-looking leadership as it addresses the tyre industry's most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Schroeder said, “I’m honoured to be elected Secretary of the Tire Industry Association. It’s a privilege to serve an organisation that plays such a vital role in supporting our industry’s growth, integrity and innovation. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to advance initiatives that strengthen our membership and elevate the standards of the tyre industry as a whole.”

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Scope has reaffirmed Michelin's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'A' with a stable outlook on 11 July 2025, citing the company's robust business risk profile and strengthening credit metrics. This follows Moody's 9 July unsolicited rating affirmation of 'A2' with a Stable outlook, which highlighted Michelin's industry-leading margins supported by its premium brand positioning and innovation leadership.

Both agencies recognise Michelin's financial stability and competitive advantages in the global tyre market. The consistent 'A'-range ratings across major agencies demonstrate Michelin's resilient performance despite challenging market conditions, reinforcing its position as one of the most creditworthy players in the automotive supply sector.

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