Zeon Corporation and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Announced on February 17 a joint initiative to establish a bench facility for the highly efficient production of butadiene from plant-based ethanol. This is a significant step towards developing sustainable materials for tire manufacturing and reducing the industry's reliance on fossil fuels. The facility, slated to begin operations in 2026, will be located at Zeon's Tokuyama Plant in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Butadiene is a key component in the production of synthetic rubber, a crucial material used in tires. Traditionally, butadiene is derived from petroleum, a finite resource. This new project aims to revolutionize the process by utilizing ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable sources. This approach aligns with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote a circular economy.

The project is one of two R&D themes selected by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in 2022 for its Green Innovation Fund Project. This project, titled "Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources," is a national initiative aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Zeon and Yokohama Rubber are collaborating with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the National University Corporation Institute of Science Tokyo, and RIKEN to achieve the social implementation of these technologies by the 2030s.

The bench facility will serve as a crucial stepping stone towards mass production. It will allow researchers to demonstrate the technology's effectiveness in converting plant-based ethanol into butadiene using a highly efficient catalyst. The facility will also generate valuable data that will be essential for scaling up the production process.

Zeon will utilize the butadiene produced at the bench facility to develop a prototype polybutadiene rubber. Yokohama Rubber will then incorporate this sustainable rubber into prototype tires and conduct rigorous driving tests. The data collected from these tests will be invaluable in evaluating the performance of the new material and identifying any necessary adjustments for large-scale production.

This collaborative effort leverages the combined expertise of Zeon and Yokohama Rubber. Zeon's extensive experience in developing and manufacturing specialty chemical products, including synthetic rubber, complements Yokohama Rubber's expertise in tire design and manufacturing.

The initiative reflects a growing commitment within the automotive and tire industries to embrace sustainable practices and reduce their environmental footprint. By developing bio-based alternatives to traditional materials, companies are not only reducing their reliance on fossil fuels but also contributing to a more circular economy.