Birch Bark Tyres: Unbelievable Innovation | Forest Machine Magazine

Birch bark, a residue of the global pulp, paper, and plywood industry, is set to be utilized as an alternative raw material in tire production. This comes after Nokian Tyres signed a development agreement with Reselo AB, a Swedish biomaterial science company. The partnership aims at advancing the use of Reselo Rubber—a renewable material derived from birch bark—in commercial tire manufacturing. 
 
Initial laboratory tests conducted by Nokian Tyres on Reselo Rubber show promising results that suggest it has significant potential to replace conventional fossil-based materials currently used in tires. Heini Siekkinen, Senior Manager for Research & Sustainability at Nokian Tyres, explains: "The material is not only renewable, but we believe it may also be used to improve the tire's performance features." 
 
This innovative initiative aligns with growing global concerns about sustainability and environmental conservation efforts within various industries. The automotive sector continues to face increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
Nokian Tyres' collaboration with Reselo represents a major stride in achieving sustainable practices within their operations. "We are excited to develop [Reselo Rubber] further in cooperation with Reselo and hope to have Reselo Rubber in Nokian Tyres tires in the future," adds Siekkinen. 
 
Henrik Otendal, CEO and one of the founders of Reselo, expresses similar sentiments regarding this groundbreaking partnership: "We are proud and excited to join forces with Nokian Tyres. The partnership marks an important milestone in our ambition to revolutionize the rubber industry with high-performing bio-based rubber." 
 
This alliance between Nokian Tyres and Reselo was formed following their participation in FAST RACE, BIG CHANGE; this was an innovation challenge hosted by Nokian Tires aimed at discovering more sustainable solutions for tire production. After preliminary testing during this competition revealed that birch-bark-derived 'Reselo Rubber' had potential as a tire material, the two companies decided to collaborate further. 
 
The development of this innovative rubber substitute is now set to continue. The goal is not only to perfect its properties for large-scale industrial use but also to ensure it can withstand the demanding performance expectations of tires in various conditions and applications. 
 
This partnership exemplifies how businesses can innovate and adapt their practices towards more sustainable methods without compromising on product quality or performance. If successful, Reselo's renewable birch bark-based material could revolutionize tire production globally, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and paving the way for a more environmentally friendly automotive industry. 
 
In conclusion, Nokian Tyres' agreement with Reselo AB marks an important milestone in pushing forward sustainability efforts within the tire manufacturing sector. As industries worldwide strive towards greener operations that align with global environmental conservation goals, such initiatives are crucial in leading this change. It will be exciting to see how the far-reaching impacts of this innovation could transform not just Nokia Tyres but potentially reshape the entire global rubber industry.