Wastefront AS has partnered with Newcastle University to study the characterisation and enhancement of Wastefront’s recovered carbon black (rCB).

As one of the UK’s top universities and a world leader in sustainability, Newcastle University’s partnership with Wastefront will see cutting-edge industry innovation emerge from research conceived in the North of England – ensuring the region is at the forefront of progressing circularity across Europe.

The work is timely as Wastefront gears up to play a crucial role in eliminating the UK’s waste tyres export by creating a local, circular solution to a global problem. To prevent waste tyres from burning in cement kilns, Wastefront will use commercial operating technologies to convert end-of-life-tyres (ELTs) into useful commodities, including rCB.

The study will focus on rCB interaction with rubbers and its correlation with prospective industrial applications, directly supporting Wastefront’s efforts to enable the rCB it produces to be used in new products. The scope of work undertaken by Newcastle University over the next 18 months will:

1. Quantify the interaction of the rCB with a set of different solvents with varying degrees of dispersion interaction.

2. Develop methods to better understand the nature of the surface within the rCB material.

3. Investigate applications for the rCB in other materials.

Of significance, within this scope of work, the study will develop methods to reduce inorganic components in rCB, improving its chemical and material properties to ensure Wastefront produces a superior product compared with its rCB competitors. This will include identifying rCB reinforcement in rubber goods.

The team from Newcastle University undertaking the rCB study will be:

• Professor Katarina Novakovic – Principal Investigator, Reader in Polymer Engineering

• Professor Steve Bull – Co-Investigator, Cookson Group Chair of Engineering Materials

• Dr Deepashree Thumbarathy – Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Chemical Engineer

• Dr Tim Blackburn, Business Development Manager

Wastefront CTO, Henrik Selstam, comments:

“Circularity is central to the work Wastefront is undertaking to tackle the scourge of ELTs – and expanding our understanding of recovered carbon black is key to realising this goal. As we continue to grow, so too will the uses and capabilities of the products we produce – none more so than recovered carbon black.

“We are delighted to partner with Newcastle University to further advance the commercial capabilities of recovered carbon black through our joint studies. “Ensuring we can continue to implement our at-scale solution in the UK, Europe and Globally will require the input of leading experts in their fields, so we look forward to working closely with Professor Novakovic, Professor Bull, Dr Thumbarathy and Dr Blackburn in the months ahead.”

Newcastle University Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research Strategy and Resources, Professor Brian Walker, adds:

“At Newcastle University we are delighted to add this exciting partnership with Wastefront to our portfolio of research that advances sustainable innovation and the circular economy and enables progress towards a net-zero economy. We are especially pleased that Wastefront will promote inclusive economic growth here in the North East, with its roots in the local area and the construction of its new plant at the Port of Sunderland.“

 Wastefront uses pyrolytic reactors that utilise thermal depolymerisation known as ‘pyrolysis’ to break down a tyre’s materials at elevated temperatures. By sending tyres through these reactors, recovered carbon black (a substitute for virgin carbon black) is produced, in addition to combustible gas, liquid hydrocarbon, and heat. The carbon black is then washed and milled to upgrade the chemical properties and can be used as a complement to natural rubber in tyre production, mechanical rubber goods or as a filler for plastics.

Once fully operational in 2025, Wastefront’s £100 million tyre recycling plant in Sunderland will produce rCB from a supply of 20 percent of the UK’s yearly total of ELTs. By integrating Wastefront’s rCB into new tyres, the emissions for each tyre subsequently produced will be reduced by 80 percent.

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Yokohama Rubber completed enforcement action to halt the production and distribution of counterfeit versions of its “ADVAN Racing” aluminium wheels in China following a coordinated investigation with local authorities.

The Japanese tyre and wheel manufacturer filed an administrative complaint with the Municipal Administration for Market Regulation in Anlu City, Hubei Province, after uncovering a local manufacturer producing unauthorised copies of its high-performance wheels for sports cars.

Authorities in Anlu conducted a raid at the site in November 2024, seizing all counterfeit wheels. A subsequent investigation led to the identification of another company that had commissioned the counterfeit production. Administrative penalties were imposed on the ordering party, including a fine and an order to cease all illegal activity and surrender any remaining fake products.

This marks Yokohama Rubber’s latest successful enforcement action in China. The company had previously filed complaints targeting distributors of counterfeit wheels, resulting in the removal of fake products from the market.

“Yokohama Rubber remains resolute in its stance against the infringement of intellectual property rights, including the production and sale of counterfeit goods, and will strengthen its efforts against such illegal activities in Japan and overseas to ensure that its customers around the world are confident and secure in the knowledge that they are using genuine YOKOHAMA products,” the company said in a statement.

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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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Epsilon Carbon, a leading global manufacturer of carbon black, has launched N134, which it claims is a specialised ‘Hard Grade’ carbon black known for its superior abrasion resistance and durability.

At present, the high-quality N134 grade is being imported due to the lack of consistent quality and supply chain issues in the Indian market. As a result, the tyre makers have to modify their formulations using other grades of carbon black, which it shared often leads to reduced performance.

But now, Epsilon Carbon has become the first company in India to install a dedicated manufacturing unit designed for N134 grade hard carbon. The company is expanding its existing Vijayanagar Carbon complex facility to produce 215,000 tonnes of carbon black.

This will not only ensure consistent supply of N134 carbon black for tyre makers in the country, reduce import dependency, but also open up export potential to markets such as Europe and USA. Epsilon Carbon will also focus on integrate advanced processing techniques to ensure batch consistency for durability and performance.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon, said, “This is a proud moment for us and for India’s carbon black manufacturing sector as the high quality N134 black will significantly reduce import dependency and provide tire manufacturers in India and abroad with a reliable, high-quality product. Our goal is to match global standards while building India’s capability to serve premium markets.”

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Lummus Technology, a leading provider of process technologies and energy solutions, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with InnoVent Renewables to collaborate on the global licensing and deployment of InnoVent’s continuous tyre pyrolysis technology.

Under the proposed agreement, Lummus will become the exclusive licensor for InnoVent’s proprietary pyrolysis process, which transforms end-of-life tyres into valuable outputs, including pyrolysis oil, gas, recycled carbon black and steel. Additionally, Lummus will offer integrated technology packages that combine InnoVent’s pyrolysis system with its own downstream processing solutions, enhancing the value of fuel and chemical products derived from waste tyres.

InnoVent’s technology provides a fully scalable, end-to-end solution for converting discarded tyres into renewable fuels and high-value petrochemicals, covering everything from pre-processing to purification. The company currently operates a commercial-scale facility in Monterrey, Mexico, with an annual processing capacity of up to one million passenger tyres, and has the capability to expand further.

Leon de Bruyn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lummus Technology, said, “This is another significant step in expanding and strengthening our portfolio for the circular economy. By combining InnoVent’s tyre recycling technology with Lummus’ global licensing and engineering expertise, we will be addressing the global challenge of waste tyres and creating new pathways for sustainable product development.”

Vibhu Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, InnoVent Renewables, said, “Partnering with Lummus has the potential to accelerate the global deployment of our technology and help us address the environmental and public health challenges of one billion end-of-life tyres that are disposed of annually. Together, we can transform waste into valuable resources, reduce carbon emissions and support the transition to a more sustainable future.”

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