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.”

Birla Carbon Spain has been awarded a EUR 2 million grant by the Society for Regional Development of Cantabria S.A. (SODERCAN), a public entity of the Government of Cantabria, to advance an energy autonomy initiative at its Cantabria plant. The funding announcement was made in late February during a visit attended by María José Sáenz de Buruaga, President of Cantabria; Eduardo Arasti, Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation, and Trade of Cantabria and Ángel Pedraja, CEO of SODERCAN. The grant forms part of a broader investment project by Birla Carbon Spain aimed at strengthening energy self-sufficiency at the facility.

The funding will support the installation of a 4 MW back-pressure steam turbine at the Cantabria unit, enabling it to generate electricity and steam internally for operations. When completed, the project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions annually while also decreasing reliance on water from the Miera River for cooling purposes and reducing process water discharge. Beyond these environmental benefits, the investment will help safeguard nearly 200 direct and indirect jobs associated with the facility, reinforcing the company's commitment to both sustainability and regional economic stability.

During the visit, President María José Sáenz de Buruaga was briefed on the technical and environmental aspects of the project and described it as a collective success. She recognised Birla Carbon Spain's strategic role in the regional industrial ecosystem and its position as a benchmark for innovation in Europe. The initiative represents a significant step towards sustainable manufacturing practices while demonstrating the company's dedication to long-term operational viability and environmental stewardship in Cantabria.

Dale Clark, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Americas & EMEA, Birla Carbon, said, “We were honoured to welcome the President of Cantabria, the Minister of Employment, Innovation and Trade of Cantabria and the CEO of SODERCAN to our Cantabria plant. Their support reflects the strategic importance of our operations to the region and the industries we serve with our carbon black solutions. The steam turbine will be key in helping the plant achieve energy autonomy, reducing our carbon footprint and strengthening long-term operational resilience. At Birla Carbon, we also remain continuously focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing water consumption and advancing sustainable manufacturing practices across our global operations.”

María José Sáenz de Buruaga, President of Cantabria, said, “With this contribution, not only does Birla Carbon win, but Cantabria wins too, because we are making decisive progress in the transformation of our production model and in our commitment to industrialisation.”

Flexsys, a global leader in advanced tyre additives and material-science solutions, has been honoured with the Chemical and Compounding Innovation of the Year Award at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence. This recognition celebrates the company’s progress in creating a novel alternative to 6PPD for tyre manufacturing.

Driven by a significant challenge within the tyre industry, Flexsys’s dedicated research and development team, alongside respected federal and independent laboratories, pursued the creation of a next-generation replacement for 6PPD. Their investigation spanned hundreds of molecules from various chemical families, ultimately identifying several promising candidates that satisfy the stringent criteria for both tyre efficacy and environmental safety. Extensive laboratory testing, conducted both internally and by external parties, has confirmed that one of these candidates delivers robust antidegradant qualities while presenting a favourable toxicological profile. Significantly, this effective molecule is not a PPD chemical. Currently, performance trials are in progress with selected industrial collaborators, with further information regarding the specific molecule anticipated later this year.

The award itself is determined by a completely autonomous international jury composed of journalists and industry specialists. It is coordinated by Tire Technology International magazine, a publication owned by UKi Media & Events, which also organises the renowned Tire Technology Expo.

Neil Smith, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, said, “We are honoured to receive this industry recognition for our work, which reflects our commitment to delivering solutions that meet demanding performance requirements while advancing environmental responsibility. I’m incredibly proud of the Flexsys R&D team whose dedication and scientific rigor has allowed us to achieve this recognition. We believe collaboration across the tyre and materials ecosystem is essential to developing durable, scalable solutions for the industry and look forward to continuing this journey together.”

Matt Ross, Editor-In-Chief, Tire Technology International magazine, said, “The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence are recognised as the industry’s top accolades and aim to celebrate the best new technologies and innovations from all over the world. On behalf of all of the judges, we extend our congratulation to the Flexsys team on this win and their work to find a replacement for 6PPD in tyres.”

