Mumbai-based start-up looks to make tyres green and clean, all the while enhancing farmers’ income by converting waste cotton byproducts to biodegradable products for the rubber industry.

In a world steadily transitioning towards sustainable and environmentally conscious solutions, Indian startup Biopole is poised to revolutionise the tyre, rubber and broader automotive materials space with a breakthrough innovation that merges agritech, cleantech and chemical engineering. The company has introduced Biozone 200, a high-performance bio-based antiozonant that prevents rubber products from cracking due to ozone exposure. It is generally used in the rubber and tyre industry. On the other hand, Biovive 300 is a bio-based antioxidant that protects rubber and polymer products from oxidative degradation used in the rubber and tyre industry.

In contrast to traditionally sourced materials from petrochemical derivatives, these additives are made using sustainably sourced materials that play a crucial role in improving the durability and life of rubber products, including tyres, hoses, belts, seals, plastic and even footwear soles. The company’s new offering is derived from agricultural waste – specifically, cotton stalks.

FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE TO HIGH-VALUE ADDITIVE

In an interaction with Tyre Trends, Mehul Patel, Technical Director, Biopole, explained the development story: “What is Biopole? We provide bio-based antioxidants and antiozonants made from plants, more specifically cotton stalks, which are agricultural waste in India. After cotton is plucked, the stem or stalk is left behind, often burnt like stubble in North India. Instead of that, we extract useful chemicals from it to manufacture our solutions.”

Interestingly, while the young start-up was started just a couple of months ago, it has already established its first manufacturing unit in Dudhapur, about 120 km north of Ahmedabad, in the heart of Gujarat’s cotton belt. It currently has an annual production capacity of 4,500 metric tonnes, with Biopole sourcing raw material from nearly 1,000 farmers across a 24-square-kilometre region.

“For these farmers, it’s waste, but for us, it’s the beginning of a high-value, eco-friendly product. And we pay them for it, so it’s a win-win,” he shared.

The company has invested INR 200-250 million over the past eight years to perfect the material and bring it to commercial scale. “More than money, it’s the time that was crucial. It took us eight years to reach a stage where we could modify the compound to be usable as a technical replacement for existing antioxidants and antiozonants,” averred Patel.

Antioxidants and antiozonants are indispensable for the rubber industry. They delay degradation caused by oxidation and ozone exposure, improving product longevity. However, their petrochemical origins are increasingly problematic in a market where regulatory and environmental considerations are paramount.

“Our product is REACH-compliant (European Union’s regulations for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), ROHS-certified (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and California Proposition 65 compliant. This is especially critical for Indian manufacturers looking to export to Europe and the US, where chemicals like 6PPD and TDQ (Trimethyl Dihydroquinoline), which are still widely used in India, are banned,” explained Patel.

Interestingly, giving an example of how Biopole is already acting as a gamechanger in the rubber industry, Patel shared that its product has already enabled one Kanpur-based footwear manufacturer to regain access to export markets after switching to Biopole’s solution.

“They were unable to export because of regulatory issues tied to traditional chemicals. After switching to our material and clearing lab tests, they are back in business and expanding their footprint to global markets,” Patel noted.

COST-EFFECTIVE SUSTAINABILITY

It is no secret that while that the topic of sustainability has been actively pursued, for any businesses to simply switch sourcing from traditional suppliers to alternative eco-friendly materials also needs to make economic sense.

This is exactly one of the USP propositions for Biopole’s antioxidants and antiozonants solution.

Cost, often a barrier to adoption in India, has been neutralised by Biopole’s approach. “While European companies are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products, Indian customers ask about price first. But our product is priced competitively. The usage level is very small, and even if our additive is slightly more expensive than traditional options, the overall impact on the rubber compound is just about INR 0.10 per kg,” said Patel.

