Synthetic rubber producer Synthos, has signed an MOU with Japanese tyre maker Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) to promote the development and use of high-performance rubber powders for the production of sustainable tyres. Synthos offers TyreXol rubber powder, which is derived from end-of-life tyre treads as part of its collaboration with Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS).
Under the MOU, the two companies will collaborate on development, testing, evaluation and other activities to advance the development and use of recycled rubber powder to create a circular solution that enables a significant improvement in the environmental footprint of tyres, without compromising tyre safety, durability and rolling resistance, they add.
“Our R&D team is constantly looking for solutions that help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. I am personally encouraged to see that closed loop solutions are increasingly part of the innovation and technology development conversations we are having with our customers,” commented Dr. Malte Wohlfahrt, R&D Director.
He added that the company is confident that with its TyreXol rubber powder technology, it can achieve the common goals.
Synthos, which has production facilities in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, has achieved ISCC PLUS certification for its entire portfolio of synthetic rubber products as part of its efforts to support tire manufacturers reduce their environmental impact.
Synthos is the largest producer of synthetic rubber in Europe with a differentiated product portfolio and a strong sustainability-focused technology roadmap that includes solution styrene- butadiene rubber (SSBR), emulsion styrene- butadiene rubber (ESBR), and high and low cis polybutadiene rubber (NdBR, NiBR and LiBR).