Mumbai-based start-up looks to make tyres green and clean, all the while enhancing farmers’ income by converting waste cotton byproducts to biodegradable products for the rubber industry.

In a world steadily transitioning towards sustainable and environmentally conscious solutions, Indian startup Biopole is poised to revolutionise the tyre, rubber and broader automotive materials space with a breakthrough innovation that merges agritech, cleantech and chemical engineering. The company has introduced Biozone 200, a high-performance bio-based antiozonant that prevents rubber products from cracking due to ozone exposure. It is generally used in the rubber and tyre industry. On the other hand, Biovive 300 is a bio-based antioxidant that protects rubber and polymer products from oxidative degradation used in the rubber and tyre industry.

In contrast to traditionally sourced materials from petrochemical derivatives, these additives are made using sustainably sourced materials that play a crucial role in improving the durability and life of rubber products, including tyres, hoses, belts, seals, plastic and even footwear soles. The company’s new offering is derived from agricultural waste – specifically, cotton stalks.

FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE TO HIGH-VALUE ADDITIVE

In an interaction with Tyre Trends, Mehul Patel, Technical Director, Biopole, explained the development story: “What is Biopole? We provide bio-based antioxidants and antiozonants made from plants, more specifically cotton stalks, which are agricultural waste in India. After cotton is plucked, the stem or stalk is left behind, often burnt like stubble in North India. Instead of that, we extract useful chemicals from it to manufacture our solutions.”

Interestingly, while the young start-up was started just a couple of months ago, it has already established its first manufacturing unit in Dudhapur, about 120 km north of Ahmedabad, in the heart of Gujarat’s cotton belt. It currently has an annual production capacity of 4,500 metric tonnes, with Biopole sourcing raw material from nearly 1,000 farmers across a 24-square-kilometre region.

“For these farmers, it’s waste, but for us, it’s the beginning of a high-value, eco-friendly product. And we pay them for it, so it’s a win-win,” he shared.

The company has invested INR 200-250 million over the past eight years to perfect the material and bring it to commercial scale. “More than money, it’s the time that was crucial. It took us eight years to reach a stage where we could modify the compound to be usable as a technical replacement for existing antioxidants and antiozonants,” averred Patel.

Antioxidants and antiozonants are indispensable for the rubber industry. They delay degradation caused by oxidation and ozone exposure, improving product longevity. However, their petrochemical origins are increasingly problematic in a market where regulatory and environmental considerations are paramount.

“Our product is REACH-compliant (European Union’s regulations for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), ROHS-certified (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and California Proposition 65 compliant. This is especially critical for Indian manufacturers looking to export to Europe and the US, where chemicals like 6PPD and TDQ (Trimethyl Dihydroquinoline), which are still widely used in India, are banned,” explained Patel.

Interestingly, giving an example of how Biopole is already acting as a gamechanger in the rubber industry, Patel shared that its product has already enabled one Kanpur-based footwear manufacturer to regain access to export markets after switching to Biopole’s solution.

“They were unable to export because of regulatory issues tied to traditional chemicals. After switching to our material and clearing lab tests, they are back in business and expanding their footprint to global markets,” Patel noted.

COST-EFFECTIVE SUSTAINABILITY

It is no secret that while that the topic of sustainability has been actively pursued, for any businesses to simply switch sourcing from traditional suppliers to alternative eco-friendly materials also needs to make economic sense.

This is exactly one of the USP propositions for Biopole’s antioxidants and antiozonants solution.

Cost, often a barrier to adoption in India, has been neutralised by Biopole’s approach. “While European companies are willing to pay a premium for sustainable products, Indian customers ask about price first. But our product is priced competitively. The usage level is very small, and even if our additive is slightly more expensive than traditional options, the overall impact on the rubber compound is just about INR 0.10 per kg,” said Patel.

Giving the instance of carbon black, Patel stated, “Take carbon black, for example. Its prices fluctuate between INR 95 and INR 120 per kg, which impacts the compound price by INR 0.25 to 0.40 per kilo. In our case, the delta is much smaller and we offer a sustainability advantage.”

TYRE INDUSTRY

Given that India’s tyre industry is a high-volume, slow-approval segment, Biopole has made a strategic decision to first focus on non-tyre rubber product manufacturers.