Giving the instance of carbon black, Patel stated, “Take carbon black, for example. Its prices fluctuate between INR 95 and INR 120 per kg, which impacts the compound price by INR 0.25 to 0.40 per kilo. In our case, the delta is much smaller and we offer a sustainability advantage.”

TYRE INDUSTRY

Given that India’s tyre industry is a high-volume, slow-approval segment, Biopole has made a strategic decision to first focus on non-tyre rubber product manufacturers.

“Tyre companies typically take three to five years to approve a new additive. They also require volumes of around 150 tonnes per month. That would overwhelm our current capacity. So we are currently targeting non-tyre applications, where monthly usage is around 1-2 tonnes per customer. This allows us to onboard multiple customers and scale gradually,” he said.

But Biopole is not actually ignoring the tyre segment. “We have already initiated pilot testing with some tyre manufacturers. If even two tyre companies approve our material, our entire capacity could be absorbed. That is why we are also preparing for future expansions,” he revealed.

Expansion is very much on the horizon. Patel estimates that scaling up to 9,000 tonnes can be done within six to eight months. “Once the market demands it, we are ready to expand our capacity at the Ahmedabad plant. The process is now streamlined,” he says.

EYEING GLOBAL MARKETS

While Gujarat was the logical choice for its facility due to its raw material ecosystem, Biopole is also exploring international expansion. “We met potential partners in the US and Ivory Coast at the American Chemical Society conference. They were extremely excited. In fact, one gentleman said, ‘Come to Ivory Coast, we’ll provide you land and cotton stalks’,” he shared.

Responding to a query if the company is open to partnerships and contract manufacturing with local stakeholders investing in infrastructure and sourcing. Patel shared that for Biopole nothing is off the tables: “We’re open to partnerships as long as it makes commercial sense.”

R&D

For Elastochemie, which has been traditionally a trading company, the journey for Biopole has been supported by a seven-member in-house R&D team, backed by collaborations with research institutions and external labs.

In addition to its current offerings, Patel revealed that Biopole “has already started working on two new products for the rubber industry, including retarders. We expect these to launch by FY2026.”

The company is also experimenting with product variations that would allow its additive to be used in coloured rubber and plastics. “Our material is naturally brown, which limits use in applications requiring bright or white colours. We are modifying it to work with those too,” he shared.

Though formally incorporated just five months ago in 2025, Biopole has global ambition and market-ready credibility. “Biopole will have its own balance sheet, and yes, it will be profitable as a standalone entity,” shared Patel.

While Elastochemie remains a trading business, Biopole’s manufacturing arm marks a strategic leap. “Trading companies don’t usually do R&D. But we wanted to build something different. Something IP-led, something that creates real change,” he stated.

As a first-of-its-kind material globally, Biopole is claimed to have no direct competition at present. He gives the anecdote of being a zero-emission vehicle in a petrol and diesel market.

“We’re not worried about competition yet, because there’s no one else doing exactly this. Our product changes the game. And for our customers, it ticks multiple boxes – regulatory, sustainability and now, affordability too,” he shared.

GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION & FUTURE PLANS

Responding to a query on whether the company could be impacted due to the global geopolitical situation and trade disruptions, he shared that India is estimated as a whole consumes over two million tonnes of rubber annually, with tyre makers accounting for 57 percent of demand. The remaining 43 percent, or 850,000 tonnes, is used in non-tyre applications. “Even if we capture three percent of that, we are talking significant volumes,” Patel shared.

He also noted that Biopole is relatively insulated from global geopolitical shocks. “We are too small to be impacted by the global supply chain disruptions. Even if we don’t export, the Indian market alone is more than enough for our immediate growth trajectory,” he said.

That said, global expansion remains attractive for the premium it offers. “US and European companies approve faster and are willing to pay more for sustainability,” Patel added.

It is quite evident that Biopole’s under the wrap development of the bio-based antiozonant and antioxidant products over the last eight years has a strategic plan to support its future narrative.

