Nokian Tyres has entered a significant development agreement with Swedish biomaterials science company Reselo AB to advance the use of Reselo Rubber, a renewable material derived from birch bark, as a potential raw material for tyres. This collaboration aims to further refine Reselo Rubber for commercial tyre production, potentially offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fossil-based materials.
Reselo Rubber, produced from birch bark sourced from the global pulp, paper, and plywood industries, presents a promising solution to reducing the environmental footprint of tyre manufacturing. Nokian Tyres, a leader in sustainability within the tyre industry, is eager to push this innovation further.
“According to the initial laboratory tests we have conducted on Reselo Rubber, it has great potential to replace traditional fossil-based materials in tyres. Furthermore, the material is not only renewable, but we believe it may also be used to improve the tyre’s performance features. We are excited to develop it further in cooperation with Reselo and hope to have Reselo Rubber in Nokian Tyres tyres in the future,” said Heini Siekkinen, Senior Manager, Research & Sustainability at Nokian Tyres.
Reselo was the winner of Nokian Tyres' “FAST RACE, BIG CHANGE” sustainable tyre innovation challenge, which sought out groundbreaking solutions for a more sustainable future in tyre technology. Early testing showed that Reselo Rubber has the potential to become a viable tyre material, leading to this development agreement between the two companies.
Henrik Otendal, CEO and one of the founders of Reselo, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are proud and excited to join forces with Nokian Tyres to improve the sustainability of the largest rubber industry segment even further. The partnership with Nokian Tyres marks an important milestone in our ambition to revolutionise the rubber industry with a high-performing bio-based rubber.”
One of Nokian Tyres’ key sustainability targets is to ensure that 50% of the raw materials in their tyres come from renewable or recycled sources by 2030. In recent months, the company has made notable progress toward this goal. In June 2024, they showcased the Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna concept tyre, featuring UPM BioMotion™, a novel renewable material. Additionally, in August 2024, their Nokia, Finland factory achieved the prestigious International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS, which allows the introduction of ISCC-certified sustainable raw materials in their tyres.
Teemu Soini, VP of Innovations & Development at Nokian Tyres, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “We believe that Reselo Rubber has potential to be one of the steps on our journey towards our goal and are glad to have Reselo as a partner supporting our quest.”
As Nokian Tyres continues to push the boundaries of innovation, the development of Reselo Rubber stands as a key initiative in the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. By working alongside Reselo AB, they hope to establish this renewable material as a key component in future tyre production, improving both environmental impact and tyre performance.
The ongoing partnership between these two companies not only represents a significant milestone in their respective sustainability efforts but also signals a potential breakthrough for the entire tyre industry. With further development, Reselo Rubber could soon become a staple in commercial tyre production, helping reduce reliance on fossil-based materials and offering more sustainable tyre solutions for future generations.
