Yokohama Rubber joins research on new use for rubber tree seeds

Hiratsuka, Japan – Yokohama Rubber Co. (YRC) has joined a research project to develop a new biomass business model to make use of discarded rubber tree seeds.

The joint project between Japan and Thailand will look into developing a ‘sustainable and effective’ utilisation technology for para rubber tree seeds, which are mostly discarded with the exception of those used for reseeding.

YRC joined the project in September as part of its sustainability initiative and in a move to mitigate the impact of seed wastes on global warming, the Japanese tire & rubber group said 5 Oct.

As part of the project, the research team will establish a collection system for rubber seeds and aim to use the new model as a revenue source for rubber farmers.

The YRC announcement did not provide further details about the project but said the seeds were “an untapped carbon-neutral resource’.

The project is being led by associate professor Shinji Kanehashi of the graduate school of engineering at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.