Nokian, UPM in linkup to employ wood-based fillers in tires

Nokia, Finland – Nokian Tyres and forest industry company UPM have entered a partnership to introduce a concept tire made with wood-base renewable fillers.

The project will see the two Finnish partners collaborating on replacing “a significant part of” carbon black with wood-derived BioMotion renewable fillers in tire production.

On 27 June, Nokian unveiled Green Step Ligna – the “first ever” concept tire made with renewable lignin raw material.

According to the tire maker, all fossil carbon black in the tire’s sidewalls is replaced by the new raw material.

As part of the partnership, Nokian is now licensing its patent to UPM, which enables the company to provide the functional fillers to the tire industry.

UPM will produce the material at its €1.2-billion biorefinery in Leuna, Germany, which will have the capacity to produce 220 kilotonne per annum of wood-driven chemicals.

The lignin-based fillers are derived from woody bio-mass and are billed as alternatives for traditional carbon black, helping tire makers reduce the use of fossil-based  raw materials.

The partnership with Nokian marks UPM’s entry into the tire market, according to UPM’s biochemicals VP Michael Deutsch.

The project will enable UPM to demonstrate the fillers’ application value and therefore scale its technology for further application in the mobility sector, he added.

The fillers are already being used in other applications such as building & construction and footwear.

The concept tire, according to Nokian VP for innovation Teemu Soini, marks “a leap” towards the use of renewable materials, not only for Nokian but also for the entire tire industry. 

“By prototyping this renewable material in our tires, we aim to set new standards for environmental responsibility,” he added.

UPM will exhibit the concept tire at the German rubber industry conference DKT 2024 in Nuernberg, Germany, 1-4 July.