Japanese tire maker Bridgestone in collaboration with Ajinomoto has developed polymerised high-cis polyisoprene (IR), a synthetic rubber produced using bio-based isoprene, a substance produced from biomass raw materials using fermentation technology, to be equipped in tire production.

The Japanese tyre maker said that it is committed to develop technologies and business models that use recyclable and renewable resources in order to build a sustainable society.

Bridgestone is also aiming for a 100% utilisation of sustainable materials by 2050, but as demand for tires is expected to increase in tandem with rising car ownership worldwide, natural rubber production may not be able to keep pace with this growth.

Isoprene extracted from crude oil feedstock is currently used as an intermediate material to produce synthetic rubber, however production capacity of this product is also constrained.

In order to ensure an ongoing supply of raw materials, and to meet its 2050 commitment, the company has been searching for ways to procure the necessary materials from renewable resources.

The company is also involved in other efforts to develop technologies and processes that reduce, reuse and recycle resources as well as projects to develop concept tires made from ‘100% sustainable materials’.