Image source: Synthos

The global tyre industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for materials that reduce environmental impact without compromising performance. In a world where sustainability is essential, close collaboration with suppliers is critical to addressing these challenges.

For Synthos, Europe’s largest producer of synthetic rubber, the path is clear: develop advanced solutions that support sustainable mobility, promote circularity and work closely with tyre customers and partners to advance environmentally responsible tyre production and accelerate the transition to a net-zero future.

Synthetic rubber innovation

As part of its Synthetic Rubber Division, Synthos operates three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, with a combined annual production capacity of 760,000 metric tonnes, producing a diverse portfolio of elastomers, including SSBR (SPRINTAN), BR (SYNTECA) and ESBR (KER and BUNA), which are essential to the tyre industry and a wide range of other technical applications. Supported by commercial offices across the Americas and Asia, Synthos supplies advanced solutions to global markets.

 Marjolein Groeneweg

Tyres account for over 90 percent of their energy consumption during the use phase, primarily through vehicle fuel or electricity usage.
Improving energy efficiency is therefore critical to reducing their environmental impact. At the same time, tyre wear particles are a key challenge, with longer-lasting tyres and enhanced abrasion resistance essential to addressing microplastic generation. For electric vehicles (EVs), these challenges are further amplified by increased weight and instant torque, which place greater demands on tyre performance.

As the world’s largest producer of functionalised solution styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR), Synthos is tackling these challenges head-on. Its next generation of multi-functionalised SSBRs, developed under the SPRINTAN brand, features optimised low glass transition temperatures (Tg) to deliver lower rolling resistance for improved energy efficiency, alongside excellent abrasion resistance and wet grip. A standout example is SPRINTAN 918S, which entered full commercial production in 2024. Developed with proprietary technology, this highly functionalised SSBR combines exceptional wet and dry grip with enhanced energy efficiency and wear resistance, all while maintaining processability during compound production. Designed for summer, winter and all-season tyres, SPRINTAN 918S is particularly effective for EVs, where durability and efficiency are paramount.

With additional low-Tg SSBR grades in development, Synthos remains at the forefront of sustainable, high-performance materials for the future of mobility.

Investing in a greener future

While leading in supply, Synthos’ commitment to sustainability sets it apart. Recognising the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes and products, Synthos is dedicated to minimising this impact throughout its operations, implementing measures to minimise waste and ensuring the efficient use of resources.

Image source: Shutterstock

Synthos was the first in the industry to offer its entire synthetic rubber portfolio as bio/circular-attributed materials under ISCC PLUS certification, now supplied through its PLUS range. The company also prioritises transparency and traceability, providing detailed data from its production processes to help customers make sustainability-focused decisions. Each synthetic rubber grade is accompanied by a cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), enabling precise evaluation of its environmental impact.

Aligned with its Sustainable Development Strategy, Synthos has pledged to operate all facilities with carbon-free energy by 2028, investing in low- and zero-carbon energy sources. By reducing the environmental impact of its operations, Synthos is laying the foundation for a greener, more sustainable future.

Building strong partnerships

Collaboration is at the heart of Synthos’ approach to advancing sustainability and innovation. By working closely with partners across the tyre lifecycle, the company is driving circular innovation and addressing key challenges within the industry. 

Image source: Shutterstock

Through its partnership with Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS), Synthos promotes the use of TyreXol™ rubber powder, derived from end-of-life tyres, in synthetic rubber formulations. This collaboration supports sustainable manufacturing by keeping valuable materials in circulation and reducing waste. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sumitomo Rubber Industries further strengthens this initiative, with both companies focusing on the development, testing and application of TyreXol™ technology as part of their shared commitment to the circular economy.

Synthos has also signed an MoU with Kumho Tire, a leading South Korean tyre manufacturer, to jointly develop sustainable raw materials for tyre production. This collaboration includes research into neodymium-butadiene rubber using bio-based butadiene, aiming to expand the use of environmentally friendly synthetic rubber in tyre manufacturing.

Upstream, Synthos has partnered with OMV, an Austrian multinational integrated oil, gas and petrochemicals company, to secure a long-term supply of sustainable butadiene produced from circular feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and pyrolysis oil derived from end-of-life tyres.

Beyond these partnerships, Synthos is actively involved in leading industry initiatives, including the Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) and the Circular Rubber Platform, further reinforcing its connections within the industry.

Focused on the mobility of tomorrow

The challenges of sustainability cannot be solved in isolation. As demand from leading tyre manufacturers for sustainable synthetic rubber continues to grow, Synthos is aligning with stakeholders across the value chain to deliver advanced, high-performance materials tailored to its customers’ needs, whether ISCC PLUS-certified materials, bio-based rubber or customised products developed in collaboration with its partners.

Through its dedication to innovation, renewable resources and strong partnerships, Synthos is shaping a future where performance and sustainability work together, ensuring the tyre industry evolves responsibly.

Groeneweg is the Global Marketing Director, Synthetic Rubber at Synthos.

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) has been selected once again to continue as a constituent of three internationally renowned environmental, social and governance (ESG) indexes: the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes, the FTSE4Good Index Series and the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).

