Premium markets will drive demand for sustainable rubber, while commercial commodity applications will continue to support consumption of conventional material, Polish synthetic rubber producer Synthos said.
Synthos listed high-performance tyres and premium footwear as applications that are likely to drive demand for bio-butadiene.
"The interest in sustainable rubber comes from performance-driven markets that need to offer more sustainable options due to consumer demand or regulatory requirements," Synthos said.
Synthos and US-based petrochemical technology provider Lummus Technology said this month that they will work together to design a 40,000 t/yr bio-butadiene plant, twice the size initially considered in 2021 when the Polish firm asked Lummus to conduct a feasibility study of the project. Construction will begin in 2023.
There is an option to expand beyond the initial 40,000 t/yr capacity, but the company did not provide a potential timetable for development.
"We believe we have the opportunity to introduce sustainable rubber in applications other than green tyres or premium footwear, but this will take time," Synthos said.
The location of the plant has not been confirmed. Synthos has a main production site in Oswiecim, southern Poland, where the company can produce up to 150,000 t/yr of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber (eSBR), 60,000 t/yr of solution SBR and 30,000 t/yr of polybutadiene rubber (PBR).
Synthos in 2021 acquired global polystyrene producer Trinseo's 130,000 t/yr eSBR and 200,000 t/yr [solution emulsion styrene butadiene rubber asset in Schkopau, Germany](https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2217601). The Polish firm also has production facilities in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Synthos said it expects demand for conventional butadiene to remain strong — particularly in commercial commodity markets — despite a shift to sustainable material. Last year, the firm announced a plan to build a 120,000 t/yr conventional butadiene extraction unit, which is scheduled to start production in 2024. This is three times the capacity of the Plock bio-butadiene facility, where Polish state-controlled company PKN Orlen operates a 325,000 b/d refinery and an integrated petrochemical plant. The butadiene extraction unit is scheduled to start production in 2024.
Global tyre manufacturers have announced green initiatives, with 11 of the largest tyre makers forming the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's (WBCSD) Tyre Industry Project. TIP initiated sustainable development goals that will assess sustainability progress by 2023 and intends to issue a status report by 2026. Some tyre producers have announced further measures.
TIP member Michelin in late 2021 made a commitment to achieve on average 40pc sustainable materials in its tyres by 2030 and 100pc by 2050. The French company said it will incorporate bio-sourced or recycled materials, including natural rubber, bio-sourced resins, recycled plastic and other materials.
