Toyo Tire develops synthetic rubber from carbon dioxide

Hyogo, Japan – Toyo Tire Co. and the University of Toyama have developed synthetic rubber using butadiene driven from carbon dioxide (CO2).

In a joint research project since 2016, the Japanese partners succeeded in developing a catalyst-based process to synthesise butadiene from CO2 at a ‘high yield’, said Toyo in a 9 May statement.

The process, it said, achieves “sufficient catalytic performance” using “inexpensive solid catalysts that do not use precious metals”.

“And the yield is the highest level in the world,” Toyo went on to claim without offering further details.

In the future, the tire maker is aiming to develop the catalyst system for mass production, aiming for practical application by the end of the decade.

In addition, Toyo is conducting research to replace the rubber driven from the butadiene with existing materials.

The move will have “a large contribution rate [to decarbonisation], with sustainable materials,” it added.

This will support Toyo in achieving its sustainability goals, which includes the use of 40% sustainable materials in its products by 2030.