March 9, 2012
Bridgestone Targets Guayule Shrub as Rubber Source
Bridgestone Group is to conduct research dedicated to developing the guayule shrub as a commercially viable, renewable source of high-quality natural rubber for the company’s tires.
If successful, guayule (pictured), pronounced “why-u-lee,” would become an alternative source of rubber to the hevea tree.
Natural rubber from the bark and roots of guayule has almost identical qualities to rubber harvested from hevea trees, which is currently the primary source for the natural rubber used in tires, Bridgestone says.
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations is seeking land on which to conduct the project. The company expects to finalize a location, establish the research farm and begin construction on the process research center later in 2012. The facility is expected to be fully operational in 2014. Trial rubber production should start in 2015.
Bridgestone expects demand for tires to increase in the near-to-long-term. The group is also working to develop tires using 100 percent sustainable materials.
In September, Bridgestone announced that it had received ISO:14001 certification for all of its European tire plants.
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Reader Comments
Currently consult guayule and harvest guayule. Am interested in connecting with Bridgestones guayule venture.
Dallas Jacobson | June 11th, 2012
Hello, Iam interested if possible, in working in the guayule proyect. I have experience in growing guayule seedlings for transplant production males and females, for the Arizona desert. I used to work for a Southern Arizona vegetable transplant company and have experience of 6 years doing research for this crop (diseases,pests, nutrition, germination etc.) and I like to know if I can work for the company to take care of seedling production or as an Advisor.(Ag. Engineer)
Enrique Yescas | June 19th, 2012
Hello, Is the land you look for needed in the USA or can it be also in a African country! Ofcorse the land i have for you is fit for growing guayule! Best regards, Ger
Ger Bal | July 17th, 2012