Circtec’s technology converts discarded tyres into a slate of products

King Willem-Alexander inaugurated what Circtec calls Europe’s largest and most advanced chemical recycling facility for end-of-life tyres, marking the start of operations at the company’s Delfzijl plant in the Netherlands’ northern chemical cluster.

The facility, whose investment was announced in May 2024, has completed construction and commissioning of its first phase and is now processing 50,000 tonnes of waste tyres a year. During the ceremony, the King symbolically began operations by feeding tyre material into Circtec’s proprietary CIFR pyrolysis reactor. The event was attended by the Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth, along with the British Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Circtec’s technology converts discarded tyres into a slate of products including a marine fuel marketed as HUPA, circular naphtha for use in plastics and chemicals and recovered carbon black for reuse in tyres, rubber and plastics. The plant can also supply tyre pyrolysis oil to petrochemical and refining customers as a lower-carbon feedstock.

The Delfzijl project follows more than 15 years of technology and product development by the company. At current capacity, the plant is expected to process roughly 6 percent of Europe’s annual waste tyre stream. More than half of Europe’s end-of-life tyres are still burned in cement kilns or exported to Asia for disposal, according to Circtec.

An ISO-standard life cycle assessment commissioned by the company indicates the plant could cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to about 3 percent of the Dutch chemical industry’s national emissions once the site reaches full scale.

Circtec plans to begin construction of a second phase later this year, expanding capacity in modules to a total of 200,000 tonnes of tyres a year.

The company has secured long-term offtake agreements for its entire output. Birla Carbon will take the recovered carbon black for its Continua de-carbonisation product line, while British Petroleum has contracted volumes of the marine fuel, circular naphtha and tyre pyrolysis oil.

The project is backed by Novo Holdings and A.P. Moller Holding, which closed a Euro 150 million funding round for Circtec in 2024. The company is planning additional plants globally, both as owner-operator projects and through joint-venture licensing.

During the visit, the King toured the facility and met employees as well as representatives from British Petroleum, Birla Carbon and Dutch tyre recycling body RecyBEM. Discussions also involved local and regional authorities on the plant’s economic and environmental role in the Groningen region.

Commenting on the occassion, Circtec Chief Executive Officer Allen Timpany said, “Circtec now moves forward to operate the first phase of this plant and to expand it to its full designed and permitted size. Let us work together to scale this success further. So that this plant may inspire others, here in the Netherlands and far beyond, to rethink waste, reimagine value, and to keep moving forward, tenaciously, innovatively, and with strategic vision toward a sustainable and resilient industrial future”.

Speaking during the inaugural ceremony, Netherlands Deputy Minister and Minister of Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans said, "What we see here at Circtec is Green Growth at its best. Every year, 180,000 tonnes of used car tyres will be given a second life as a high-quality raw material. That is circular economy on an industrial scale. This factory shows that we can and want to become more sustainable in the Netherlands and dare to build new, future-proof industry. Good for our climate, good for our economy and good for the earning capacity of the Netherlands."

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Evonik, a global speciality chemicals company, has outlined a three-year strategy to sharpen its focus and accelerate growth, assigning distinct roles across its business portfolio and setting specific tasks for its major German sites. Targeted growth projects are also intended to improve the group's geostrategic balance. To fund these investments, the company is relying on its Evonik Tailor Made restructuring programme to further reduce its cost base. The plan involves cutting 3,200 jobs worldwide, with roughly 2,150 of those losses falling in Germany.

At the annual strategy meeting, the executive and supervisory boards reviewed plans through 2030. Interim CEO Claus Rettig said the industry faces a structural and economic crisis, and Evonik will use this polycrisis to reshape old structures and improve its positioning. Many parts of the business are still growing, so efforts will concentrate on strengths, future topics and lucrative markets, with better cost positions creating room to manoeuvre.

Transformation will proceed at every level. Healthcare and biotechnology projects in Canada and Slovakia, worth several hundred million euros, will strengthen the portfolio, while business units are aligned by role as growth drivers or cash generators. A new business line, Designed Polymer Solutions, bundles growth areas in aerospace, automotive and gas separation, including biogas and hydrogen. Asia and America offer strong opportunities, and further investments there are under review. Each of the six major German sites will receive a clear profile, with implementation starting shortly.

Evonik is also exiting activities with no internal prospects. Rettig said long-term leadership requires leading in what the company does, and volatility demands flexible responses. Closures of smaller sites fit this approach, and divestments of C4 chemicals and infrastructure are progressing as planned. Tailor Made's second phase begins in 2027 and runs to 2029. Measures will be finalised by late 2026, including unfilled vacancies, early retirements and voluntary severance departures. Chief Human Resources Officer Thomas Wessel said Evonik has long lived social responsibility and maintained intensive dialogue with employee representatives, and this transformation will be completed together.

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Continental recently showcased its new TerrainContact A/T2 tyre during a five-day driving event in Iceland, held from 14 to 18 September 2026. Journalists and invited customers tested the tyre across winding roads, rugged highlands, glaciers and volcanic terrain.

