French industrial giants Danone and Michelin, American startup DMC Biotechnologies, and regional investor Crédit Agricole Centre France are joining forces to create the Biotech Open Platform. The euro 16-million initiative aims to accelerate the development and large-scale adoption of precision fermentation, a revolutionary biotechnological process for producing bio-based materials and ingredients.

Located in Clermont-Ferrand within the Michelin-backed innovation hub Parc Cataroux Centre for Sustainable Materials, the platform will benefit from additional support from public and private institutions. These include the University of Clermont Auvergne, Greentech Company, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region (ERDF), and Clermont Auvergne Métropole.

Florent Menegaux, President of the Michelin Group: “The Michelin group is pleased to announce the creation, with its partners, of the Biotech Open Platform, a unique tool that will enhance the development of bio-sourced materials, a key challenge for the industry of tomorrow. Located in Auvergne, it exemplifies Michelin’s unflagging commitment to developing innovation and the regions where the Group operates.”

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone: “At Danone, we have always been focused on investing in the future of food, and this partnership is the next step in this journey. We look forward to working with our partners to develop cutting-edge fermentation technologies that will accelerate innovation, health benefits and decarbonisation in the food industry. We are proud to be part of this collective effort and to strengthen our contribution to meet the challenges facing the industry today.”

Kenny Erdoes, CEO of DMC: “We are enthusiastic about this new partnership with companies that are at the heart of French life. For us, as an American startup, the development of the new Biotech Open Platform will enable us to accelerate the scale-up and commercialisation of new products leveraging our transformative fermentation technology.”

Frédéric Baraut, CEO of Crédit Agricole Centre France: “Crédit Agricole Centre France is taking steps to support transformation and innovation in the region. By contributing to the Biotech Open Platform, we are helping to develop a new bio-based sector based in Clermont-Ferrand and also adding to the value and attractiveness of the region. This will also help provide opportunities and synergies to the startups in our Innovation Village, also in the Parc Cataroux.”

Precision fermentation leverages microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and fungi to produce valuable industrial materials, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-derived resources. While research has progressed significantly, scaling up these biotechnologies remains a challenge.

The Biotech Open Platform seeks to bridge this gap by allowing companies to scale up innovative products and processes already validated in the lab. Initial plans include a demo-scale production line with fermenters and purification equipment by 2025. Subsequent years will see the addition of a second line and potential expansion to support other companies facing industrial biomanufacturing scalability hurdles.

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Vikram Makar, Managing Director, Oriental Rubber Industries and Former President, All India Rubber Industries Association, passed away on 5 July 2025. 

The second-generation entrepreneur was instrumental in expanding Oriental Rubber’s presence not just in India but to over 50 countries globally, including North America, Europe, Australia, Southern Africa and the Middle East. Under his leadership, Oriental Rubber Industries became the leading exporter of conveyor belts from India.

The 62-year-old rubber industry veteran was vocal for India’s rubber MSME sector — passionate, insightful and deeply committed to seeing these small businesses thrive. 

Maker spoke with a rare blend of industry knowledge and empathy, underlining the human side of economic policies. He didn't just highlight the challenges; he offered practical recommendations.

Beyond policy, he exemplified leadership grounded in compassion, seeking systemic change with a sense of urgency and care. Makar’s legacy is one of actionable insight and unwavering belief in the resilience of India’s small enterprises.

Makar will be remembered not just as an expert voice in the rubber industry and finance, but as a thoughtful, empathetic leader.

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Bridgestone India has joined hands with Sagest (Society for Environment and Agricultural Sustainability) to launch the Nutritional Fruit Orchard Project in Sulawad Village, Madhya Pradesh. This women-led project improves nutrition, fosters livelihood possibilities and supports environmental sustainability. With the help of Bridgestone staff and locals, the orchard, which spans four acres, is home to more than 1,300 fruit trees of more than 15 species. It is grown using sustainable practices.