Pyrum Innovations AG has announced an immediate update to the nomenclature of its recycled material outputs as part of a strategic effort to reinforce its brand identity and underscore the distinctiveness of its offerings. The company’s thermolysis oil, formerly referred to as recycled oil, will now be designated TTO (ThermoTireOil). Similarly, what was previously known as recovered Carbon Black (rCB) will adopt the new name TTB (ThermoTireBlack).

This decision stems from inconsistencies observed across the broader market for recycled commodities. Materials sold under generic labels such as rCB or pyrolysis oil often vary significantly in composition, largely because they may contain residual additives or lack standardisation. In the case of rCB, for instance, the presence of inorganic elements from tyres can lead to blends that are unsuitable for certain high-performance applications. Pyrum’s output, by contrast, is produced through its patented thermolysis technology, which yields materials with a consistent and well-defined makeup. The new names are intended to reflect this precision and set them apart from less uniform alternatives.

The underlying production process remains centred on breaking down end-of-life tyres into their constituent elements. TTB has already entered series manufacturing in the tyre industry and is gaining recognition for use in products such as conveyor belts, seals, and protective coatings. TTO, meanwhile, functions as a renewable input for polymers used in clothing, automotive components and food-safe packaging.

Rollout of the new terminology begins at once and will be phased into all technical records, official certifications and customer communications. Although the labelling is new, the formulations and quality levels of the products themselves are unchanged.

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “Our products are the result of years of development and intensive research. With the new designations TTO and TTB for our oil and our rCB, we make it clear that these are unique materials obtained from our unique thermolysis process.”

KRAIBURG TPE has earned gold medal from EcoVadis for the second consecutive year. This recognition reflects the performance of the company’s entire global operations, which collectively achieved this distinguished honour. The company posted new peak scores across all four evaluation categories, which include environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethical conduct and sustainable sourcing. Ranking in the 98th percentile, KRAIBURG TPE now stands among the top two percent of all companies rated by EcoVadis globally, reinforcing its status as a frontrunner in responsible corporate practices.

Within the plastics sector, sustainability has evolved into a fundamental driver of success. Growing public attention now extends beyond isolated topics, calling instead for businesses to offer clear and reliable sustainability reporting. Measurable indicators that track advancements and allow for objective comparisons across industry peers have thus become indispensable.

Having evaluated over 150,000 businesses, EcoVadis has cemented its role as one of the most trusted frameworks for assessing corporate sustainability. The benchmarks applied by the Paris-based organization across its categories are both rigorous and comprehensive. Given this demanding standard, KRAIBURG TPE’s 2022 achievement of a silver award in its debut year was particularly meaningful.

In 2025, the company reached a new milestone by receiving its first gold medal covering all global facilities, a testament to inter-site collaboration and the dedication of its entire workforce. This distinction was reaffirmed during the scheduled reassessment in January 2026, accompanied by even higher marks in every category. Such ongoing improvement demonstrates the company’s steadfast commitment to advancing its sustainability objectives consistently across international operations.

Oliver Zintner, CEO, KRAIBURG TPE, said, “For us, this second Gold Award is confirmation in many respects of the extraordinary achievements we have made in the field of sustainability in the past years. On the one hand, it demonstrates how strong our position is in international comparison. But above all, the award emphasises how continuously and persistently we pursue our sustainability goals in all categories. Results like that are not at all a matter of course in our competitive environment. They only become possible because our colleagues at all sites worldwide are closely working together in a partnership-based manner.”

Michael Pollmann, Sales & Marketing Director EMEA, said, “In addition to product quality, price and delivery reliability, sustainability criteria are a more and more important factor for our customers’ purchase decisions. The EcoVadis award represents the consistency and transparency with which we implement our sustainability promises. It is a relevant strategic competitive factor and is gaining in importance, particularly in view of increasing legal requirements in fields such as supply chain assessment.”