Orion S.A. has secured a long-term agreement with Polish firm Contec S.A. to supply tyre pyrolysis oil to produce circular carbon black, marking a significant step towards sustainable tyre manufacturing.

The speciality chemicals company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, will use the oil to manufacture circular grades of carbon black for tyre and rubber goods manufacturers.

"With the ConPyro TPO supplied by Contec, Orion will be able to make large-scale volumes of circular grades of carbon black that will supply growing demand from the world's leading tyre and rubber goods producers," Orion CEO Corning Painter said. "This is yet another way that Orion is accelerating the transition to a circular economy."

The process involves exposing end-of-life tyres to high temperatures to create a feedstock that can be converted into virgin carbon black. Orion has distinguished itself as the only manufacturer to produce circular carbon black using 100 percent tyre pyrolysis oil as feedstock.

The Warsaw-based supplier's CEO, Krzysztof Wróblewski, emphasised the partnership's significance: "At Contec, sustainability is one of our core values. This partnership is a clear confirmation to the market that the industry is continuously evolving, and the circular economy is no longer just a vision for the future – thanks to the collaboration with Orion, it is becoming a tangible reality today."

The agreement enables Orion to diversify its sources of tyre pyrolysis oil whilst meeting the increasing demand for sustainable alternatives in tyre manufacturing. The company reports that its circular products have demonstrated the capability to replace virgin carbon black in numerous applications.

WACKER has achieved another milestone in its journey to achieving net zero by signing a long-term contract with Aymium, a Minnesota-based producer of biogenic carbon and biohydrogen products, to procure biogenic carbon. As per the contract, which comes into force after successful completion of the qualification process, Aymium will set up a new manufacturing plant in the south-east of the US dedicated to producing biogenic carbon.

Quartz, or naturally occurring silicon dioxide (SiO2), is transformed into metallurgical-grade silicon in an electric arc furnace at WACKER's facility in Holla, Norway. This chemical process needs carbon as a reducing agent in addition to electrical energy. Hard coal has provided the carbon thus far. Biogenic coal made from approved, renewable source ingredients is currently progressively replacing this. As they grew, the renewables took in CO2 from the environment, which they now release as they make silicon, thus making the entire procedure carbon-neutral.

WACKER Executive Board member Christian Kirsten said, “The agreed volume covers a substantial portion of our total carbon requirements at the Holla site. This is a major step toward climate-neutral silicon production.”

James A Mennell, CEO, Aymium, said, “Aymium is very excited about entering into this agreement and our long-term collaboration with Wacker. Together we will drive the decarbonisation of metallurgical-grade silicon production.”

Datwyler, a leading provider of high-quality, system-critical elastomer component, has joined the Circular Rubber Platform to strengthen its commitment to a more sustainable circular economy in the elastomer industry.

The Circular Rubber Platform unites elastomer firms to promote the use of sustainable materials and creative recycling techniques. The portal has expanded to include three universities and 81 companies since its launch in October 2023. Datwyler is strengthening its commitment to using more sustainable raw materials, whether bio-based or recycled, and reducing its carbon footprint by producing elastomers in a more ecologically friendly manner as a result of its membership.

Datwyler is stepping up its efforts to actively support sustainability in the elastomer sector by joining the Circular Rubber Platform. The business has always been dedicated to social and environmental responsibility, and for the past 17 years, it has been releasing sustainability reports in accordance with the globally accepted Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard. The company's progress in the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) key areas is detailed in the full sustainability report for 2024.

Pyrum Innovations AG is all set to commence construction on a tyre pyrolysis plant in Vřesová, the Czech Republic, in partnership with the SUAS GROUP and Sokolovská uhelná. The construction work will start in the second quarter of 2025 and the completion is targeted for 2027.

Pyrum and SUAS GROUP will establish a joint venture for the joint construction and operation of the plant. Pyrum will purchase a 49 percent share in the business. Existing loan framework agreements cover Pyrum's stake in the project. The Czech businesses intend to incorporate the gas generated during thermolysis into the current plant for further use and to take use of the synergy effects on site. Each year, 23,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres will be transformed into useful materials by the proposed operation. An estimated EUR 57 million will be invested in the project.

Martin Čermák, Board Member of SUAS GROUP and Sokolovská uhelná, said, “We are among the first companies in the world to utilise this innovative technology within our industrial complex in Vřesová. The site has the necessary infrastructure not only for the facility’s construction but also for utilising the gas produced during pyrolysis, which is rich in hydrogen and methane. The technology is extremely environmentally friendly, as confirmed by the recently completed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Among other benefits, the project as a whole, significantly reduces the carbon footprint – by more than 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.”

David Najvar, Chairman of the Board of SUAS GROUP, said, “We greatly appreciate that Pyrum Innovations AG, the holder of this revolutionary patent with experience in similar projects across the EU, has become our partner. Together, we are fulfilling the vision of developing a circular economy and sustainability in handling specific types of waste and their disposal within our region and the Czech Republic.”

Pascal Klein, CEO, Pyrum Innovations AG, said, “The collaboration with the SUAS GROUP represents further progress for the development of the circular economy in Europe. This project demonstrates the high adaptability of our technology. Thanks to the efficient use of the gas on site, the end-of-life tyres can be almost completely recycled. Even though each site has individual potentials and designs, the core of our technology remains constant. We are looking forward on a very successful partnership and to the next phase of our collaboration, realising the joint plant at the new site.”

Orion S.A., a global speciality chemicals company, has been recognised as a ‘Key Innovator’ by the European Commission's 'Innovation Radar’ website, which identifies high-potential innovators that have done EU-funded research, for being the first company to produce circular carbon black from 100 percent pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tyres.

The circular carbon black was created by Orion as a collaborator on the EU-funded BlackCycle project (Horizon 2020 programme under grant agreement No: 869625). The material is ready for the market as a substitute to carbon black derived from fossil fuels. The goal of the Michelin-led, award-winning BlackCycle effort was to develop innovative methods for creating new tyres from used tyres. It involved five research and technology organisations as well as seven industry partners.

Last year, Orion also started its ‘Clean Carbon Black Research and Development Project’, which was made possible by a EUR 6.4 million funding from the European Union and the German Government. The goal of the project is to create a method for making carbon black from alternative carbon sources that is climate neutral.

Corning Painter, CEO, Orion, said, “Driving circularity is part of Orion’s long-term strategy. Our customers are increasingly relying on us to provide solutions to meet the growing demand for circular products. We are scaling up our capabilities to process tyre pyrolysis oil and have other innovations in our sustainability pipeline focused on cost-effective solutions.”

Natalia Scherbakoff, CTO, Orion, said, “Although the BlackCycle project has concluded, our innovation work continues with other initiatives with circular carbon black that involve reducing our carbon footprint, improving yield and throughput and potentially lowering material costs.”