With automakers almost unanimously transitioning into electric vehicles and looking for sustainable solutions in manufacturing and production, the world’s leading tire companies such as Goodyear and Michelin are making their own push to find innovative solutions for the betterment of the planet.
Goodyear’s latest project aims to use the roots of a species of dandelion called Taraxacum kok-saghyz, or “TK” in short, to produce a new kind of natural rubber. While traditional rubber trees can only be grown in tropical climates and take around seven years to harvest, the dandelion can be harvested every six months and are much more resilient to different temperatures and environments.
90% of the world’s natural rubber is currently sourced from rubber trees, which has led to deforestation in rich biodiverse ecosystems and reliance on overseas production. “Global demand for natural rubber continues to grow, and it remains a key raw material for the tire industry,” said Chris Helsel, senior vice president of Global Operations and CTO for Goodyear. “This is a critical time to develop a domestic source of natural rubber, which may help mitigate future supply chain challenges.”
Goodyear’s dandelion tire research project is backed by the U.S. Department of Defence and will first be tested as military aircraft tires with future plans for exploring more general applications.
Elsewhere in design, take an inside look at LEGO’s new headquarters in Denmark.
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