Patel shared that in the near-to-mid-term the company aims to establish its product firmly in India, US and Europe market. The company will launch at least two new rubber additives including Bioguard 400, a bio-based scorch retarded that controls vulcanisation and prevents premature curing for the rubber and tyre industry. It will also develop versions of the additive suitable for coloured plastics and rubber applications. And finally, Biopole will further scale manufacturing capacity based on traction from tyre manufacturers.

In an industry often dominated by legacy chemicals and slow-moving incumbents, Biopole’s innovative approach may well be a tipping point.

“We are not just offering a product,” concluded Patel. “We are offering a shift in thinking. A biodegradable, sustainable, regulatory-compliant material that solves real industry pain points. That’s the future – and we’re building it from waste.”

In a strategic move to secure its supply chain, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has entered into a partnership with India's Epsilon Carbon. The two companies have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to explore a long-term arrangement for the supply of liquid coal tar pitch, a critical raw material for aluminium smelting.

This initiative, launched at the Gateway Gulf Forum 2025 in Bahrain, is designed to enhance Alba’s operational security and efficiency. Concurrently, it supports Epsilon Carbon's strategy to establish a new coal tar pitch melting facility within the Kingdom of Bahrain. The agreement paves the way for future detailed negotiations, which will include trial deliveries and the finalisation of quality and commercial terms.

Ali Al Baqali, CEO, Alba, said, “Our collaboration with Epsilon Carbon marks an important milestone in Alba’s journey to reinforce supply chain reliability and maintain the highest standards of quality. This partnership not only secures a key input for our operations but also supports the growth of Bahrain’s industrial sector. We are confident that this alliance will deliver lasting value for both organisations.”

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon, said, “Our collaboration with Alba is an important step toward sustainable industrial growth. With our coal tar distillation capacity set to reach 750,000 tonnes by 2027 and a USD 20 million investment in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we aim to strengthen regional collaboration and supply chain resilience. This will not only reinforce the India – Kingdom of Bahrain industrial corridor but also help reduce the carbon footprint and realise our vision for a more sustainable and efficient aluminium industry.”

A major new academic and industry reference, Sustainable Materials for Rubber and Allied Industries, has been released by CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. The 724-page volume brings together science, technology, policy and industrial practice to explore how one of the world’s most essential material sectors is transitioning towards sustainability.

The rubber industry plays a critical role in mobility, healthcare, defence, infrastructure and consumer products. Yet, for decades, most rubber compounds have relied on fossil-based feedstocks and additives. As the world confronts the realities of climate change, resource depletion and waste accumulation, the industry now finds itself at the centre of global discussions on sustainability and circularity.

This book addresses that challenge directly, not as a philosophical concept but as a practical and scientific journey. It examines the material, processing and policy transitions required to build a sustainable future for rubber and tyre manufacturing.

What the Book Contains

Structured across fourteen detailed chapters, the volume covers:

• Foundations of Sustainability and Circularity — explaining environmental, social and economic drivers shaping modern material science.
• Natural Rubber — explored as the industry's most significant renewable resource, along with sustainability challenges in cultivation and processing.
• Bio-Based and Sustainable Synthetic Rubbers — highlighting advances in monomers and green polymer chemistry.
• Sustainable Fillers, Fibres and Reinforcements — including biomass-derived fillers, recycled fibres and improved steel cord systems.
• Curing Systems, Antidegradants, Resins and Processing Aids — re-examined through environmental performance, toxicity and lifecycle impact.
• Thermoplastic Elastomers and Thermoplastic Vulcanisates — offering recyclable and energy-efficient solutions for multiple applications.
• Recycling, Devulcanisation and Circular Economy Models — reviewing the state of the art and emerging industrial-scale technologies.
• Global Regulation and Policy — outlining responsibility frameworks and sustainability compliance trends.

Throughout the book, laboratory research, practical industrial experience, and case-study insights are blended to provide a realistic and applicable reference for scientists, engineers, educators, sustainability strategists, and manufacturing leaders. The work recognises the progress already made by leading manufacturers while setting a scientific and technological roadmap for the years ahead.

