Origin Materials, a carbon-negative materials manufacturer, has partnered with Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings (MCHG), a leading chemicals and advanced materials producer in Japan, to develop tire materials using the former’s bio-based resins.

The partnership includes a joint development agreement (JDA) between Origin Materials and the Carbon Materials division of MCHG. Origin’s hydrothermal carbon (HTC) will be used by MCHG to produce high-performance bio-based analogs of specialty carbon-black materials (used in reinforcing tires) using the latter’s proprietary conversion process. 

The bio-based carbon-black analogs will also be tested and developed by one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers (name undisclosed). Tires made using this material would have a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional tires that are made using fossil fuel-based carbon material.