Bridgestone has been a part of the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes for two years in a row since 2023, the DJSI World for three years in a row since 2022 and the FTSE4Good Index Series for seven years in a row from 2018. Bridgestone's specific Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) has been steadily implemented, putting sustainability at the centre of its operations. The company's 2020 vision and Mid-Long Term Business Strategy served as the foundation for the plan.

According to the company statement, “Setting forth the vision of ‘Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company’, Bridgestone links its business to the realisation of carbon neutrality, a circular economy and nature positivity across the entire value chain. From the ‘produce and sell’ phase and the ‘use’ of its products through to their ‘renewal’ to raw materials, Bridgestone aims to build a foundation for creating sustainability value.”

The following initiatives have contributed to Bridgestone's inclusion in these indexes:

• Contributing to a circular economy and attaining carbon neutrality by using ENLITEN technology to make tyres from recycled and renewable resources, using BCMA and switching to ‘Green & Smart’ manufacturing at Bridgestone locations to increase resource productivity and energy efficiency.
• Encouragement of nature positivity through initiatives for the sustainable use of water resources and natural rubber that are closely related to the commercial operations of the firm, including strengthening assistance for natural rubber smallholders.
• Strengthening of a thorough structure and procedure for human rights due diligence that aims to identify, mitigate, avoid and disclose human rights concerns.
• Visualisation and disclosure of the impact of social contribution actions that are in line with the global goals.

German automotive company and tyre major Continental has been added another feather to its cap with bagging the ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ at this year’s Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence at this year’s Tire Technology Expo.

With this, Continental becomes the only tyre maker to have won two concurrent awards – Tire Manufacturer of the Year and Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing. The company’s Lousado facility in Portugal was also recognised for manufacturing tyres CO2-neutrally since last year.

Edwin Goudswaard, Head of Research & Development, Continental Tires, said, "We are especially proud to be the only manufacturer to be honoured twice at the Tire Technology Awards in an extremely competitive field. Both awards highlight our strong commitment to sustainable tire development and manufacturing. In such a highly competitive market, this success demonstrates our innovative prowess and our ability to actively shape the future of the industry."

Interestingly, this also marks it the fourth time that the German company has bagged the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award. The awards took into consideration tyre makers globally and were evaluated by a jury of 27 independent industry experts.

Going forward, Continental has outlined its ambition to switch all of its tyre plants to fully carbon-neutral production processes by 2040 at the latest.

Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has appointed Jongseon Ahn and Sanghoon Lee as Executive Directors and new Co-CEOs, following a resolution passed at the Annual General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting held on 26 March.

Ahn will be in charge of Hankook Tire's global innovation, R&D, procurement, production and quality, while Lee will be in charge of global sales and marketing initiatives to strengthen the premium positioning of the company's unified global brand, Hankook, as well as the supply of original equipment (OE) tyres for new vehicles. In addition to the leadership nominations, shareholders approved all eight agenda items at the Annual General Meeting, including the approval of the consolidated financial accounts, partial revisions to the Articles of Incorporation and director appointments.

Ahn has extensive leadership expertise and a proven track record of advancing technology innovation in the operational holding firm, Hankook & Company. He oversaw general management and spearheaded innovative initiatives in 2021 while serving as COO of Hankook & Company and Head of ES (Energy Solution) Business Headquarters. He became the CEO in 2022 and oversaw the company's expansion of premium Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery sales into important international markets, which greatly increased profitability and strengthened the company's platform for long-term success.

Lee's vast worldwide leadership experience serves as the foundation for his profound understanding of marketing and global sales strategy. He has held important regional leadership positions in China and Europe since 2018, during which time he has played a crucial role in bolstering the company's premium brand positioning internationally and continuously promoting creative business performance, both of which have greatly increased revenue. At the conclusion of last year, he was nominated as Hankook Tire's Co-CEO due to his success and leadership.

Sri Lanka-based speciality tyre manufacturer GRI (Global Rubber Industries) has won the prestigious Material Handling Industry (MHI) Innovation Award for Best Innovation in Sustainability at ProMat 2025, held in Chicago, USA. The company’s premium plus ULTIMATE GREEN XT tyre has been honoured as the world’s most sustainable material handling tyre made with 93.5 percent sustainable materials.

This solid material handling tyre, which was designed and produced at GRI's state-of-the-art production facilities in Sri Lanka, combines energy-efficient production methods, environmentally friendly raw materials and outstanding performance to lessen its impact on the environment and increase productivity for companies all over the world. The award follows a thorough evaluation procedure in which the most innovative developments influencing the future of material handling were evaluated by a prestigious panel of industry executives, technical specialists and sustainability advocates. In addition to being a success for GRI, this result demonstrates Sri Lanka's increasing influence in the global manufacturing sector and reaffirms the nation's capacity for high-quality, sustainable production.

Prabhash Subasinghe, Managing Director, GRI, said, “This award is not just a recognition for GRI – it is a moment of pride for Sri Lanka, showcasing our ability to lead in sustainable industrial solutions. The ULTIMATE GREEN XT is a Sri Lankan innovation making a difference on the global stage, reinforcing our belief that sustainability is not an option – it is a responsibility. At GRI, we always think of the next generation and strive to grow for generations to come. We dedicate this achievement to the passionate and hardworking people of Sri Lanka, whose expertise and dedication made this possible.”