News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Developed in collaboration with the event advisory board, this year's agenda covers key topics shaping the recovered carbon black industry, including applications, commercial opportunities, technological innovations, tire pyrolysis oil (TPO), and quality consistency in rCB production.

As one of the leading carbon black producers in the world, Birla Carbon supports a broad range of industries that rely on carbon black as a critical performance material, including tires, rubber, mechanical rubber goods, and specialty applications. Through its regional manufacturing footprint, global network of technical and innovation resources, and extensive portfolio of solutions – including BC grades, Raven™ and Conductex™ carbon blacks, Continua™ SCM, and Nanocyl™ carbon nanotubes – the company delivers products tailored to local market and application requirements while maintaining the quality, consistency, and performance standards expected by customers worldwide.

The project is being carried out with the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority and sustainability consultancy ERM at the Valenton wastewater treatment plant near Paris, France. TIP said the study will run through 2026 at Valenton, which is the second-largest wastewater treatment plant in Europe and is considered broadly representative of modern municipal wastewater treatment facilities.

The project includes two main workstreams. These focus on developing technologies to produce premium recycled feedstock from waste tires and establishing tire manufacturing technologies that use sustainable materials. Hankook Tire said the project expands its existing Tire-to-Tire circular economy activities, which began with the launch of an industry-led consortium in Korea in 2023.

Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB has received notice from Infiniteria Europe Sàrl that Infiniteria intends to initiate a declaratory action against the company before the Swedish Patent and Market Court. The action concerns the exclusivity of Infiniteria’s license to Enviro’s patented pyrolysis technology for tire recycling in Europe.

ommittee D36 presented awards to John Bailey, Ludovic Moulin, Joseph Hallett, Jorge Lacayo and Pieter ter Haar. The awards recognized their work, technical expertise and participation in the standards development process for recovered carbon black, also known as rCB, and related materials such as tire pyrolysis oil.

The report focuses on the willingness to act on long-term beliefs in a mature industry that is preparing for its next stage of development. It presents tire recycling as a sector where new perspectives can help identify value in materials that are often seen as limited or difficult to use.

Tire recyclers in Europe are calling on EU policymakers to introduce ecodesign requirements that improve tire recyclability, support demand for recycled rubber and increase transparency across the value chain. The proposals were outlined by Recycling Europe Tyres in a position paper published on May 18, as the EU prepares future product rules under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

The latest Top 10 Elastomers for Sustainability ranking has added three new projects focused on improving the environmental profile of the rubber, elastomers and tire industries. The Elastomers for Sustainability, or E4S, ranking tracks materials-science and related developments that could support sustainability, recycling and circular economy goals in the global rubber sector.