The message is clear: sustainability is not merely a direction for the rubber industry — it is its future operating principle.

Short Note About the Authors

The book is authored by five recognised leaders in rubber science and sustainability:

• Professor Anil K. Bhowmick
• A globally respected polymer scientist and Research Professor at the University of Houston, formerly Professor of Eminence at IIT Kharagpur and founder of IIT Patna. He has over 600 research publications, multiple patents, numerous international awards and a distinguished record of advancing rubber science worldwide.
• Dr Rabindra Mukhopadhyay
• Director & Chief Executive of HASETRI and Director (R&D) at JK Tyre. With more than 45 years of industrial leadership, he is known for his contributions to reverse engineering, sustainable materials, circular economy practices and technology development in tyres and elastomers.
• Dr Jagannath Chanda
• Senior Research Scientist at HASETRI, specialising in sustainable composites, failure analysis and structure–property relationships, with significant contributions to academic literature and industrial innovation.
• Dr Barun Kumar Samui
• Principal Scientist at HASETRI with extensive industry experience in reinforcement textiles, composite materials and the performance optimisation of rubber products.
• Dr Riya Koley
• Postdoctoral Fellow at Polytechnique Montréal with research expertise in polymer chemistry, green additives, elastomer processing and nanomaterial-enhanced sustainable rubber systems.

Together, the authors bridge academic excellence, industrial experience and long-term engagement with global sustainability efforts — making this book both authoritative and practical for the future of the rubber and allied industries.

The global natural rubber (NR) market experienced fluctuating prices in August 2025 as supply constraints coincided with signs of improving demand, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) said in its latest Monthly NR Statistical Report.

The association noted that seasonal factors supported stronger consumption, particularly in China, where declining port inventories signalled healthier demand. However, heavy rainfall and labour shortages in key producing regions curtailed tapping activities, tightening supply conditions.

“Natural rubber prices experienced a fluctuating trend due to several factors, including constrained supply and improving demand,” ANRPC said. “Seasonal factors boosted consumption, particularly in China, where inventory reductions at major ports indicated improved demand. However, rainfall and labour shortages in producing regions limited tapping activities, tightening supply.”

According to updated data from member countries, global natural rubber production is projected to increase by 0.5 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, while demand is expected to grow by 1.3 percent over the same period.

The association said market sentiment had turned “increasingly optimistic” with stronger purchasing interest, driven by the traditional peak season for natural rubber, especially from the all-steel tyre and heavy-duty truck segments.

The ANRPC encouraged subscribers and stakeholders seeking more in-depth insights to refer to the full report or contact the ANRPC Secretariat for subscription details.

India has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of Halo-Isobutene-Isoprene Rubber (HIIR) from China, Singapore and the United States, following a complaint from Reliance Sibur Elastomers Private Limited, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) said in a notification.

The domestic producer alleged that the three countries were exporting the rubber to India at unfairly low prices, causing injury to the local industry. The company has sought the imposition of anti-dumping duties on the product, which is used in tyre inner liners, hoses, seals, tank linings, conveyor belts and protective clothing.

The DGTR said there was prima facie evidence that imports had risen “significantly” and were being sold below normal value, resulting in price depression and affecting the domestic manufacturer’s capacity utilisation and profitability. The authority noted that the dumping “is causing material injury to the domestic industry”.

The investigation will cover the period from July 2024 to June 2025, with an examination of injury trends dating back to April 2021.

HIIR, also known as halobutyl rubber, is classified under the broader synthetic rubber tariff category. Reliance Sibur Elastomers is currently the only producer of the material within India.

If the investigation confirms dumping and injury, the DGTR may recommend the imposition of duties to offset the impact and “remove the injury to the domestic industry”. Interested parties have 30 days to submit data and make their representations to the authority.