- Innovent Renewables
- Mexico
- end of life tyre
- tyre recycle
- Vibhu Sharma
Innovent Renewables Opens New Facility To Tackle ELT Issue In Northern Mexico
- by Gaurav Nandi
- January 13, 2025

The pilot facility in Monterrey will initially convert 1 million end-of-life passenger tyres to recovered carbon black. Operations are slated to commence by the end of CY2024, while the company also has plans to add a second train in the future to double the capacity.
Northern Mexico has long struggled with the challenge of end-of-life tyre (ELT) disposal. Decades of improper waste management have led to an accumulation of over 20 million waste tyres, many of which are left in municipal dumpsites or landfills. These discarded tyres pose not only an environmental hazard but also a significant public health risk as they can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying pests.
Local governments have ramped up efforts to address this crisis, but the scale of the problem requires long-term, systemic solutions. Innovent Renewables’ new facility in Monterrey is poised to play a key role in this effort. The facility will transform waste tyres into valuable resources such as recovered carbon black and will help reduce landfill reliance, cut carbon emissions and provide a sustainable alternative to the traditional methods of carbon black production.
The pilot facility represents a significant milestone for the recycler as it sets out to address the growing environmental challenge of ELTs in the region. Initially slated to process 1 million waste passenger tyres annually, the facility will convert these tyres into high-quality recovered carbon black, oil and steel. With operations scheduled to begin by the end of calendar year 2024, the company is also looking ahead with plans to add a second processing train to double its capacity in the near future. This expansion marks a critical step in tackling the 20 million-plus tyres accumulated in Mexico’s northern areas while offering sustainable solutions for industries seeking to reduce their carbon footprints.
“This facility represents a vital step forward in addressing the enormous environmental burden posed by tyre waste in northern Mexico. We’re not only reducing waste but converting it into materials that industries can use in a circular and sustainable manner,” said Chief Executive Officer Vibhu Sharma.
Extracting value
The tyre recycling process based on pyrolysis begins with the shredding of end-of-life tyres, which are then fed into a main reactor where they undergo pyrolysis, a high-temperature process in the absence of oxygen.
This results in the breakdown of tyre material into pyrolysis gases, oil and recovered carbon black. The gases are recycled within the system for energy recovery or flared off, enhancing energy efficiency.
The pyrolysis oil is condensed and purified, followed by distillation into high-value chemicals for industrial applications. Meanwhile, recovered carbon black, a solid by-product, is processed through milling and polishing for reuse in manufacturing. This design demonstrates an energy-efficient method of converting waste tyres into valuable products such as fuel, chemicals and carbon black.
“Firstly, we have a proprietary continuous pyrolysis process that ramps up and cooks the tyres to decompose them in a particular way. We also use specially designed agitator to ensure uniform decomposition to oil and carbon black. This ensures higher surface area and quality of the RCB. We designed a proprietary polishing unit that crushes that RCB coming out of the reactor and then polishes it to remove metal oxides and silica. We have several equipment in place to capture steel particles in the RCB. The final product still has some amount of silica and metal oxides, but the purity and uniformity of the RCB is much higher,” said Sharma.
Addressing demand
As industries worldwide strive to meet decarbonisation goals, the demand for sustainable alternatives to carbon-intensive materials have surged. Recovered carbon black fits squarely into this trend, offering a viable option for companies looking to reduce environmental impact while maintaining performance characteristics.
Innovent Renewables’ order book reflects this growing interest. The company has secured letters-of-intent from several major tyre manufacturers as well as companies in the printing ink, rubber and paint sectors.
“Increasingly, companies are looking for sustainable solutions that allow them to reduce their carbon footprints without sacrificing the quality of the products. Our RCB gives them that opportunity. It’s a win-win for both industry and the environment,” said Sharma.
He added, “We see the Monterrey facility as just the beginning. As we prove the viability of our process and stabilise operations, we’ll be able to scale up production not just here in Mexico but potentially in other regions around the world that are dealing with tyre waste issues. There’s a huge global need for solutions like this.”
Sustainable vision
According to Sharma, the company’s goal is to provide a circular solution for industries that are serious about sustainability. “It’s not just about the recovered carbon black; we’re also helping companies reduce their reliance on virgin oil and steel by offering them high-quality, recycled alternatives. This allows them to achieve carbon credits and decarbonisation targets while contributing to a cleaner environment,” noted Sharma.
While tyres remain the primary focus, the company is already working to expand its applications into other industries by targeting sectors such as rubber gaskets, printing inks and paints to tap into new growth markets.
It is also finding ways to repurpose the other by-products of its pyrolysis process. The oil extracted from the tyres can be used as fuel or as a raw material for various industrial applications, while the recovered steel can be sold back to manufacturers, creating a fully circular model that maximises resource recovery and minimises waste.
“We’re proud to be part of the solution to one of Mexico’s most pressing environmental issues. But this is just the start. Our vision is to become a global leader in the circular economy, providing industries around the world with the materials they need to build a sustainable future,” Sharma concluded.

Construction of Sweden's first full-scale tyre recycling facility, using Enviro's patented pyrolysis technology, is advancing steadily since breaking ground in mid-February 2024.
According to recent contractor updates, the project, located outside Uddevalla in western Sweden, has reached several key milestones. Workers have installed L-supports and begun the groundwork for tyre storage facilities. The site's sprinkler system infrastructure, including the main tank and housing, is nearly complete, while interior construction has begun with wall installation and surface finishing.
The facility represents a joint venture between Enviro and Antin Infrastructure Partners, operating under the name Infiniteria, with support from tyre manufacturer Michelin. The plant will utilise Enviro's specialised pyrolysis process to recycle end-of-life tyres.
The contractor highlighted progress through a newly released video showcasing recent developments at the construction site.
The project marks Sweden's first venture into full-scale tyre recycling using this patented technology, signalling a significant step forward in sustainable tyre disposal solutions.

