UK-Canadian team wins Synthos Rubber Circularity Award

WMG at the University of Warwick in Coventry and Canada’s University of Victoria are the joint recipients of the inaugural Synthos Rubber Circularity Award, an international competition launched earlier this year to encourage cutting-edge ideas and solutions that significantly improve the environmental performance of synthetic rubber-based tyre compounds. Announcing the winners, Synthos states that the researchers impressed with their “breakthrough technology research concept” but did not elaborate on their work.

Matteo Marchisio, vice president, Synthetic Rubber at Synthos Group, stresses the importance of investing in research into and the development of sustainable rubber and tyre materials. “We are very proud of our diverse group of exceptional and talented scientists that make up the Synthos Rubber R&D team. Together with the University of Warwick and the University of Victoria, we see an exciting future in expanding our product development horizons. I firmly believe that by fostering innovation and collaborating with the brightest minds in scientific research, we move not only ourselves but also the entire value chain closer to our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Dr Malte Wohlfahrt, R&D director at Synthos Synthetic Rubber, adds: “We congratulate the University of Warwick and the University of Victoria for presenting an impressive research concept that we believe is the best fit for us. However, I also want to acknowledge the excellence of many other entries we received. The Synthos Rubber Circularity Award isn’t just about crowning a winner; it’s about advancing a culture of innovation. Therefore, we intend to collaborate with and invest in some of the other standout scientists and institutes we’ve had the honour to engage with. Overall, this award has sparked immense inspiration across our entire rubber business and given us much food for thought.”

Maximising value for tyre industry

The award winners will receive a three-year funding package to support a dedicated research team and Synthos will also provide them with rubber materials and access to its state-of-the-art facilities. In addition, scientists from both institutions and Synthos will form a project team to work closely together and leverage the capabilities of all parties in a way that maximises the value of the collaboration to the tyre industry.

Synthos is the largest synthetic rubber producer in Europe and offers a broad portfolio of synthetic rubber products and a strong, customer-focused global presence in high-performance tyres and technical rubber goods. Synthos’ product portfolio includes solution styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR), emulsion styrenebutadiene rubber (E-SBR), high and low cis polybutadiene rubber (Nd-BR, Ni-BR and Li-BR), and recycled rubber powder.