Birla Carbon released its 10^th annual sustainability report today, titled ‘On the Road to Net Zero’. The 2022 report states the various targets Birla Carbon has achieved during the year to fulfill its sustainability goals, and its net zero aspiration by 2050. According to Birla Carbon, the report also focuses on the progress with Continua Sustainable Carbonaceous Materials (SCM). 

Birla Carbon claims that this marks their decade of sustainability reporting as a carbon black leader.

• The key highlights of the report include –
   

1. EcoVadis platinum rating for sustainable business practices. 
2. 67 percent of waste repurposed – includes recycling, reuse and recovery.
3. Refinancing existing debts through a US $750 million loan linked to sustainability performance.
4. Only carbon black multinational to receive IATF certification across all its manufacturing sites.

John Loudermilk, Chief Executive Officer at Birla Carbon, said, “At Birla Carbon, sustainability and innovation are integral pillars that define success. We leverage every aspect to ensure the future of our business, customers, communities, and the world is sustainable. This has been recently reflected in our Platinum rating by EcoVadis for sustainable business practices. From a business standpoint, innovation is going to be the mainstay of everything we do at Birla Carbon. We recognise the risks and rewards of our innovative past; learn how to future-focus today’s passions and perspectives towards a better tomorrow, and find inspiration to journey together into the unknown.”

Loudermilk further added, “As Birla Carbon celebrates 10 years of commitment to sustainable practices, our decade of chronicling sustainability deserves a special mention in this report – On the Road to Net Zero.”

Joe Gaynor, Chief Legal, Sustainability and Risk Officer at Birla Carbon, mentioned, “Sustainability for Birla Carbon began long before our first official sustainability report in 2013. In the last 10 years, we have aligned our activities to our business vision to be the most respected, sustainable and dynamic global carbon black leader. We have made efforts and taken bold steps to cement our position in the market as a preferred sustainable partner for our customers. This, for us, is our real achievement. We believe in providing value to our customers, primarily by developing innovative products that benefit our common value chains, constantly strive to make our operations more sustainable so that we minimise our environmental footprint, and ultimately, give back to the communities and the society in which we operate.”

The annual report is available online at www.sustainability.birlacarbon.com

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has been officially recognised as a DX Certified Business Operator by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The designation, which was granted on 1 September 2025, identifies companies that are thoroughly prepared for digital transformation as outlined by the Digital Governance Code.

This certification acknowledges Yokohama Rubber's comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, which is built on three core objectives: advancing business strategy, contributing to sustainability and reinforcing its IT infrastructure. Central to this effort is the company's proprietary AI framework, HAICoLab (Humans and AI ColLaborate), which drives group-wide digital initiatives. These include improving productivity, innovating processes, developing digital talent and building a global cloud-based IT system. The certification confirms that the company's efforts not only meet METI's stringent criteria but also demonstrate appropriate disclosure of information to its stakeholders.

Moving forward, the company said it will continue to leverage data from its entire value chain to adapt to a dynamic business environment. The company aims to enhance customer value, pursue sustainable innovation and transform its corporate culture to strengthen its competitive position and ensure long-term growth.

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TyresNmore, the automotive aftermarket e-commerce platform owned by RPG Group, has promoted Rakesh Tatikonda to Chief Executive Officer and announced the change with immediate effect.

Tatikonda, who previously oversaw business operations at the Mumbai-based firm, will spearhead the organisation’s expansion and innovation strategy. The appointment advances RPG Group’s ‘Talent First!’ policy, which rewards internal promotions and develops employees.

The new chief executive brings over 15 years of industry experience, having worked across multiple sectors with companies such as telecommunications giant Reliance Jio and IT services provider Infosys. Before joining TyresNmore in 2022, Tatikonda held senior positions at tyre manufacturer CEAT, where he developed expertise in strategy, operations, marketing and digital transformation.

“My aim is to transform automotive aftercare in India by offering seamless, tech-driven, end-to-end mobility solutions delivered with trust, transparency, and convenience right at the customer’s doorstep,” Tatikonda said in a statement.

TyresNmore operates a doorstep service model for tyre and battery replacement across six major Indian cities: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. The platform represents RPG Group’s entry into the growing automotive aftermarket sector, which has seen increased digitisation as consumers seek convenient maintenance solutions.

During his tenure in operations, Tatikonda scaled the business and improved profitability while driving digital transformation initiatives. His track record shows he strengthened operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience in the mobility convenience sector.

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Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader producing high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres for fleets across the UK and Europe, has expanded its UK presence by acquiring Tyrefair in Kinross, Scotland.

This strategic acquisition extends the company's award-winning service further north, ensuring Scottish customers receive the same high-quality OTR and truck retread tyres Vaculug has supplied for 75 years. Since the purchase, the Kinross location has already grown by 25 percent, with an ambitious target to double its business within a year and then double it again.

This move is a key part of Vaculug's 2026 growth strategy, focused on strategic acquisitions that enable better, faster and more sustainable customer service. The acquisition reinforces Vaculug’s long-standing environmental mission, marking a new chapter of sustainable growth with a strengthened Scottish operation.

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Nokian Tyres is expanding its US presence through a new nationwide partnership with American Tire Distributors (ATD). This agreement provides Nokian access to ATD’s vast network of over 110 distribution centres, serving roughly 80,000 customers.

The collaboration will efficiently supply tyre shops with Nokian’s complete product lineup, enabling dealers to broaden their inventory. Both companies bring 90 years of experience and a shared dedication to innovation, safety and sustainability. This partnership will offer drivers more choices, supported by Nokian’s award-winning Tennessee factory and ATD’s technology-driven logistics.

This enhanced distribution capability ensures that consumers will have greater access to a full spectrum of high-performance tyres, meeting diverse driving needs and conditions. The alliance strengthens both brands' market positions by combining premium products with an unparalleled delivery system, ultimately improving service for dealers and drivers alike across the country.

Chris Ostrander, SVP, North America, Nokian Tyres, said, “The partnership with ATD enables us to reach more tyre shops and more drivers than ever before. ATD’s robust distribution network, customer service and responsiveness strengthen our agility to serve both new and existing customers.”

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