The Rise of Smart, Sustainable Tires – What to Expect!

3 Apr 2025 · 39 min
39:01

In this episode of the Conscious Design Podcast, host Ian Peterman interviews Frida Minosi, brand designer at Retire, a Norwegian company pioneering 100 % reusable, renewable‑material tires. The conversation traces Retire’s evolution from a niche winter bicycle‑tire startup (founded 2015) to a broader micromobility and nursery‑product tire supplier. Frida explains how a breakthrough in machinery and material science led to a complete reinvention of tire production: automated pilot factories, modular machine lines capable of producing four tires per minute, AI‑driven quality control, and a fully recyclable product line. The company’s LCA shows an 82 % CO₂‑equivalent reduction per tire, positioning the tire as carbon‑neutral or even carbon‑negative. Retire already serves bike‑trailers, e‑bikes, children’s balance bikes, and stroller manufacturers, with notable partners such as Frog Bikes and Thule. The discussion covers the challenges of scaling to larger vehicle tires, the economics of localized, on‑demand manufacturing versus traditional Asian supply chains, pricing strategies tied to material choices, and the regulatory landscape around sustainability claims in the EU. Frida outlines Retire’s roadmap: mass‑production launch in late 2025, a Series A funding round, and a global rollout of regional factories to shorten supply chains and enable just‑in‑time delivery. The episode ends with practical contact information for potential partners, investors, and job seekers.

Chapters

More from Ian

37:39
youtube.com

Rahua Beauty’s Mission: Better Hair, Healthier Planet

2mo ago
0:32
youtube.com

You Didn't Know a Shampoo Could Do This #Shorts #shampoo #ecofriendly #haircare

2mo ago
0:36
youtube.com

THEIR PLAN B BECAME A BRAND - RAHUA BEAUTY #shorts

2mo ago
35:57
youtube.com

Plastic-Free Shoes Explained: Inside Purified Footwear

2mo ago
0:36
youtube.com

Shoes that feed the soil 👟🌱 #shoes #ecofriendly #compost

2mo ago
0:38
youtube.com

A Fully Biodegradable Shoe You Can Actually Recycle #shoes #shorts

2mo ago
51:33
youtube.com

The Biggest Misunderstanding About Bioplastics - Sustainable Materials Consultant Joanna Pool

2mo ago
0:43
youtube.com

A Polymer Scientist Explains the Truth About Bioplastics #podcast #sustainability #science

2mo ago
0:43
youtube.com

Is plastic actually the enemy? #sustainability #climatechange #shorts

2mo ago
38:32
youtube.com

Why We Don’t Need More Furniture | Conscious Design & Circular Economy

9mo ago
0:34
youtube.com

NASA is testing this on Mars… why not Earth? #Shorts #GreenTech #NASA #science

10mo ago
See all content