This photo provided by Kumho Tire on Dec. 1, 2023, shows company CEO Jung Il-taek (L) and Malte Wohlfahrt, research and development director of Synthos S.A., at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony held in Seoul the previous day. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — Kumho Tire Co., South Korea’s second-largest tire maker, said Friday it has partnered with European synthetic rubber manufacturer Synthos S.A. for joint research and development of sustainable tire material.
Under their memorandum of understanding signed Thursday, Kumho Tire and Synthos plan to conduct joint research and development utilizing bio-butadiene for the production of ultra high cis polybutadiene rubber, also known as NdBR, for use in tire manufacturing.
Kumho Tire said they will also seek to expand the use of environmentally friendly synthetic rubber in the tire manufacturing process.
Synthos operates production bases in Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, and has obtained certification under the European Union Renewable Energy Directive.
Kumho Tire said it plans to increase the proportion of sustainable materials used in tire production, aiming to produce products using only natural and recycled materials by 2045.
(Yonhap)
