Bridgestone eyes 100% sustainable tyres by 2050

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Singapore - Bridgestone Corp. is committing itself to develop tyres made with 100-percent sustainable raw materials by 2050, Chairman Shoshi Arakawa told those attending the World Rubber Summit in Singapore last week.

Among the initiatives Bridgestone is pursuing to achieve its goal is research into natural rubber alternatives Guayule and Russian dandelion, processes to develop synthetic rubber, carbon black and rubber compounding agents from biomass materials and practical application of new cellulose fibers to produce yarns that would substitute for petroleum-derived polyester and nylon.

Bridgestone said it has long-term and mid-term goals in this area. Its long term goals stretch out to 2050 and beyond and these include a tyre made from fully sustainable natural resources. Over the mid-term (to 2020), the company said it aims to reduce CO₂; improve resource productivity and conserve and restore the environment. The company did not give quantitative targets.

The sustainability pledge is part of Bridgestone's long-term environmental goals, which also include contributing to the globally agreed target for CO₂ emissions reduction

Bridgestone recently disclosed plans to fund research into the viability of guayule and the Russian dandelion as NR alternatives.

In a press release describing the speech - though the development was not mentioned in the presentation - Bridgestone claims it has successfully created butadiene-used in SBR synthetic rubber-produced from bioethanol and has developed carbon black from intermediate materials created from biomass materials, but it has not disclosed details.

In addition to these initiatives, Bridgestone said it is pursuing the development of technologies that will reduce CO₂ emissions through improved fuel efficiency and technologies that can be applied throughout the value chain, from raw materials through finished products.

Bridgestone said it would report on the progress of these initiatives "as appropriate."

The World Rubber Summit, held May 22-24, is sponsored by the International Rubber Study Group.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Press release from Bridgestone