Swedish Innovation in Renewable Tyre Materials Highlights Sustainable Industry Growth

Swedish startup Reselo and Nokian Tyres develop a birch bark-based renewable tire, marking an industry first, while experts emphasize integrating green investments with defense for national resilience.

    Key details

  • • Reselo and Nokian Tyres launched Betula, a tire with 93% renewable materials from birch bark.
  • • Nokian Tyres aims for 50% renewable or recycled materials in products by 2035.
  • • Reselo collaborates with Volvo Group and Polestar on future vehicle applications.
  • • Experts stress integrating climate investments with defense to enhance Sweden’s resilience.

Swedish startup Reselo has pioneered a breakthrough in sustainable materials by developing biogummi made from birch bark, a waste product of the forestry industry. This innovation avoids deforestation and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. After years of collaboration, Reselo and Nokian Tyres have launched Betula, a concept tire comprising 93% renewable materials derived from byproducts of pulp, paper, and plywood industries—a first in tire manufacturing. Nokian Tyres has successfully tested Betula in Finland and Sweden, demonstrating promising performance and environmental benefits.

Josefin Larsson, Reselo's co-founder, emphasized the importance of real-world testing, highlighting potential applications beyond tires. Nokian Tyres aims to incorporate 50% renewable or recycled materials by 2035, roughly 30,000 tons yearly, viewing Reselo’s technology as instrumental to meet these goals. Meanwhile, Reselo is exploring collaborations with major automotive manufacturers such as Volvo Group and Polestar to integrate birch rubber in future vehicle production.

In a related context, tech investor Aurore Belfrage and security expert Florian Krampe underscored the importance of integrating green investments with defense enhancements to ensure Sweden's resilience and innovation competitiveness. They warn that separating climate strategies from defense efforts threatens national security.

Together, these developments signify Sweden's strategic push toward sustainability in industry and defense, leveraging innovative renewable materials and holistic resilience approaches.

This article was translated and synthesized from Swedish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

Source comparison

The key details of this story are consistent across the source articles

The top news stories in Sweden

Delivered straight to your inbox each morning.