With a 96 percent survival rate in its first year, the project has enabled women to run a nursery with 1,000 saplings and turn garden waste into organic compost and insecticides, encouraging environmentally responsible farming and generating extra revenue. The ladies who are in charge of the orchard will have a reliable source of income once it is completely developed. By assisting households in growing 251 kitchen gardens, the programme also improves nutrition in Sulawad by guaranteeing that locals have access to fresh, homegrown produce. Frequent training sessions have improved environmental consciousness and community ownership.

This unique project demonstrates multi-stakeholder collaboration – Bridgestone and Sagest lead implementation, the local panchayat provided land, women manage daily operations and a nearby government school assists. By combining environmental conservation, rural development and women’s empowerment, the initiative serves as a replicable model for sustainable corporate-community partnerships.

Hiroshi Yoshizane, Managing Director, Bridgestone India, said, “True sustainability goes beyond business – it’s about empowering communities and protecting the planet. This project shows how women-led, community-driven action can create long-term impact on nutrition, livelihoods and the environment. It’s not just about planting trees; it’s about planting hope, resilience and a better future. This initiative beautifully demonstrates how community-driven, women-led environmental action can improve nutrition, generate income and protect the planet – all at the same time.”

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JK Tyre & Industries, one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the country, has announced the appointment of Sylvain Sagot as Director – Quality.

Sagot comes with over three decades of experience in quality assurance, process excellence and operational leadership in the automotive and tyre industry. A French national, he began his career as a Quality Engineer at Michelin Netherlands in 1991.

In 2004, he worked with Renault as a Supplier Development Consultant and went on to grow to the ranks of Supplier Performance Manager for the Renault Nissan Alliance. He also worked with Alstom and Gajah Tunggal, one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in Southeast Asia as QA General Manager & TBR Plant Head in Indonesia for over three years.

Sagot in his last role was the International Truck Trailer Quality & Product Safety Director at Carrier, where he spent over a decade.

JK Tyre & Industries believes that Sagot with deep expertise in supplier development, quality management systems, product safety, and OEM partnerships in large-scale manufacturing environments, will further strengthen its global operations.

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  - Jitendra Pancholi July 04, 2025 19:47 PM

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Nynas, with its strong commitment to innovation and product sustainability, recently commissioned an independent study to evaluate the environmental impact of its products across four key application areas: transformer oils, lubricating greases, tyres and bitumen binders. Conducted by Future Earth Analytics, LLC, the research revealed that many Nynas products deliver significant sustainability advantages, often surpassing industry performance benchmarks.

The study highlighted several environmental benefits across different applications. In transformer oils, certain Nynas products improve cooling efficiency and energy transmission, reducing energy losses during operation. For tyres, specific Nynas tyre oils contribute to lower rolling resistance, which helps decrease fuel consumption in vehicles. In lubricating greases, the use of naphthenic base oils reduces reliance on lithium – a resource-intensive material – while also cutting energy consumption during production. Additionally, Nynas’ strategic location near bitumen customers minimises transportation distances, thereby lowering associated emissions.

The findings underscore a substantial environmental impact: had customers opted for alternative products instead of Nynas’ offerings in 2023, an additional 740,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would have been generated. This saving is equivalent to avoiding the consumption of five million barrels of oil.

To assess these benefits, researchers employed a dual analytical framework combining Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Net Energy Analysis (NEA). This approach allowed for a detailed comparison of energy savings and emissions reductions across different lifecycle phases, such as cradle-to-gate and use-phase impacts. By focusing on stages where variations occur, the study provided a quantitative evaluation of how choosing Nynas products can lead to measurable energy and emissions savings compared to market alternatives. The results reinforce Nynas’ leadership in delivering sustainable solutions that support a lower-carbon future. 

Marika Rangstedt, Sustainability Manager, said, “The beneficial effects are true not only for our recent circular or renewable products, but also for many of our traditional products. We are leading the way in sustainability and setting new standards for product related environmental responsibility within our industry.”

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