Rubber Journal Asia Tyre Sector conservation charity, ZSL (Zoological Society of London), as the most transparent rubber-producing company, rising a notch from the previous assessment. The digital traceability project will involve 4,000 small farmers in the NR sector by 2024. They are trained to grow high-quality raw materials in compliance with clearly defined sustainability criteria. Improving the quality of raw material will result in higher income for the small holders. Additionally, a sustainable supply chain also minimises, if not eradicates, environmental, human-rights and social risks.
Bridgestone says it aims to increase the productivity of guayule farms and advance sustainable materials for tyres. Bridgestone will field test the new technology on guayule seedlings grown at its 287-acre Agro Operations Research Farm in Eloy, Arizona. The new technology, according to Bridgestone, may also be used to support the guayule breeding process to more rapidly increase a desired genotype for testing and production, as well as to produce biobased rubber for other practical applications. In addition to the farm, Bridgestone operates the Biorubber Process Research Centre in nearby Mesa, Arizona, where a team processes guayule-derived rubber for testing in tyre applications. Meanwhile, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is also upping its commitment to responsible sourcing of raw materials with a new sustainable soybean oil procurement policy that applies to all soybean-based materials sourced by Goodyear operations worldwide.
Diversifying from the traditional source with guayule Due to the volatility of NR supply, manufacturers are compelled to source NR locally at a higher price compared to sourcing the commodity at a cheaper price overseas. Another alternative to make up for the scarce polymer is to utilise plant-based or other renewable materials like grass, trees, wood chips, soybean, orange and coffee beans, to make “rubber” for tyres! As a potential commercial rubber source, and sustainable alternative to the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, guayule has shown huge potential for tyre applications. Guayule, a shrub that thrives in semi-arid regions in Mexico, Southern US, as well as in European Mediterranean countries, is found to yield high-quality rubber that has comparable molecular weight as the Hevea rubber. Helming the guayule development is Tokyoheadquartered Bridgestone, which launched its guayule R&D efforts in 2013 and has recently collaborated with Kirin Holdings Company, a Japanese company engaged in the manufacture and sale of beverages and pharmaceutical products. To create a new technology for improving guayulederived NR productivity, the project will combine the technologies of Kirin with the guayule cultivation expertise of Bridgestone to deliver large-scale propagation of guayule plants from high-quality seeds. With this innovation,
Goodyear has developed a soybean oil-based tread compound to replace some or all petroleum-derived oil in tyres
The tyre maker said that it aims to help guide processors, farmers, and all other members of the supply chain to establish practices and make sound environmental and social decisions related to the growing, harvesting, and processing of soybeans. Relatedly, Goodyear, which is targeting to replace petroleum oil in its products by 2040, has increased its use of sustainable materials, including soybean oil, in its products. In 2020, Goodyear increased soybean oil use by 73% against its 2018 usage. Goodyear, with support from the United Soybean Board, has developed a soybean oil-based tread compound. The soybean oil, which is found to help keep a tyre’s rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, is used to replace some or all petroleum-derived oil in the tyre. Recycled materials to make green tyres The tyre industry’s quest to develop tyres that meet global sustainability standards does not end in producing fuel efficient, low rolling resistance (LRR) tyres. Companies also hone in sustainability across the tyre’s lifecycle, from raw materials used to end-of-life recycling, to achieve zero waste manufacturing.
Bridgestone collaborated with Kirin Holdings Company on technology to increase the productivity of guayule farms and advance sustainable materials for tyres
4 JUNE 2021
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