Versalis and Pirelli together for green tyres

Versalis and Pirelli signed a memorandum of understanding on March 19 to implement a joint research project to develop the use of natural guayule-based rubber for tyre production. The terms of the agreement provide that Versalis will supply various types of natural rubber obtained from guayule to Pirelli for the next three years. Pirelli will test the various types of rubber in the production of tyres. The natural rubber provided by Versalis supplements the synthetic rubber that Pirelli has long used in its production processes.
This agreement follows upon the recent partnership initiated between Versalis and the Yulex Corporation of the United States for the cultivation of guayule and the construction of a plant in southern Europe for its use in the production of natural rubber. Guayule is a shrub cultivated for non-food purposes. It requires little water and no pesticides and can be used as an alternate source of latex that is also hypoallergenic, unlike the more common Hevea rubber.
These efforts reflect the commitment of Versalis, headquartered in San Donato Milanese (Milan), to develop renewable resources in the chemical industry. One of the strategic objectives is the integration of products made with innovative materials into the range of products made using fossil resources, especially in the elastomer segment. The tyre producer Pirelli, which already uses raw materials deriving from rice chaff, is expanding and supplementing its efforts in researching and developing innovative materials from renewable resources with the objective of achieving ever more significant reductions in the use of petroleum derivatives, while increasing the performance and environmental sustainability of its products and production processes.
"This new collaborative venture between Versalis and Pirelli is the natural continuation of a process for the development of applied technologies in the tyre industry aimed at improving performance and saving energy. Both companies are unrivalled top players in the international arena in their respective markets and represent a model for commitment to research, also applied to 'green' products and processes," stated Daniele Ferrari, CEO of Versalis.
Maurizio Boiocchi, Chief Technical Officer of Pirelli adds that "Pirelli has always been focused on the development of innovative solutions for sustainable mobility, which means safety and respect for the environment. In this sense, research into raw materials derived from renewable sources is fundamental, and is an area of activity in which we are a world leader in our market. We have dedicated our research capabilities to the project for developing natural rubber from guayule, affirming the strategic importance of a partner such as Versalis."