“Tyre companies typically take three to five years to approve a new additive. They also require volumes of around 150 tonnes per month. That would overwhelm our current capacity. So we are currently targeting non-tyre applications, where monthly usage is around 1-2 tonnes per customer. This allows us to onboard multiple customers and scale gradually,” he said.

But Biopole is not actually ignoring the tyre segment. “We have already initiated pilot testing with some tyre manufacturers. If even two tyre companies approve our material, our entire capacity could be absorbed. That is why we are also preparing for future expansions,” he revealed.

Expansion is very much on the horizon. Patel estimates that scaling up to 9,000 tonnes can be done within six to eight months. “Once the market demands it, we are ready to expand our capacity at the Ahmedabad plant. The process is now streamlined,” he says.

EYEING GLOBAL MARKETS

While Gujarat was the logical choice for its facility due to its raw material ecosystem, Biopole is also exploring international expansion. “We met potential partners in the US and Ivory Coast at the American Chemical Society conference. They were extremely excited. In fact, one gentleman said, ‘Come to Ivory Coast, we’ll provide you land and cotton stalks’,” he shared.

Responding to a query if the company is open to partnerships and contract manufacturing with local stakeholders investing in infrastructure and sourcing. Patel shared that for Biopole nothing is off the tables: “We’re open to partnerships as long as it makes commercial sense.”

R&D

For Elastochemie, which has been traditionally a trading company, the journey for Biopole has been supported by a seven-member in-house R&D team, backed by collaborations with research institutions and external labs.

In addition to its current offerings, Patel revealed that Biopole “has already started working on two new products for the rubber industry, including retarders. We expect these to launch by FY2026.”

The company is also experimenting with product variations that would allow its additive to be used in coloured rubber and plastics. “Our material is naturally brown, which limits use in applications requiring bright or white colours. We are modifying it to work with those too,” he shared.

Though formally incorporated just five months ago in 2025, Biopole has global ambition and market-ready credibility. “Biopole will have its own balance sheet, and yes, it will be profitable as a standalone entity,” shared Patel.

While Elastochemie remains a trading business, Biopole’s manufacturing arm marks a strategic leap. “Trading companies don’t usually do R&D. But we wanted to build something different. Something IP-led, something that creates real change,” he stated.

As a first-of-its-kind material globally, Biopole is claimed to have no direct competition at present. He gives the anecdote of being a zero-emission vehicle in a petrol and diesel market.

“We’re not worried about competition yet, because there’s no one else doing exactly this. Our product changes the game. And for our customers, it ticks multiple boxes – regulatory, sustainability and now, affordability too,” he shared.

GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION & FUTURE PLANS

Responding to a query on whether the company could be impacted due to the global geopolitical situation and trade disruptions, he shared that India is estimated as a whole consumes over two million tonnes of rubber annually, with tyre makers accounting for 57 percent of demand. The remaining 43 percent, or 850,000 tonnes, is used in non-tyre applications. “Even if we capture three percent of that, we are talking significant volumes,” Patel shared.

He also noted that Biopole is relatively insulated from global geopolitical shocks. “We are too small to be impacted by the global supply chain disruptions. Even if we don’t export, the Indian market alone is more than enough for our immediate growth trajectory,” he said.

That said, global expansion remains attractive for the premium it offers. “US and European companies approve faster and are willing to pay more for sustainability,” Patel added.

It is quite evident that Biopole’s under the wrap development of the bio-based antiozonant and antioxidant products over the last eight years has a strategic plan to support its future narrative.

Patel shared that in the near-to-mid-term the company aims to establish its product firmly in India, US and Europe market. The company will launch at least two new rubber additives including Bioguard 400, a bio-based scorch retarded that controls vulcanisation and prevents premature curing for the rubber and tyre industry. It will also develop versions of the additive suitable for coloured plastics and rubber applications. And finally, Biopole will further scale manufacturing capacity based on traction from tyre manufacturers.

In an industry often dominated by legacy chemicals and slow-moving incumbents, Biopole’s innovative approach may well be a tipping point.

