The Global Polymer Summit (GPS) has announced a dedicated Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) Symposium to be held during the event September 28-30, 2026 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, bringing together leaders from across the tire recycling, materials, rubber, plastics, and sustainability value chains.

The symposium will focus on the technical and commercial progress of tire pyrolysis and its products including recovered carbon black, a critical circular material derived from end-of-life tires and increasingly adopted in rubber compounds, plastics, inks, coatings, and construction materials. The event will also include tire pyrolysis oils as successful commercialization of TPO is critical to the health of the tire pyrolysis industry.

Chaired by Dave Abdallah of Abdallah Consulting, the symposium is intended to serve as a forum for open technical and commercial dialogue across producers, compounders, researchers, equipment suppliers, and policymakers. Although the symposium’s focus is on rCB growth, topics related to TPO are also welcome.

“Some format changes are planned for GPS this year that makes the symposium sessions much easier to attend,” said Abdallah. “The Smithers rCB Europe Conference is well done and highly attended. We are hoping to create a similarly valuable experience more accessible for the Americas. Creating this symposium within the GPS gives operators an opportunity to network with potential rCB and TPO customers already attending the event regularly.”

Leading tire recycling consulting company Weibold supports the symposium and will share event-related updates through its website and newsletter as further details are announced, in addition to contributing to the program with a presentation.

“The Recovered Carbon Black Symposium is well-timed given the investment and momentum rCB is seeing across North America,” said Bolder Industries CEO Tony Wibbeler. “It’s exciting to be part of an event that brings the right technical and commercial leaders together to accelerate adoption and unlock the next phase of growth for the industry.”

Symposium themes will include:

The Symposium will feature industry-related presentations. The planning committee will also organize a panel discussion with industry experts with a topic that will be announced at a later date.

Call for Participation

“So far, we have been able to attract 20 committed presenters via direct outreach. But I don’t know everyone in the industry, and we want to add as much engaging content as possible,” added Abdallah. Any person or organization interested in presenting or participating is encouraged to engage now as programming is in the early stages of development. They can reach out directly to dave@abdallah-consulting.com.

The Global Polymer Summit attracts a broad international audience from the polymer, rubber, recycling, and advanced materials sectors, making it a premier venue for advancing collaboration around recovered carbon black.

Important dates

Global Polymer Summit – September 28-30, 2026; Abstract Deadline – May 31, 2026.

About the Global Polymer Summit

Formed in 2025 by the powerful merger of the Rubber Division, ACS International Elastomer Conference (IEC) and the Rubber News International Tire Exposition & Conference (ITEC), the Global Polymer Summit brings together the best companies, the brightest minds and the most influential buyers all in one place. It is designed for professionals in the rubber, tire, elastomer and polymer industries, including manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, engineers and anyone with an interest in the latest innovations and trends in these sectors.