In the name of fish. Lanxess has developed an eco-friendly tire antioxidant

A few years ago, scientists discovered that the breakdown products of 6PPD, an antioxidant used in nearly all tires—particularly 6PPD-quinone—may be linked to mass die-offs of coho salmon, a species of Pacific salmon, in the United States. Since then, various solutions have been proposed, and Lanxess may now offer one by announcing the development of an environmentally friendly alternative to 6PPD.

The company has developed an additive called CCPD (commercial name: Vulkanox 4060). According to Lanxess, environmental studies indicate that its degradation product, CCPD-quinone, does not have any acute adverse effects on coho salmon. At the same time, the new additive matches 6PPD in technical performance while offering a "significantly improved environmental profile." The product has also been registered under the REACH standard and is approved for sale in the European market.

"The development of Vulkanox 4060 is our response to a specific ecotoxicological and regulatory challenge facing the tire industry," said Holger Graf, head of functional tire additives at Lanxess, adding that extensive testing was conducted together with customers prior to market launch.

Commercial production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company emphasizes this as an "important step toward meeting customer demand for 6PPD replacement, especially in the United States and Europe."

6PPD is an antioxidant and antiozonant added to tires to protect against cracking, aging, and degradation.