Pirelli has confirmed that India will be the central theme of its 2027 calendar, marking a historic first for the publication. For the first time since the calendar’s inception, two distinct photographers have been commissioned to work on the project: Norwegian artist Sølve Sundsbø and celebrated Indian master Raghu Rai. Deep sorrow has followed Rai’s recent passing, felt profoundly by his family and those who collaborated with him. In the three months before his death, Rai had been fully dedicated to developing an original photographic series rooted in his heritage and personal vision of India.

Pirelli and the Rai family have pledged to complete Rai’s contribution to the calendar. Stepping into his role with honour is his daughter, Avani Rai, an internationally acclaimed photographer in her own right. She will work to faithfully realise her father’s artistic intentions for the series, ensuring his creative vision endures.

Alongside this effort, Pirelli has gladly invited Sundsbø back for a second consecutive year, following his work on the 2026 edition. His signature sensitivity and innovative aesthetic will combine with Avani Rai’s intimate knowledge of her father’s craft and her own personal experience of India, offering two compelling and complementary perspectives on the country.

Avani Rai said, “The work my father created for Pirelli was a tribute to India – bringing together his lifelong vision with a more contemporary expression of its people and diversity, something he was always deeply drawn to. I cannot bear the thought of it remaining unrealised. Bringing it to life feels deeply personal, as if I am stepping into his gaze and the way he saw India through his camera. Photography was his gift to me – not just as a craft, but as a way of seeing – and in that we found a quiet, profound connection. Carrying this forward feels like a way of staying close to him, of keeping a part of him alive within me.”

Sundsbø said, “It’s a great honour to be invited again to contribute to the Pirelli Calendar. I am very pleased to do so alongside Avani Rai and pay tribute to her father’s legacy. It’s a momentous opportunity to explore India. We will both do our utmost to celebrate the country and Rai’s memory with this collaboration.”

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Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, has concluded its fourth annual ‘Download the App, Plant a Tree’ campaign, resulting in nearly 59,000 new trees being planted across United States. The initiative, which ran from Earth Day on 22 April through the end of Bridgestone’s Sustainable Business Week on 12 May, encouraged customers of Firestone Complete Auto Care and Tires Plus to transition away from paper-based processes. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the company committed to planting one tree seedling for every new download of its mobile applications.

Since the programme’s inception in 2023, the cumulative effort has contributed over 244,000 tree seedlings to a conservation project spanning 3,600 acres. For the second consecutive year, Bridgestone has collaborated with The Nature Conservancy to focus reforestation on flood-prone areas within the Mississippi Delta region, protecting vulnerable farmland. This work builds upon a significant prior contribution, as the company donated over 5,700 acres of Tennessee land to the organisation in 2018, the largest land donation in that chapter’s history.

The mobile applications function as digital glove boxes, enabling customers to schedule appointments, access vehicle histories and review promotional offers. By incentivising digital adoption, BSRO seeks to curtail paper waste across its 2,200 retail locations. Beyond reducing paper consumption, the company’s sustainability strategy incorporates electric vehicle maintenance and charging services, alongside recycling nearly all products and byproducts used in stores.

This reforestation effort supports the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, a framework of eight corporate values guiding sustainability objectives. The campaign exemplifies the company’s dedication to Energy, Ecology and Efficiency, demonstrating how customer engagement drives environmental outcomes. Through these actions, BSRO integrates ecological responsibility into its retail operations and long-term business model.

Marko Ibrahim, President, BSRO, said, “We are proud to see this campaign continue to grow and support Bridgestone’s long-term sustainability goals. By helping expand green space in communities across the country, our stores are demonstrating what it means to live out our Promise to Care.”

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NEXEN TIRE has inaugurated a fully automated logistics centre at its European manufacturing facility in Žatec, Czech Republic. The strategic project significantly boosts the plant’s storage capacity by roughly 57 percent, elevating it from 530,000 to 830,000 tyres.

Spanning 7,104 square metres and rising 51 metres high, the new warehouse employs cutting-edge automation, including RFID-based product tracking and fully automated inbound and outbound systems. These technologies streamline the entire production-to-shipment process, enhancing both operational efficiency and inventory accuracy. Consequently, the European subsidiary gains greater agility to address seasonal demand shifts, ensuring faster and more reliable deliveries that bolster regional customer satisfaction.

Since commencing European production in 2019, NEXEN TIRE has persistently expanded its local presence. The warehouse project, launched in October 2024 following the plant’s second-phase completion, directly supports rising output and underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience and manufacturing capabilities across Europe.

John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO, NEXEN TIRE, said, “This warehouse expansion does more than just increase storage capacity. It is a strategic investment that will strengthen our integrated production and logistics capabilities. By continuously enhancing the operational capabilities of our European plant, we will improve the trust of customers and further accelerate our growth in the European market.”

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Tegeta Green Planet, a pioneering Georgian organisation authorised by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, partnered with Shine Energy for an educational visit to GLC School (Georgian Learning Center School). The organisation specialises in the circular economy collection, transportation and recycling of used tyres, waste oils and batteries.

Students from grades VI to IX engaged in dynamic discussions, practical exercises and interactive tasks designed to impart crucial knowledge on waste management and resource conservation. The session illuminated the mechanics of the EPR system and underscored the vital role of individual citizens in environmental stewardship. To commemorate their enthusiastic participation, the students received certificates and symbolic gifts.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy by both companies to cultivate environmental consciousness among youth. By utilising practical examples and interactive learning methods, including presentations and games, the project aims to instil sustainable behaviours and a deep understanding of circular economy principles in the next generation.

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has expanded its European network by integrating REGOM, a French innovator specialising in automated sorting and identification systems for end-of-life tyres. This partnership strengthens the collaborative push towards a sustainable tyre circular economy, leveraging REGOM’s technological expertise to enhance digitalisation and transparency across the industry.

Proper assessment and classification of used tyres is the foundational step in establishing a functional circular system. Determining whether a tyre is fit for reuse, retreading, recycling or alternative recovery processes is essential to maximising the lifespan of valuable materials. REGOM’s solutions directly address this critical juncture by providing precise, data-driven evaluations.

The company employs advanced artificial intelligence, image processing and real-time data analysis to capture key attributes like tyre dimensions, manufacturer details and tread depth. This technology enables accurate sorting, directing each tyre towards its most suitable end-of-life pathway, thereby improving the efficiency of material flows and boosting recycling rates. Such automated objectivity is a significant asset for waste managers, recyclers and retreaders.

Looking forward, REGOM is actively engaged in pioneering initiatives like the Digital Product Passport and RFID-based identification. These tools are vital for ensuring full lifecycle traceability, from production through multiple use cycles. By enabling comprehensive data collection and process optimization, these technologies promise to drive greater resource efficiency and solidify the digital backbone of the future circular economy.

Christina Guth, AZuR network coordinator, said, “Digital technologies will play a key role in the tyre circular economy in the future. They help to keep tyres in circulation longer, strengthen high-quality recycling pathways and use valuable raw materials more efficiently.”

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