Nokian Tyres Betula

Nokian Tyres launches the Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire, which incorporates groundbreaking birch bark-derived raw material. This renewable material, developed by the Swedish company Reselo, utilizes residual materials from the global pulp, paper, and plywood industries.

93% renewable and recycled materials in the tread

The Nokian Tyres Betula is the first tire to utilize this material. The material is incorporated into the tread compound of the concept tire, increasing the proportion of renewable and recycled materials to 93% of all materials used in the tread.

The new material is primarily seen as a performance-enhancing addition. The concept tire, which features the tread design of the studless Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5 winter tire, has been tested at Nokian Tyres’ test centers in Ivalo, Finnish Lapland, and Nokia, Finland, with promising results.

“The material’s potential for use in tires was obvious from the start. The Nokian Tyres Betula concept tire confirms its applicability and underscores the material’s potential for future commercial use. Furthermore, the material is not only sustainable but, according to our tests, also demonstrates promising properties for improving tire performance,” says Teemu Soini, Vice President, Innovations & Development at Nokian Tyres.

The concept tire is an important step towards increasing the proportion of recycled and renewable materials in tires to 50% by 2030. To achieve this goal, Nokian Tyres has partnered with Reselo.

“For Reselo, this partnership is much more than just a technical development project. The sheer size and traditionally conservative approach of the tire industry make it a challenging yet crucial area for rubber innovation,” says Josefin Larsson, CEO of Reselo. “Birch bark is an abundant byproduct of forestry in the Nordic countries. Step by step, we are working together on higher-performing and more sustainable products that prioritize the circular economy.”

The collaboration between Nokian Tyres and Reselo began in 2023 when the biomaterials startup won Nokian Tyres’ FAST RACE BIG CHANGE competition for sustainable tire innovation. In 2024, Nokian Tyres signed a development agreement with Reselo to further develop its renewable material for tire production. The development project will continue jointly with Reselo following the market launch of the concept tire.

Concept tires are an important part of product development, as they allow for the testing of new materials, technologies, and design ideas before commercial production. In 2022, Nokian Tyres unveiled the Nokian Tyres Green Step concept tire, whose ambitious design incorporates 93% recycled or renewable materials.

In 2024, the company launched the Nokian Tyres Green Step Ligna, which features a renewable, lignin-based alternative to conventional carbon black. Launched in 2025 for the Central European market, the Nokian Tyres Seasonproof 2 all-season tire boasts the highest percentage of renewable and recycled materials in Nokian Tyres’ commercial production, at up to 38%.

www.nokiantyres.com
www.reselo.se