The National Green Tribunal of India had accused the country of failing to develop an efficient waste tyre management solution. It appealed to the Central Pollution Control Board to devise a strategy to address the alarming issue.

Tyre waste management has become a concerning affair for many countries. Even with extensive government guidelines and recycling efforts, the rubber wheels are disposed improperly, leading to a massive impact on the environment. Modern-day tyres are produced using a combination of natural and synthetic rubber, which fail to decompose after their life cycle. Often, they pile up in junkyards, landfills and other open spots, contributing massively to the rise in pollution levels. Stockpiled waste tyres release methane gas, leading to an increase in carbon footprint and accelerating climate change. 

The Indian sub-continent is a heavy contributor to the menace, with its tyre waste accounting for only 6-7 percent globally, according to media reports. Apart from the domestic tyre manufacturing industry producing millions of tyres a year, it is estimated that around 300,000 tonnes of waste tyres are imported from countries like Australia for recycling and reuse (revealed in media reports). Many developed countries find shipping tyres abroad economically lucrative compared to domestic recycling. 

The used tyres, including those produced domestically, are also used for producing reclaimed rubber, pyrolysis oil and crumb rubber. India stands as the second-largest producer of reclaimed rubber after China. Though India has been recycling and reusing tyres for over four decades, it is estimated that 60 percent are disposed of through illegal dumping, said a media report.

Furthermore, the pyrolysis oil industry has expanded in the country, with villages turning into backyard furnaces at night. Pyrolysis – a form of thermal decomposition – burns tyres to obtain low quality oil while leaving behind an air thick with acrid smoke and soil black with soot. 

The National Green Tribunal of India had accused the country of failing to develop an efficient waste tyre management solution. It appealed to the Central Pollution Control Board to devise a strategy to address the alarming issue. 

Attempting to curb the rising pollution through waste tyres and furthering the country’s commitment towards sustainability, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change tabled a draft notification for regulations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for waste tyres. 

This policy extends the responsibility of the producer, or importer, to include the disposal of waste tyres and frees consumers from having to worry about responsible disposal.

The notification has been carefully prepared by a committee comprising representatives from the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Central Pollution Control Board, National Highway Authority of India, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other private companies and associations involved in the subject. 

The document categorises EPR obligation on the basis of weight (kg or tonnes). According to it, the manufacturers and importers of new tyres have to recycle 35 percent of all new tyres produced or imported in 2020-21 within fiscal 2022-23. The EPR obligations for 2023-24 will be to recycle 70 percent of tyres manufactured or imported in 2021-22. Further down the line, the business category in question will have to recycle 100 percent of tyres produced or imported in 2022-23 as part of EPR goals for fiscal 2024-25. 

Following the realisation of the target till FY25, manufacturers and importers will have to recycle 100 percent of the tyres. However, the waste tyre importers must undertake 100 percent recycling of rubber wheels brought in from abroad each year. According to the new draft, importing waste tyres for producing pyrolysis oil has also been banned. The draft is slated to come into effect from FY23.

However, the document has no mention of retreaders, who are an integral part of tyre reuse and recycling. Speaking on the issue, Karun Sanghi, President, Tyre Retreading Education Association, explained, “The government, in its new draft notification, has tried to cover three aspects – recycle, reuse and reduce. It attempts to reduce the number of tyres produced to bring down wastage. But in India, reducing the production numbers is tough as the transport sector is expanding. The government is improving the roads to increase tyre life, so the numbers will not be affected massively.”

Commenting on whether retreaders are not an integral part of tyre waste management, the industry veteran explained, “The interpretation of the policy decides whether retreaders are an important part or not. The government believes that tyres are produced and then recycled to obtain crumb rubber, reclaimed rubber, pyrolysis oil and carbon black. The government is trying to bring a law to recycle all tyres through this notification. But if the government wants to improve the environment, then the draft has to include the reuse of tyres. If the tyres produced can be reused, more tyres will not be manufactured, and the overall impact on the environment will be less.”

“The government feels that retreading is an intermediary step, and tyres will eventually come for recycling. Hence, it wants the OEMs to take full responsibility,” he added. 

“The government has iterated about reusing tyres, but in the current policy, it has not laid much emphasis on the concept as this process is mainly given shape by retreaders. And the last part of the policy talks about recycling. But what retreaders feel is that reuse is an integral part to gain sustainability, and the government should give weightage to it,” he added. 

Commenting on the association’s attempt to include retreaders within the draft’s ambit, the managing director of Tyresoles said, “We have been in talks with the government ministry but have not received any final answer on the issue.” 

“The current draft notification will help the country as it will make tyre companies responsible for waste disposal. So, tyres will have to be converted into crumb rubber, reclaimed rubber etc. So, the companies will improve the environment,” explained Sanghi. 

Explaining the draft’s ban on imports for deriving pyrolysis oil, he said, “Producing pyrolysis oil from imported tyres hurts the country’s sustainability goals as the indigenous tyre waste is neglected.”

“The retreading market is not performing well as of now. Lockdowns have eased, but vehicles have to move for six months for tyre wear. So, we will have to wait for a couple of months to realise market performance. It will pick up after six months,” he contended while answering a question pertaining to the future of retreading. 

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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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