“This is what our job at R&D is about—to look 10 years ahead,” explains Martin Bellander, technical manager and an expert in rubber materials at Scania R&D. “When we saw a fully bio-based polymer like this, made from renewable waste and showing promising properties, we knew we had to explore it.” 

Scania has begun testing the new material’s properties, including temperature resistance, chemical durability and sealing performance. For testing, the truck-maker has created two prototype parts: a rubber seal for cables and holes, and a small rubber mat for the cup holder in the cab.

Rubber may not be the biggest emissions driver in truck production—steel, aluminum and batteries have a larger footprint—but it’s still part of the equation. “If the material performs well, there’s a clear opportunity to use it in a wide range of rubber components,” says Jonas Gustafsson, senior venture collaboration manager at Scania R&D. “And it’s locally sourced from a renewable stream, which perfectly aligns with our sustainability strategy.”

“To decarbonize a truck, you need to look at every single part,” adds Bellander. “And sometimes the biggest shifts start with the smallest details.”

Scania aims to cut its direct and indirect carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2025, compared to 2015 levels. An additional 50 percent reduction is targeted between 2022 and 2032. By 2030, all steel, battery and cast iron purchases for Scania’s European operations must come from green sources.