Michelin accelerates commercial rollout of bio-based 5-HMF with Axens partnership

French tire giant Michelin has entered exclusive talks with engineering group Axens to fast-track the global commercialization of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), a bio-based molecule developed by Michelin’s ResiCare division in collaboration with IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN). The molecule, produced from renewable feedstocks via green chemical processes, serves as a petroleum-derived chemical alternative across multiple industries, including resins, adhesives, polymers, and specialty chemicals. 5-HMF can also be used to manufacture polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a bio-based plastic touted as a sustainable replacement for PET in packaging, bottles, and textile fibers. Michelin’s ResiCare has already integrated the molecule into non-tire adhesive resins for applications such as plywood and abrasives. While 5-HMF is not yet used in Michelin’s tires, the company is exploring its potential in tire-cord adhesive applications. Michelin is constructing a €60 million production facility with an annual capacity of approximately 3 kilotonnes at Peage-de-Roussillon, France, slated to begin operations in early 2027. Under the proposed partnership, Axens will contribute its licensing, engineering, and industrial deployment expertise to scale up the technology globally. Michelin ResiCare CEO Laurent Lemonnier emphasized the molecule’s potential as a “reference platform molecule for sustainable chemistry,” stating that the partnership with Axens will act as a “decisive lever” to meet rising demand for high-performance bio-based solutions.