“We are not just offering a product,” concluded Patel. “We are offering a shift in thinking. A biodegradable, sustainable, regulatory-compliant material that solves real industry pain points. That’s the future – and we’re building it from waste.”

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The German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has sounded an alarm over an exceptionally difficult economic situation facing the rubber sector. Soaring raw material prices and persistently high energy costs, exacerbated by the Iran war, are coinciding with weak industrial demand. wdk Chief economist Michael Berthel noted an almost unprecedented economic disparity, as raw material costs approach historical highs from 2011 and 2022 while a lack of demand prevents any offset for manufacturers.

Since the final quarter of 2025, prices for key inputs have risen sharply. Natural rubber has jumped more than 40 percent within months, while butadiene-based synthetic rubbers have increased over 30 percent. EPDM synthetic rubber, carbon black and oil-based plasticisers have all risen more than 20 percent, with some individual chemicals exceeding 40 percent cost growth in just a few weeks.

Energy prices remain a major burden, with Middle East developments fuelling market uncertainty. Risks to international transport and supply chains persist, and German rubber companies are closely watching potential impacts on raw material availability and global logistics flows.

Berthel warned that firms face mounting pressure from high costs, geopolitical instability and structural disadvantages in Germany, with no short-term relief in sight. The industry depends heavily on fair and reliable partnerships across the value chain, as processing companies alone cannot absorb the current strain. He called for fair solutions and a shared understanding of this exceptional situation.

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The Rubber Board of India has confirmed the continuation of all existing central sector schemes for the 2026-27 fiscal year at unchanged rates. Financial aid for new planting will be restricted to estates utilising poly bag or root trainer plants sourced solely from Board-approved nurseries, with applicants required to submit the original purchase bill. This mandatory verification step aims to ensure quality and authenticity of planting materials used across the sector.

Support for rain guarding and spraying operations will be channelled exclusively through Rubber Producers’ Societies. These societies must include GST bills for all acquired materials when applying. The official timeline for submitting applications will be announced separately by the Board, giving producers adequate time to prepare documentation and coordinate with their respective societies before the deadline.

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The Rubber Board of India has announced a temporary engagement for a young professional within its Market Promotion Division, located at the RRII campus in Puthuppally, Kottayam. The selected individual will assist with division activities and promote ‘mRube’, the electronic trading platform for natural rubber.

Candidates must hold an MBA in Marketing or Agri Business Management with computer knowledge, while skills in digital marketing, sales or market research and proficiency in English and Hindi are preferred. Applicants aged up to 30 years as of 1 May 2026, will be considered for the one-year role, which offers a consolidated monthly pay of INR 25,000.

Interested individuals should send their applications to the Deputy Director (Marketing) at the Central Laboratory Building, RRII, Rubber Board PO, Kottayam – 686009 by 19 May 2026. Shortlisted names will appear on the Rubber Board’s website with interview details, as no separate communication will be sent.

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Bekaert has officially finalised its acquisition of Bridgestone’s tyre reinforcement operations in China and Thailand, after securing all necessary regulatory approvals and meeting standard closing conditions. The deal, now fully completed, marks a significant step in the Belgian company’s expansion strategy.

The transaction brings under Bekaert’s control two production facilities: Bridgestone (Shenyang) Steel Cord Co., Ltd. in China and Bridgestone Metalfa (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Thailand. These plants specialise in manufacturing high-quality tyre cord products exclusively for Bridgestone tyres, and they will continue to supply Bridgestone under the new ownership, further deepening the longstanding partnership between the two firms.

Financially, the acquisition is expected to add roughly EUR 80 million to Bekaert’s annual consolidated sales. The EUR 60 million cash consideration for the deal was funded from the company’s available cash reserves.

Curd Vandekerckhove, CEO Rubber Reinforcement, said, “With the completion of this acquisition within our Rubber Reinforcement division, we are pleased to officially welcome the plant teams in China and Thailand to Bekaert. Our immediate focus is on a smooth transition and operational continuity while continuing to serve Bridgestone as a key strategic partner. The completion of the acquisition further strengthens the position of Bekaert in the tyre cord market, expands the global manufacturing footprint and deepens our longstanding partnership with Bridgestone. A long-term supply agreement ensures continued delivery of high-quality tyre reinforcement within a trusted supplier model.”

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