How are tire manufacturers shifting to eco-friendly materials?

A vehicle's various components all contribute to the environmental damage that these machines do. Tires, on the other hand, are one of the most important components that have a big impact. Their driving tasks are linked to an automobile's fuel consumption and, if not handled, can lead to waste that can affect the environment. As a result, tires are critical to the creation of a more sustainable future based on automobiles. Top tire producers across the world are constantly researching new ways to make tires that improve vehicle performance while reducing environmental impact. That's how important they are in promoting environmentalist policies in the auto industry.

For some years, several tire manufacturing companies throughout the world have been working to switch to more sustainable designs. The introduction of renewable and sustainable resources for product manufacturing was the first step they took. Here are some of the ways they're converting tires to more environmentally friendly materials.

Enhancement of Natural Rubber Sustainability

Tires are constructed of synthetic rubber, which isn't the world's most environmentally friendly material. That is why tire producers are working hard to find raw materials that have been responsibly processed. Most of them have switched to natural rubber, which is a more environmentally friendly form of the principal raw material they use.

The tire business consumes billions of dollars’ worth of natural rubber each year, with small farmers accounting for roughly 85% of that total. As a result, improving natural rubber's supply chain is a top goal to ensure that the tire industry has a steady supply of this environmentally friendly raw material. That's why, in 2018, the Global Framework for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) launched a platform to define the natural rubber value chain's sustainability.

Even while most firms do not own or control rubber tree farms, many are involved in natural rubber tree farming. Some firms, for example, are working to establish plantations by planting rubber trees in previously deforested areas. Others, on the other hand, collaborate with a plantation to help propagate best practices for planting rubber trees responsibly and sustainably. All their efforts are aimed at increasing output and discovering new rubber tree species that may be used to create tires.

There are also ongoing investigations to find alternative sources of natural rubber if rubber tree production is disrupted due to climate change or natural catastrophes. 

Recycling Waste into usable raw materials

Recycling also aids in the acquisition of alternative materials for tire production. Other typical waste sources, in addition to green trash, can be recycled to make tires. This helps to reduce waste and pollution while also providing more options for environmentally friendly tires.

Plastic is a useful waste product that may be recycled to manufacture tires. Enzymes can break down water bottles, juice containers, and cooking oil containers into basic monomers. Their residual components can be converted into polymer tire reinforcing, for example.

Final Thoughts

The tire and automobile industries can help our world achieve a sustainable future by changing their production methods to use environmentally friendly materials. It's the only way they will be able to keep advancing and earning money while simultaneously helping the environment. Given the current situation, the future should be a little greener for all of us.

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