Nokian Tyres, a leading developer and manufacturer of premium tyres, and UPM, a leading biomaterials production expert, are partnering to further increase sustainability in the tyre industry by introducing the first concept tire made with a new renewable material with the potential to replace a significant part of the carbon black currently used in tyre production.
The innovative material, called UPM BioMotion™ RFF is a promising fully renewable lignin-based alternative for traditional carbon black, reducing the need for fossil materials and lowering carbon emissions in tyre manufacturing.
Nokian Tyres has long been innovating to use the material and has registered a patent for using the material in tire applications. Nokian Tyres is now licensing its patent to UPM, which enables UPM to provide the raw material to the tyre industry. UPM will produce the material at its soon to be ready biochemicals biorefinery in Leuna, Germany.
“Our partnership with Nokian Tyres marks the exciting entry of our Renewable Functional Fillers into the global tyre markets. In successfully demonstrating their application value, it helps us to lay the groundwork for scaling our biorefinery business so that we can make a significant contribution to the sustainable transformation of the mobility sector and beyond,” says Michael Duetsch, Vice President Biochemicals at UPM.
Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna – the first ever concept tyre made with the fully renewable lignin raw material UPM BioMotion™ RFF
Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna concept tyre is the first ever tire made with UPM BioMotion™ RFF, a fully renewable wood-based lignin raw material produced by UPM. In the concept tyre all fossil carbon black in the tyre’s sidewalls is replaced by the new raw material.
“With the concept tyre we demonstrate the usability of the groundbreaking new raw material in tyres. Our concept tyre marks a leap towards the use of renewable materials not only for us, but the whole tyre industry. By prototyping this renewable material in our tyres, we aim to set new standards for environmental responsibility,” says Teemu Soini, VP, Innovations & Development at Nokian Tyres.
