Nokian in link-up to advance wood-based rubber materials for tires

Nokia, Finland – Nokian Tyres has signed a development agreement with Swedish biomaterial science company Reselo AB to advance the use of Reselo’s renewable rubber material in tires.

Reselo rubber is “a completely renewable material” made from birch bark sourced from the residue of the global pulp, paper and plywood industry, Nokian said 4 Sept.

As part of the deal, the two sides will collaborate to further develop the material to adapt it for commercial tire production.

Initial laboratory tests suggest that that the rubber has “great potential to replace traditional fossil-based materials in tires,” said Heini Siekkinen, senior manager, research & sustainability, Nokian Tyres.

In addition to being renewable, the material is also believed to improve tire performance features, Siekkinen added.

Reselo was the winner of Nokian Tyres’ “fast race, big change” sustainable tire innovation challenge that aimed to find new solutions for more sustainable tires last year.

The Finnish tire maker said during the challenge, it established the bio-based material as a potential tire ingredient.

The company will, now, continue close collaboration to refine the material to match demanding tire properties on an industrial scale.

The move is aligned with Nokian’s sustainability goals of sourcing 50% of its tire raw materials from renewable or recycled sources by 2030.

In a related move, Nokian has also unveiled a concept green tire using UPM BioMotion functional fillers, derived from wood residue.