Bridgestone and Versalis sign desert-shrub-rubber pact

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In Tennessee, tire major Bridgestone Americas and biopolymer and elastomer producer Versalis have inked a research and development pact for rubber made from the desert shrub guayule.

The partnership combines Bridgestone’s leading position in guayule agriculture and production technologies with Versalis’ expertise in commercial-scale process engineering and market development for renewables. The work will include optimization of guayule varieties and growing protocols. The two companies plan on making the resulting technology open to industrial partners.

“Every collaboration, including this latest one with Versalis, brings us closer to our goal of developing new, domestic and sustainable sources for natural rubber that ultimately benefit our customers and our natural environment through more sustainable rubber products,” says Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer, Bridgestone Americas. “This work is one of many ways we are using innovation to achieve our long-term vision of manufacturing products from raw materials that are fully renewable and sustainable by 2050 and beyond.”

Bridgestone has already established a Biorubber Process Research Center (BPRC) in Mesa, Arizona.  Versalis will lead product development activities to monetize the guayule rubber production. Market applications in resins include adhesives and wood protection.