Bridgestone hopeful new technology boosts alternative natural rubber supply

TOKYO — Bridgestone Corp. hopes new technology it's developed with Japanese beverage producer Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. will boost production of latex from the guayule shrub, one of the alternatives to natural rubber it's pursuing.

The project combines Kirin research into biotechnologies with Bridgestone's guayule cultivation expertise to deliver large-scale propagation of guayule plants from high-quality seeds. With this innovation, Bridgestone aims to increase the productivity of guayule farms and advance sustainable materials for tires through the diversification of the world's natural rubber supply.

Natural rubber production is concentrated in Asia and Africa, but the guayule shrub is native to Southwest America and Mexico, making it a candidate for the supply of latex in North America. There is precedence for U.S. natural rubber production as America cultivated the crop during World War II when Japan had a stronghold on Asian sources of rubber.

The new technology developed by Bridgestone will be field tested on guayule seedlings grown at Bridgestone's 287-acre Agro Operations Research Farm in Eloy, Ariz.

The technology also could be used in the guayule-breeding process to "rapidly increase a desired genotype for testing and production," the company said.

Bridgestone has evaluated the use of guayule as an alternative to natural rubber as far back as 1988, but has been working seriously on guayule research and development since 2012. Along with the farm, the company also operates the Biorubber Process Research Center in Mesa, Ariz. That's where guayule-derived natural rubber is processed and tested in tire applications.

"Utilizing the Kirin Holdings' world-class biotechnology, we will develop the technology for propagating massive stable quality guayule for practical use," Bridgestone said.

Bridgestone did not elaborate on what specific technology from Kirin it's using. Kirin Holdings is active in beer, spirits, non-alcoholic beverages and pharmaceuticals.