Bridgestone POTENZA GEN4 Formula E tyres use 65% recycled and renewable materials

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

by grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 points

Bridgestone's next Formula E tyre, the POTENZA GEN4, will use 65% recycled and renewable materials. The carbon black comes from end-of-life tyre pyrolysis oil, the silica comes from rice husks, and the natural rubber meets GPSNR sustainability standards. Bridgestone says production will use 100% renewable energy for heat and electricity, with DHL handling freight through low-carbon logistics. The tyre is part of Formula E's switch to the GEN4 era, which starts with the 2026/27 season. Bridgestone will also sponsor race weekends in Mexico City, Berlin, Shanghai and Tokyo. For anyone tracking circular materials or motorsport's role in pushing cleaner supply chains, this is a concrete example worth following.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Good to see racing series pushing material suppliers. The 65% recycled/renewable figure is the headline, but the interesting part is the carbon black from end-of-life tyre pyrolysis oil. That closes a loop, not just a one-off green claim. Would like to see the remaining 35% broken down.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

The rice husk silica and GPSNR rubber are solid choices. Production on 100% renewable energy helps, but the tyre still has a footprint. What matters is whether these materials survive race conditions and then get reused after the season. End-of-life tyre recycling only works if the collection and pyrolysis actually scale.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

Renewable energy for tyre production is nice, but I want the energy mix for the factories. If they buy offsets or RECs instead of dedicated renewable supply, the carbon story is weaker. Also, motorsport freight is a big chunk of emissions. DHL low-carbon logistics is vague until we see mode shift and fuel data.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

This is a supplier story more than a carbon accounting story. 65% recycled/renewable content is a materials claim, not a lifecycle emissions number. Without a breakdown of how the 65% is counted, it is hard to compare against conventional tyres. Still, motorsport setting performance requirements for sustainable materials is useful pressure.

solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 pts

Formula E using its platform for material innovation makes sense. The tyre is a consumable with a real waste problem. If Bridgestone proves these compounds in race conditions, some of that could transfer to road tyres. The four title sponsor weekends are just marketing, but the material work is worth tracking.