Goodyear, Visolis partner for bio-based isoprene

AKRON —Goodyear has struck a deal with Visolis Inc., Hayward, Calif.-based company that uses synthetic biology to manufacture high-performance, carbon-negative materials, to supply it with bio-based isoprene, a building block for polyisoprene, a polymer used in tire manufacturing.

"We believe that innovation and collaboration is key to making progress along our sustainability journey and helping us achieve our goals, including net-zero value chain emissions by 2050," Chris Helsel, senior vice president for global operations and chief technology officer for Goodyear, said.

"By working with companies like Visolis, we are able to continue to learn, innovate and help build a better future."

Isoprene typically is formed from the refinement of crude oil, then a catalyst is added to form polyisoprene. However, Visolis uses proprietary technology to generate isoprene from bio-waste, such as "lignocellulosic" feedstocks.

These non-edible biomass and agricultural materials have the potential to greatly reduce the traditional carbon production footprint for isoprene, according to Visolis.

"We are excited to collaborate with Goodyear and leverage our revolutionary technology to transform waste materials into valuable monomers," Visolis CEO Deepak Dugar said.

"This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainable practices and the development of advanced materials that drive positive change."

Goodyear and Visolis will use money that Visolis received earlier this year through a Small Business Innovation Research grant.

Among Visolis' other partnerships are Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Nikko Chemicals, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The company works in developing zero-carbon, drop-in replacement materials for the personal care, cosmetics, apparel, aviation and transportation markets.

Visolis' products are based on concepts contained in biology and chemistry, whereby Visolis uses the most efficient system possible to develop a sustainable platform molecule.

After the bio-based platform molecule is produced, the company can use chemistry to make whatever material might be needed for a desired application.

Visolis had raised more than $8 million for its decarbonized ventures as of January, according to a Jan. 23 article in Forbes.com.

Goodyear has seen several sustainability breakthroughs in the last year itself, not the least of which was its 90% sustainable rubber tire. The company has said it plans to commercialize and sell a 70% sustainable-materials tire by year-end.

Goodyear is not alone in the pursuit of finding ways to reduce the use of petrochemical-based raw materials. 

Michelin set up a collaborative project in 2014 with two feedstock suppliers to research sustainable sources for isoprene, and Bridgestone Corp. said in 2017 it is pursuing improving the performance characteristis of synthetic polyisoprene through polymer science.

Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. reported in 2015 it was working with Japanese elastomer producer Zeon Corp. on methods to synthesize isoprene from biomass.