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.
- PCBL
- Raj Gupta –
PCBL Chemical Charts Ambitious Expansion Strategy Amid Global Market Shifts
- by Sharad Matade
- January 31, 2025

PCBL Chemical is positioning itself for significant growth through strategic expansions and capacity additions across multiple business segments, capitalising on emerging global chemical market opportunities.
The company is making substantial investments in its manufacturing capabilities, with a notable recent development being the allocation of 116 acres of land in Andhra Pradesh’s Naidupeta region.
This new site represents the company’s sixth manufacturing location, which can house roughly 400,000-450,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon black capacity. It is strategically positioned near major ports like Kattupalli and Krishnapatnam, enabling efficient logistics and cost-effective goods movement.
“The first phase of this expansion will involve establishing a 150,000 MTPA carbon black plant, with an estimated investment of approximately INR 9.5-9.6 billion and a projected timeline of 2-2.5 years,” said Raj Gupta – Chief Financial Officer – PCBL Chemical Limited.
Current manufacturing capacity has already been expanded, with the company recently commissioning a specialty line of 20,000 MTPA in Mundra, bringing its total capacity to 790,000 MTPA. The company is simultaneously pursuing multiple expansion tracks, including a brownfield expansion of 30,000 tonnes in Tamil Nadu and a second phase expansion of 60,000 tonnes, accompanied by a 12 MW green power project.
In the speciality chemicals domain, PCBL is making significant strides. The company has launched ECOZENTM6000, a new product grade based on recycled materials, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
The company has also been certified with International Sustainability and Carbon Plus (ISCC) certification, underscoring its dedication to responsible production and circular economy principles.
The company is particularly bullish about its export markets, especially in Europe and North America. Despite current geopolitical challenges stemming from restrictions on Russian Carbon Black exports, PCBL sees this as an opportunity to expand its market presence. The company has increased its international sales volumes, with western market contributions rising from 7-8 percent historically to approximately 35 percent currently.
The specialty Carbon Black segment shows promising growth, with projected full-year sales volume expected to reach 63,000-64,000 tonnes, compared to 57,000 tonnes last year. “Management anticipates gradual margin improvements in this segment over the next 2-4 years as they move up the value chain,” said Gupta.
A particularly exciting development is the company’s nano-silica project. PCBL is currently establishing a pilot plant for sampling, with plans to develop a 2,000-tonne commercial facility. “Now, this 2,000 tons, based on our back of the envelope calculation, should give us somewhere around INR1,700-1,800 crores kind of a top line and roughly about INR800-900 crores kind of EBITDA,” said Gupta.
- Bridgestone
- Tokai Carbon
- Kyushu University
- Okayama University
- Recovered Carbon Black
- Carbon Black
- Eco Carbon Black
- Virgin Carbon Black
Joint Project Launched To Advance Performance Properties And Production Of Recovered Carbon Black
- by TT News
- January 31, 2025
Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., Bridgestone Corporation, Kyushu University and Okayama University have started a technology development project to perform secondary processing on recovered carbon black (rCB) extracted from polymer products like end-of-life tyres containing rubber in order to create new eco carbon black (eCB) from these and other sources. With rubber reinforcing qualities comparable to those of virgin carbon black (vCB), which is made from coal and petroleum, the initiative seeks to transform these resources into eCB. Through the development of cutting-edge recycling technologies, the collaborative project partners want to contribute to the attainment of a circular economy and carbon neutrality.
This project is a component of the ‘Technology Development for Carbon Recycling from Polymer Products Including End-of-Life Tires’ demonstration programme, which was put out by Tokai Carbon in collaboration with Bridgestone, Kyushu University and Okayama University. The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) chose the project on 23 December 2024, under the heading of ‘Green Innovation Fund Project/Technology Development for Manufacturing Plastic Raw Materials Using CO₂ etc’.
In order to recover and utilise rCB, efforts are already in progress to pyrolyse polymer materials, including rubber from tyres that are nearing the end of their useful lives. Nevertheless, there are still obstacles to overcome before rCB may be used practically in new tyres. Because it contains so many contaminants, rCB performs worse than vCB when it comes to rubber reinforcement. Additionally, heat recovery produces CO2 emissions even if many end-of-life tyres are successfully used as fuel. The demand for tyres is predicted to increase in tandem with the projected expansion in the automotive and transportation sectors. The goal of these initiatives is to improve resource circulation by making it easier to recycle vCB, a crucial component of tyres.
Bridgestone, Kyushu University and Okayama University's knowledge and technologies will be combined with Tokai Carbon's own technologies and skills gained from manufacturing carbon black. The goal of the collaborative project is to create technologies that will eliminate impurities from rCB and create eCB with better rubber reinforcing qualities. By fiscal year 2032, the initiative aims to set up a demonstration unit that can produce 5,000 tonnes of eCB annually. The research will also concentrate on creating unique polymer/carbon composites that allow carbon black to be reused without pyrolysing tyres that have reached the end of their useful lives. With these efforts, the collaborative project participants hope to achieve enhanced recycling of scarce materials and contribute to lowering the CO2 emissions linked to the manufacturing of carbon black and the recycling of end-of-life tyres.
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