Nokian Tyres created a tire with a material made from birch bark residues

Nokian Tyres introduced the Betula concept tire, which for the first time used a material based on birch bark. It was developed by the Swedish company Reselo, using waste from the pulp and paper and plywood industries.

What's Known

The share of recycled and renewable materials in the tread of the concept tire reached 93%. Betula has the same tread pattern as the non-studded winter tire Hakkapeliitta R5. It has already been tested at the company's proving grounds in Ivalo and Nokia (Finland). Nokian Tyres notes that the new material can improve not only the environmental characteristics but also the consumer properties of the tires.

The cooperation between Nokian Tyres and Reselo began in 2023, when Reselo won the Nokian sustainable tire innovations contest. In 2024, the companies signed an agreement for joint development. The project aligns with Nokian Tyres' strategic goal to increase the share of recycled and renewable materials in tires to 50% by 2030.

Concept tires play an important role in the development of new products, allowing for the testing of materials, technologies, and engineering solutions before serial production. For instance, in 2022, Nokian Tyres showcased the Green Step concept with a 93% share of recycled and renewable materials, and in 2024, introduced the Green Step Ligna with a lignin-based alternative to technical carbon. The all-season serial tire Seasonproof 2, launched in Central European markets in 2025, became significant for the company—up to 38% of its composition consists of recycled and renewable materials.

Source: Nokian Tyres