Starting at Þingvellir, the group travelled through Iceland's Western Highlands and the Kaldidalur valley, where gravel routes highlighted the tyre's blend of on-road comfort and off-road traction. The TerrainContact A/T2 targets pickup and SUV owners who mainly drive on pavement but require extra grip when conditions change.

Compared with its predecessor, the tyre offers better wet braking and snow traction while preserving a quiet ride and off-road ability. A new tread compound boosts wet performance, greater tread depth aids snow grip, and optimised zig-zag grooves and traction teeth add control on loose or snowy surfaces. It carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and is engineered with electric vehicles in mind.

Okan Sen, National Marketing Manager, Continental Tire Canada, said, “The TerrainContact A/T2, as one of the best-balanced performance all-terrain tyres in the market, was developed for drivers who want the freedom to explore without compromising their everyday driving experience. Iceland was the perfect setting to bring that versatility to life, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the tire across the kind of changing terrain it was designed to handle.”

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A new Oxford Economics study commissioned by Tyres Europe underscores the tyre sector's vital economic and social contribution, arriving as Brussels shapes its Industrial Accelerator Act to reinforce European industrial competitiveness. The report, titled ‘The Critical Importance of the EU Tyre Industry’, makes the case that EU industrial policy ought to encompass the finished products sustaining Europe's economy and essential services, rather than focusing solely on raw materials and technologies.

Through the lens of tyres, the research maps the relationships between European manufacturing capacity, reliance on external sources and the smooth operation of mobility, freight and public services. It concludes that EU-produced tyres potentially enabled freight, agriculture and passenger transport, directly yielding EUR 1.5 trillion in GDP – 9 percent of the EU's total – and providing work for 30.5 million people, 13 percent of EU employment.

The study further reveals exposure on both sides of the tyre value chain. Imported intermediate inputs constitute 11.9 percent of EU tyre production value, exceeding the EU economy average of 7 percent, while natural rubber supplies depend wholly on imports. In 2024, imported tyres made up 40 percent of newly fitted tyres across the EU, a proportion that continues to climb.

Adam McCarthy, Secretary General, Tyres Europe, said, “Economic resilience depends not only on access to materials but also on retaining the capacity to transform them into safe, advanced products in Europe. The Industrial Accelerator Act is an opportunity to recognise strategically-important finished products and support competitive manufacturing in Europe. A strong EU tyre manufacturing base reduces reliance on external suppliers and helps build a more resilient, competitive automotive value chain.”

Pete Collings, Managing Director, Oxford Economics, said, “Europe’s tyre industry is far more than a manufacturing sector: it is a critical enabler of mobility, trade and wider economic activity. Our analysis shows that EU-produced tyres support hundreds of billions of euros in GDP and millions of jobs across key customer sectors, while the industry itself depends on complex global supply chains. The findings underline the economic value of maintaining a strong European tyre manufacturing base.”

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The J&K Bank presents JK Tyre Rally of Himalayas 2026, a premier Cross Country Rally, was flagged off from Manali on 26 September. Organised by Himalayan Xtreme Motorsports and Adventure X Fusion Tribe, the sixth edition achieved a significant milestone by entering the Zanskar region for the first time. The ceremonial start occurred at 5:00 PM at Dev Lok, 15th Mile, near Span Resort, Manali. Bhuvneshwar Gaur, MLA Manali, served as Chief Guest, joined by V P S. Jasrotia, Deputy General Manager of Jammu & Kashmir Bank, as Guest of Honour alongside JK Tyre officials. The rally is supported by J&K Bank as Presenting Sponsor, JK Tyre as Title Sponsor, Ladakh Tourism as Official Sponsor and Impulse and Liqui Moly as Partners.

The competition features 140 participants across Moto, Extreme and TSD categories over five days in the formidable Himalayas. The route traverses Kaza, Jispa, Padum and Pensi La before concluding in Padum, Zanskar, on 30 September. The Moto category includes 80 riders, among them one female rider. The Extreme category comprises 35 participants, including two female drivers and five Army teams. The TSD category has 24 competitors, four of whom are female, testing precision, timing and navigation. This diverse field includes professionals, private entrants, women and Army teams.

This edition serves as a tribute to Hari Singh, the legendary Gypsy King and five-time National Rally Champion, whose legacy inspires competitors. The event's defining feature is its inaugural entry into Zanskar, introducing high-altitude terrain, remote landscapes, long competitive sections and shifting Himalayan conditions. From Kaza, competitors progress to Jispa and into Zanskar, tackling Padum and Pensi La before returning to Padum. Preparation, navigation, endurance and reliability become critical. Since its 2021 inception, the rally has grown into a demanding platform testing riders and drivers against Himalayan challenges.

JK Tyre, synonymous with Indian motorsport, continues its legacy rooted in rallying, embodying endurance and adventure. For J&K Bank, supporting the event reflects nearly nine decades of commitment to regional development and showcases tourism potential. The Department of Tourism, UT Ladakh, partners as a sponsor to position Zanskar as a premier adventure tourism destination, highlighting landscapes, heritage and driving routes to national and international audiences.

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