Rubber

Rubber, a versatile material renowned for its elasticity and durability, is divided into four distinct categories based on particle size: Rough Cut, Fine Cut, Granulate, and Powder. Each category offers unique characteristics and applications, catering to a wide range of industries and specific project requirements.

Tyre manufacture accounts for 70% of the world production of natural rubber. Global natural rubber demand is expected to rise from 12.5 million tonnes in 2016 to 17 million tonnes by 2025 largely driven by demand from tyre makers in emerging market countries and increased wear from electrification of the automotive industry. Industry players are developing alternative plant-based sources of natural rubber to relieve pressure on supplies from rainforest plantations of the hevea tree as global demand for tyres increases. Truck tyres contain typically 30% natural rubber, car tyres about 15%. Intensive research over many decades has not been able to identify an alternative synthetic material for heavy load-bearing tyres. A truck tyre typically requires 20 – 25kg of natural rubber which will need 200 – 250 m2 of cultivated land to produce. The EU has listed natural rubber as a Critical Raw Material. This reflects the combination of high importance to the economy and high risk associated with supply.

Our key driver at Bon Orbit is to increase the usage and life span of the material used in the tyre manufacturing process through a meticulous recovery and recycling process. Our aim is to extend the life span from current 4-6 years to 15-20 years before the inevitable energy recovery. Through this life extension and replacement of materials in other products we are committed to building a sustainable world.

The industry is at large aware of the multiple challenges facing the natural rubber supply chain and committed to supporting sustainable initiatives. The tyre manufacturers therefore joined other stakeholders in 2018 and created the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (https://sustainablenaturalrubber.org/). The GPSNR is working to harmonize standards to improve respect for human rights, prevent land-grabbing and deforestation, protect biodiversity and water resources, improve yields, and increase supply chain transparency and traceability.