CLEVELAND—"Biobased" and "biodegradable" are terms that are bandied about universally when discussing solutions to the proliferation of polymer waste, according to Ramani Narayan, distinguished professor at Michigan State University.

YAOUNDE, Cameroon—Halcyon Agri, the world's largest natural rubber producing company, is undertaking a major project in Cameroon to address sustainability and human rights issues at its operations there.

ALBANY, Calif.—More than two decades ago, the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture obtained patents on processes designed to make the desert shrub guayule a commercially viable source of natural rubber. Those patents have lapsed, but the research continues.

SINGAPORE—Seventy-five years after its founding, the International Rubber Study Group continues to evolve as an analytical, statistical and forecasting body serving the natural and synthetic rubber industries, according to its current secretary general.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a final rule on overtime pay, which the Tire Industry Association said is less of a burden to small business than the original changes proposed during the Obama administration.

CYPRESS, Calif.—The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has entered a default judgment of $16.7 million against Hong Kong Tri-Ace Wheel & Tire and Jinlin Ma, its founder, owner and manager, in favor of Toyo.

WASHINGTON—Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has accused Goodyear of labor violations at its manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and urged Goodyear to "take immediate steps to improve the company's compensation and conduct toward (its) workers in Mexico."

MACON, Ga.—Workers at Kumho Tire U.S.A.'s Macon plant narrowly approved certification of the United Steelworkers union in an early September vote, but the outcome could change because of challenged ballots.

WAUKEGAN, Ill.—The Waukegan Fire Department has concluded its investigation of the May 3 fire at AB Specialty Silicones' headquarters, saying it cannot determine what may have caused the initial explosion and subsequent blaze that killed four company employees.

WASHINGTON—Chinese imports of steel trailer wheels, 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter, are causing material injury to U.S. steel trailer wheel makers, the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined.

WASHINGTON—Auto parts makers and other business interests are doing their best to monitor the ever-fluctuating trade situation between the U.S. and China, especially in light of an unexpected new round of tariff hikes.

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Enviro Systems, the Gothenburg, Sweden-based tire pyrolysis technology firm, has signed a term sheet with TreadCraft Carbon, covering key parts of an agreement to build a tire recycling plant in Buffalo using Enviro's technology.

POWELL BUTTE, Ore.—With studded tires being increasingly banned from the roads, inventor James Scheller has what he believes is the ideal alternative: Garnets.

WASHINGTON—In reaction to China's latest devaluation of the yuan, the Department of the Treasury has officially designated China as a currency manipulator.

WASHINGTON—Pending multi-billion-dollar acquisitions of delivery vehicles by the U.S. Postal Service could mean big changes in the postal service's light truck tire purchases.