European Commission Awards LIFE-Environment Grant to Goodyear

The European Commission has awarded Goodyear a major research and development grant for development of an ultra low rolling resistance tyre with environmentally friendly resources. The grant of three million euros is part of the European Union’s LIFE-Environment program. The total cost of the project is more than 12 million euros. Goodyear is working in close co-operation with two research partners on this project – the Italian research company Novamont and the German carmaker BMW.

“With this grant the European Commission recognizes and supports one of Goodyear’s initiatives to develop products with minimized environmental impact – without compromising on driver safety,” said Joe Zekoski, general director of Goodyear’s Technical Center in Luxembourg. “One of the project’s main tasks is to develop a new ‘bio’ filler as an alternative to traditional fillers used in tyres. This new filler, which will be made out of renewable resources like corn starch, may have a major environmental impact and lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions during its production process”, said Zekoski.

The second task of the project consists of an in-depth analysis of a tyre’s structure, aimed at minimizing energy loss while the vehicle is in motion. “This project has the potential to lead us to tyres with lower rolling resistance, better durability and shorter braking distances,” said Zekoski.

Together with Goodyear, the Italian research company Novamont will focus on the development of a new ‘bio’ filler and assess its dispersion capabilities in tyre formulations. In the scientific world Novamont is recognised as a pioneer in the development of products deriving from renewable raw materials of agricultural origin like starch.

Goodyear, together with its development partner BMW, will develop the tyre formulations and test the prototype tyres and the optimised tyre structure. “BMW’s expertise in the tyre-vehicle interaction and the related testing and safety requirements is an important asset for the project’s success”, said Zekoski.

In 2001 Goodyear presented its first tyre using BioTRED compounding technology, a patented system developed by the company. BioTRED permitted the partial replacement of carbon black and silica by a new starch based filler material, resulting in important environmental advantages. The starch used in the production of BioTRED is derived from corn, in a process similar to the one used in food industries. In the first instance starch is treated to obtain micro droplets, which then undergo a specific treatment to transform them into a bio-polymeric filler. The end product has physical properties that differ substantially from those of traditional fillers.

Launched in 1992, LIFE (The Financial Instrument for the Environment) is an important part of the European Community environment policy. LIFE-Environment’s specific objective is to contribute to the development of innovative techniques and methods by co-financing demonstration projects. The European Commission has approved funding for 50 new environmental innovation projects in 14 countries under the LIFE-Environment programme 2006. The Commission said that these projects would demonstrate new methods and techniques for dealing with a wide diversity of Europe’s environmental problems.