Quick Takeaways
- Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire showcases a major step toward high renewable content in tire tread compounds.
- The innovation highlights performance-focused use of birch bark material in sustainable tire development.
On January 22, Nokian Tyres unveiled the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire, marking a first-of-its-kind application of raw material derived from birch bark in tire manufacturing. The development reflects the company’s focus on advancing sustainable tire materials without compromising performance.
Birch bark-based raw material enters tire tread design
The birch bark-based material used in the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire is supplied by Swedish company Reselo. It is produced from residue generated by the global pulp, paper, and plywood industry, enabling value creation from industrial by-products that would otherwise remain unused.
This marks the first recorded use of this specific birch bark material within a tire structure.
Renewable and recycled content reaches 93% in the tread
The new material is integrated directly into the tread compound of the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire. With its inclusion, renewable and recycled materials account for 93% of all materials used in the tread, representing a significant milestone in sustainable tire development.
Key characteristics of the tread compound include:
Performance-focused innovation validated through testing
Nokian Tyres views the birch bark material primarily as a performance-enhancing addition rather than solely a sustainability feature. The Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire has undergone testing at the company’s test centers in Ivalo, Finnish Lapland, and in Nokia, Finland.
According to the company, the test results have been promising, supporting further exploration of the material’s role in future tire technologies while maintaining performance expectations.
Birch bark-based raw material enters tire tread design
The birch bark-based material used in the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire is supplied by Swedish company Reselo. It is produced from residue generated by the global pulp, paper, and plywood industry, enabling value creation from industrial by-products that would otherwise remain unused.
This marks the first recorded use of this specific birch bark material within a tire structure.
Renewable and recycled content reaches 93% in the tread
The new material is integrated directly into the tread compound of the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire. With its inclusion, renewable and recycled materials account for 93% of all materials used in the tread, representing a significant milestone in sustainable tire development.
Key characteristics of the tread compound include:
- High renewable and recycled material share
- Use of industrial residue-based raw materials
- Compatibility with performance-oriented tire design
Performance-focused innovation validated through testing
Nokian Tyres views the birch bark material primarily as a performance-enhancing addition rather than solely a sustainability feature. The Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire has undergone testing at the company’s test centers in Ivalo, Finnish Lapland, and in Nokia, Finland.
According to the company, the test results have been promising, supporting further exploration of the material’s role in future tire technologies while maintaining performance expectations.
Company Press Release
Click above to visit the official source.
Share: