Michelin is constructing the world’s largest production facility for 5-HMF, a bio-based and non-toxic molecule that could replace fossil-derived materials in a wide range of industries. The €60 million project, partly backed by French and European funding, will launch in 2026 and marks a significant step towards the industrialisation of sustainable alternatives in polymer chemistry.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is derived from fructose through green chemistry processes. It serves as a platform molecule — meaning it can be converted into multiple other compounds — and has the potential to replace petrochemical ingredients in adhesives, coatings, and composite materials.
Already utilised in Michelin’s ResiCare resins for non-tyre applications, 5-HMF allows for the formulation of adhesives without harmful substances such as formaldehyde and resorcinol. By scaling up production, Michelin aims to reduce costs and enable broader industrial use across sectors such as construction, transport, electronics, and agriculture.
The launch of this initial unit in France, to produce a bio-sourced molecule essential for green chemistry, is a major milestone for taking Resicare’s activities to an industrial scale. Created at Michelin in 2016, this start-up at the cutting edge of innovation will be able to speed up the development of its high-performance and non-toxic resin offers for manufacturers. This new demonstration of the Group’s innovative power, the fruit of years of joint research with our partners, also heralds the creation of a new European industry.
Maude PortigliattiDirector of the Polymer Composite Solutions division at Michelin and a Member of the Group’s Executive Committee.
The new site, located at the Osiris chemical platform in Péage-en-Roussillon, France, will produce up to 3,000 metric tons annually — the largest output of 5-HMF globally.
Backed by France’s ADEME and the European Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), the CERISEA project represents Michelin’s transition from lab-scale innovation to commercial viability. Future expansion plans include licensing 20,000-tonne units across Europe, aiming to serve a projected 40,000-tonne market by 2030.
Michelin began its journey with alternative resin ingredients in 2008 and incorporated 5-HMF into ResiCare formulations by 2016. While not yet used in tyres, 5-HMF is present in current ResiCare applications, including plyboard, abrasives, and moulded parts.
The 2026 facility will secure supply for ResiCare and support Michelin’s broader ambitions in composite material development. The molecule’s industrial availability is expected to catalyse the growth of a European green chemistry ecosystem, reducing reliance on Asia-based supply chains.
Michelin’s investment in large-scale 5-HMF production highlights the tyre industry’s expanding role in sustainable materials science. While rooted in tyre adhesive innovation, the move reflects a strategic pivot toward bio-based chemistry that could influence multiple manufacturing sectors. As the industry pursues safer, greener compounds, this project signals the potential for tyre R&D to catalyse broader industrial transformations.
Tagged with: 5-HMF, bio-based resins, Michelin ResiCare, green chemistry, sustainable materials, tyre adhesives, non-toxic polymers, industrial biochemistry, tyre industry innovation, composite materials
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