Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has introduced a tyre that supports the use of 70% recycled and renewable materials, making it the first commercially available tyre in industry history to reach the milestone, it claims.
It is the company’s first waste-specific tire to earn ISCC Plus certification that supports the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy. This voluntary certification standard validates the sustainability characteristics of alternative materials throughout the entire supply chain, from origin to end consumer.
The 70% recycled and renewable demonstration tyre is based on the Bridgestone M870, a high-scrub, all-position radial waste and recycling tyre specifically designed for urban waste collection fleets.
Using a Mass Balance approach, this demonstration tyre uses circular synthetic rubber like butadiene and halo butyl rubber, circular carbon black, and natural rubber. The Mass Balance approach is a chain of custody method used to trace the flow of alternative materials through complex value chains. During the production process, the certified alternative materials are mixed with conventional materials, becoming indistinguishable over time. By using this approach, Bridgestone adds it can document and track the exact quantity of alternative materials, ensuring the quantity matches what is used at the start of production. A limited run of tyres will be used on waste fleets later this month.
“The debut of this 70% recycled and renewable demonstration tyre is not a glimpse into the future, but the reality of today,” said Steve Hoeft, President, Commercial Truck Group, Bridgestone Americas. “With this tyre, and the work done with our supply chain, we’ve created new opportunities with a proven product by meeting the rigorous standards set by the ISCC. This tyre directly demonstrates how Bridgestone can help fleets achieve their sustainability goals now with expertly manufactured premium tyres.”