Chemical companies Unibio and BioVerde Tech have announced a strategic collaboration to develop biomanufacturing processes for the production of sustainable chemicals.

Under the agreement, BioVerde will use Unibio’s U-Loop vertical loop gas fermentation technology platform together with BioVerde’s genetically engineered strains of Methylococcus capsulatus. The collaboration aims to convert methane into a range of value-added chemical products through advanced microbial fermentation.

Initial development efforts will focus on intermediates – molecular entities or compounds formed during a multi-step chemical reaction that are then consumed to produce the final product, acting as bridges between reactants and products – relevant to the synthetic rubber value chain, including pathways toward bio-based butadiene, a key building block used in both synthetic rubber and engineering plastics such as ABS.

Continue reading Unibio and BioVerde co-develop methane-based manufacturing processes for sustainable chemical intermediates at Tire Technology International.

Solvay has opened its bio-circular silica facility at its Livorno, Italy plant, advancing Europe’s industrial shift toward sustainability. The investment supports the European Green Deal and the upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), while strengthening Italy’s position as a center for green innovation.

The unit aims to produce highly dispersible silica (HDS) using bio-based sodium silicate derived from rice husk ash, an agricultural byproduct. This breakthrough process reduces CO2 emissions by 35% per ton of silica compared to traditional methods and creates a local circular value chain that benefits the agricultural sector, industry and communities.

“By acting now, Solvay is helping tire manufacturers prepare for future EU requirements and meet their own sustainability goals,” said Philippe Kehren, CEO of Solvay.

Continue reading Solvay launches bio-circular silica facility in Livorno to drive sustainable tire production and circular innovation at Tire Technology International.

Dunlop has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cabot to evaluate the commercial adoption of circular reinforcing carbons made with Cabot’s patented regenerated carbon technology. This circular reinforcing carbon, developed with Cabot’s Evolve Sustainable Solutions and made from reclaimed pyrolyzed tire material, is being considered for use in Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ tire production.

Cabot’s circular reinforcing carbon, using regenerated carbon technology, is a new material for Sumitomo Rubber. It is seen as a potential tool for reducing emissions and will be evaluated for mass-produced tires, while Cabot works to scale the technology to meet future demand.

Continue reading Dunlop and Cabot sign MOU to explore regenerated carbon for sustainable tire production at Tire Technology International.

Nokian Tyres has launched the Betula concept tire containing raw material made from birch bark. The renewable material made by Reselo uses the residue from the global pulp, paper and plywood industry – the Betula marks the first use of this recycled material in a tire.

The material is included in the tread compound of the concept tire, bringing the amount of renewable and recycled material content to 93% of all materials used on the tread.

The alternative sustainable material is positioned as a performance-enhancing addition. The concept tire, based on the tread design of the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5 non-studded winter tire, has been tested at Nokian’s facilities in Ivalo in Finnish Lapland and in Nokia, Finland.

Continue reading Nokian Tyres unveils concept tire using performance-enhancing birch bark material at Tire Technology International.

Synthos has announced the signing of an agreement with Orlen for the sale of 100% of its shares in the company S54, which is building a new butadiene extraction unit in Płock, Poland. The agreement was signed on December 18, 2025. Butadiene is a colorless, flammable gas derived from petroleum, a crucial monomer for synthetic rubbers.

Cooperation between Synthos and Orlen on the butadiene unit began several years ago as part of Płock’s petrochemical development program. The current agreement is part of an ongoing investment reorganization. While the sale agreement reflects the need to address delays in the Olefins III project, it establishes a stable framework for continued business collaboration between the two companies.

Continue reading Synthos transfers butadiene project to Orlen at Tire Technology International.

Pirelli has set the range of compounds for the 2026 Formula 1 season. After completing an analysis following the last test session in Mexico City, the company, with FIA approval, has established which compounds will be homologated on December 15, as stipulated in the technical regulations.

The range of dry tires will consist of five compounds from the hardest C1 to the softest C5, all with similar positioning to today’s line-up. The compounds have been engineered with controlled thermal degradation to enable a variety of strategies in response to the diverse conditions found on the world championship calendar.

Continue reading Pirelli finalizes 2026 Formula 1 tire compounds at Tire Technology International.

Hankook Tire & Technology has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rotoboost, a company specializing in thermocatalytic decomposition of methane gas, to jointly develop a low-carbon footprint carbon material for tire applications.

The companies are collaborating on technologies intended to reduce CO₂ emissions during the raw material acquisition phase, aligning with Hankook Tire’s long-term strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Carbon black, a key material in tire production, is derived from fossil-based feedstocks and is associated with high CO₂ emissions. To address this, Hankook Tire has been conducting research into sustainable alternatives, including recycled carbon black and certified carbon black, aimed at reducing emissions during the tire manufacturing process.

Continue reading Hankook Tire and Rotoboost collaborate on turquoise-hydrogen-based carbon materials at Tire Technology International.

Teijin Aramid has introduced Twaron Next, a high-performance para-aramid engineered with a clear focus on sustainability. The latest material combines strength, durability and thermal resistance with options designed to reduce environmental impact.

The material is available in two sustainability-driven variants.  The circular content variant incorporates reclaimed aramid fibers from Teijin Aramid’s production waste, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared with industry-average benchmarks.

The bio-based feedstock variant is produced using renewable feedstocks for the polymer backbone, reducing dependence on fossil-based raw materials.

Twaron Next is suitable for use in automotive components such as tires and hoses.

Continue reading Teijin launches high-strength, sustainable para-aramid at Tire Technology International.

Solvay has converted its highly dispersible silica (HDS) production in Asia into circular raw materials. From 2026, the company’s plants in Qingdao in China and Gunsan in South Korea will adopt ISCC+ certified waste sand. This shift, Solvay says, could enable over half of Solvay’s regional HDS capacity to become circular.

By replacing virgin raw materials with industrial waste, Solvay develops technologies to reduce resource consumption. It offers tire manufacturers circular Zeosil silica, which does not require reformulation.

“Solvay’s circular silica helps improve fuel efficiency and EV range, offers long-lasting wear benefits and improves safety while advancing sustainability,” said An Nuyttens, president of Solvay’s Silica business unit.

Continue reading Solvay to produce circular silica in Asia using waste sand by 2026 at Tire Technology International.

TotalEnergies’s Cray Valley has agreed to supply tire manufacturer Continental with ISCC Plus-certified Cleartack and Ricon resins. Using a mass balance approach, the resins will enable an increase in renewable materials in the Continental Tires value chain while maintaining the highest level of safety and performance through specific tire tread formulation.

Cleartack, a pure monomer low-molecular-weight tackifying resin, and Ricon, a liquid polybutadiene resin that enhances the performance of tires, are produced at TotalEnergies‘ Carling site in France. The ISCC Plus-certified bio-feedstock originally comes from vegetable oil or used cooking oil processed at TotalEnergies’ biorefinery in La Mède in France.

Continue reading Cooking oil-based resins from TotalEnergies power sustainable synthetic rubber for Continental at Tire Technology International.