Goodyear rolled into the winner’s circle twice at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) ceremony held in Vietnam recently. The awards recognise businesses in Asia that prioritise sustainability and responsible practices.
Goodyear’s impressive solar panel installation at its Pulandian factory in Dalian, China, earned them the top spot in the Green Leadership category. This record-breaking project, with over 29,700 solar panels, will power the plant itself and provide clean energy for the surrounding offices and warehouses. The initiative is estimated to significantly reduce carbon emissions from purchased electricity, with a projected decrease of 17,000 metric tonnes annually over the next 25 years.
The company’s ‘Goodyear, Good Care’ campaign also garnered recognition, winning them the Social Empowerment Award. This ongoing programme, now in its fourth year, has seen the donation of 244 ‘Goodyear Cargo Max’ tyres to hospitals across Thailand. The initiative has demonstrably improved the safety of critical inter-hospital patient transfers.
Nathaniel Madarang, President of Goodyear Asia Pacific, emphasised the significance of the two awards in pursuing the company’s vision. “We are honoured that our efforts are being recognised by industry observers and external organisations.” He said. “These awards serve as a testament to our company’s commitment to our Goodyear, Better Future framework, an extension of our business ethos. The framework’s four pillars—sustainable sourcing, responsible operations, advanced mobility, and inspiring culture—continue to guide our work and focus. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the Asia Pacific region, driven by the vision to be recognised as the best mobility enabler in luxury, sport utility, and electric vehicles.”
The AREA programme acknowledges excellence in sustainability and responsible business practices across various categories, including green leadership, social empowerment, health promotion, investment in people, and corporate governance. It provides knowledge sharing and inspiration, encouraging other businesses to adopt strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and contribute to positive social change.
Oriental Rubber Industries’ Vikram Makar Passes Away
- By TT News
- July 07, 2025
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.
- Bridgestone
- Bridgestone India
- Bridgestone Tyres
- Nutritional Fruit Orchard Project
- Sustainability
- Women Empowerment
Bridgestone India Launches Women-Led Orchard Project In Madhya Pradesh
- By TT News
- July 05, 2025
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.”
JK Tyre & Industries Appoints Sylvain Sagot As New Director For Quality
- By TT News
- July 04, 2025
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.
Nynas Leads In Sustainability As Independent Study Rates Its Products Highly
- By TT News
- July 04, 2025
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.”
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT