Japanese chemical manufacturer Tosoh Corporation announced plans on Wednesday to construct a second chloroprene rubber production facility at its Nanyo Complex, representing an investment of approximately ¥75 billion (£460 million) to meet rising global demand for the speciality polymer.

The new facility, scheduled to begin construction in spring 2027, will add 22,000 metric tonnes of annual production capacity for Tosoh’s SKYPRENE chloroprene rubber brand. Commercial operations are expected to commence in spring 2030 at the Shunan City site in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Chloroprene rubber serves as a critical component across multiple industries, from automotive manufacturing to medical applications. The synthetic rubber’s popularity stems from its exceptional resistance to oil, weather conditions, and flame exposure, making it suitable for demanding applications, including automotive hoses, industrial belts, adhesives, and medical gloves.

The expansion comes as global demand for high-performance polymers continues to grow, driven by increasing automotive production and stricter safety requirements across industrial sectors. Medical applications have also seen increased demand following heightened awareness of the requirements for protective equipment.

Tosoh’s decision to double down on chloroprene rubber production reflects the material’s position within what the company terms its “Chemical Chain Business” - a strategy focused on value-added speciality chemicals rather than commodity products.

The investment represents one of the larger capacity expansion projects announced by Japanese chemical companies this year, signalling confidence in long-term demand fundamentals despite current global economic uncertainties.

The Nanyo Complex already houses Tosoh’s existing chloroprene rubber operations alongside other chemical production facilities. The site’s established infrastructure and logistics capabilities influenced the decision to expand at the existing location rather than develop a greenfield facility.

Industry analysts note that the three-year construction timeline reflects the technical complexity of chloroprene rubber production, which requires specialised equipment and stringent safety protocols due to the chemical processes involved.

The expansion aligns with broader trends in the Japanese chemical industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on high-margin speciality products to offset competitive pressures in traditional commodity chemicals from lower-cost Asian producers.

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Orion S.A., a global speciality chemicals company, has successfully secured the prestigious ISCC – the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification for its manufacturing facility located in Qingdao, China. This significant achievement is the direct result of a rigorous, independent audit process which validated that the plant’s operations fully comply with the comprehensive sustainability criteria established by ISCC.

The certification serves as a formal verification of both the transparency and the complete traceability of the sustainable raw materials integrated into the facility’s production value chain. This milestone is a key component of Orion’s overarching corporate strategy to implement and enhance sustainable practices throughout its international operations.

By achieving this globally recognised standard, the company reinforces its commitment to supplying clients with high-performance carbon black and other speciality chemical products that adhere to leading international environmental and sustainability benchmarks, thereby supporting customer goals for more responsible manufacturing.

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a Canadian developer of sustainable technology for recycling scrap tyres, has secured a provisional financing agreement with Export Development Canada (EDC) for USD 2.7 million. The funds are intended to support the final ramp-up phase of its Hawkesbury thermal decomposition plant by covering necessary capital investments and operational working capital.

Following months of negotiation, both parties have agreed in principle to the loan terms, which include augmenting an existing USD 2 million credit facility established by a subsidiary, Ecolomondo Environmental (Hawkesbury) Inc, in January 2025.

Furthermore, EDC has conditionally approved a temporary suspension of principal and interest payments for loans from 2024 and 2025, applicable during the facility's 2026 ramp-up period. This financial arrangement is designed to provide the liquidity required to advance the project to full operational capacity, pending the finalisation of formal documentation.

Jean-François Labbé, Interim CEO, Ecolomondo Corporation, said “We have been working steadily in Hawkesbury, hiring, training, increasing production, increasing sales and, most of all, improving efficiency. This additional financing from EDC is greatly appreciated and should allow the Hawkesbury TDP facility to achieve its full potential.”

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Cabot Corporation said it has received improved environmental ratings from CDP, reflecting continued progress in water management and steady performance on climate disclosures.

In CDP’s 2025 assessment, the company was awarded an A- rating for Water Security, up from a B in 2024, and a B rating for Climate Change, unchanged from the previous year. Cabot said the water score exceeded both global and industry averages, recognising its approach to managing water-related risks and implementing sustainable water practices.

The Climate Change rating remained stable year on year, with improvements reported in areas including climate risk disclosure, value chain engagement and industry collaboration.

The latest scores extend a five-year pattern of incremental improvement, achieved amid more demanding reporting standards and rising expectations from regulators, investors and customers.

“We are proud that CDP’s independent assessment reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance environmental performance and transparency,” said Jennifer Chittick, senior vice-president for Safety, Health and Environment and chief sustainability officer. “The improvement in our Water Security score demonstrates our leadership in this critical area, and we remain committed to advancing our sustainability strategy across all domains. This progress was made possible by our dedicated, global team, and we remain focused on driving further improvements in the years ahead.”

CDP assesses companies on environmental impact across climate change, water security and deforestation, using a scale from D for Disclosure to A for Leadership. In 2025, more than 24,800 companies were rated, representing about two-thirds of global market capitalisation.

Cabot said the results underline its focus on transparency and responsible environmental management as it continues to execute its sustainability strategy.

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A USD 1.4 million equipment enhancement at Liberty Tire Recycling’s Cameron, North Carolina, facility is set to significantly boost its processing capabilities. This upgrade, enabled by the state’s sustainable financial backing of its scrap tyre programme, will allow the facility to handle an extra 3,300 tonnes of material annually, representing nearly 300,000 passenger tyres.

A key improvement is the increased capacity to process truck tyres, which are more challenging to recycle due to their size and durable steel components. The resulting crumb rubber, highly sought after by manufacturers, will be directed towards producing floor mat bases and rubber tiles made entirely from recycled material. This material also serves as a component for athletic tracks, synthetic turf, rubberised asphalt and various moulded products.

This capital investment follows North Carolina’s legislative action to redirect tyre disposal fees into the state’s scrap tyre management system, a move that includes compensating counties for collection and recycling expenses. With North Carolina establishing itself as a centre for tyre recycling, Liberty Tire indicates it is evaluating further multi-million-dollar investments and job creation across its other operations in the state.

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