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.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for December 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

As per the report, the natural rubber market is positioned in a strategic accumulation phase that belies superficial price indicators. A critical analysis reveals that while US Dollar-denominated prices showed a slight pullback, this was overwhelmingly due to the appreciation of the Thai Baht rather than a decline in intrinsic value. In Thailand, a key producing nation, local currency (THB) prices remained fundamentally firm, underscoring a resilient domestic price floor that continues to support the long-term upward trend.

This underlying market strength is concretely evidenced by price movements in Malaysia. During the reported period of consolidation, Malaysian SMR-20 prices increased by 2.08 percent and latex prices rose by 2.35 percent. These gains in a major producing hub directly contradict a bearish narrative and confirm that underlying global demand continues to outpace available supply. The current market behaviour is therefore characterized as a ‘cumulation pullback’, a necessary corrective foundation following earlier strong gains, designed to build liquidity before the next advance.

Fundamental data supports this outlook. Global natural rubber production for 2025 is anticipated to grow by a modest 1.4 percent. Although the latest demand figures show a marginal adjustment of -0.7 percent, overall market sentiment remains resilient, bolstered by clear recovery signals from the tyre industry. Critically, the market is now entering the seasonally tight ‘wintering’ period from February to May, when latex production naturally declines. The consolidation and strategic accumulation observed in December 2025 have thus established a solid platform. With supply set to contract and demand holding firm, all conditions are aligned for a sustained price rally as the market moves into early 2026.

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Effective 1 November 2025, the Kerala Government has increased the assured market support price for RSS IV grade rubber. Under the state's Rubber Production Incentive Scheme, the new rate is set at INR 200 per kilogramme, representing a rise from the previous INR 180.

To avail this benefit, rubber producers must first renew their enrolment in the incentive programme. This requires submitting a current land tax receipt accompanied by a self-declaration form. Subsequently, growers can have their verified sale invoices uploaded via their respective Rubber Producers’ Societies. The dedicated online portal for this process is now active for submissions.

The administration has instructed all Rubber Producer Societies to ensure the prompt and accurate uploading of these invoices for their registered members. Should any society experience technical problems or difficulties accessing the portal, immediate support is available by contacting the relevant Field Office or Regional Office for resolution.

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Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality carbon materials, and Kennesaw State University (KSU) have expanded their enduring partnership with the launch of Birla Carbon India Study Abroad Program in January 2026. This programme, backed by a USD 184,000 contribution from the carbon materials manufacturer, will send undergraduate students from KSU’s College of Science and Mathematics to India for collaborative research. Participants will first develop their projects during the spring semester at KSU before travelling to the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in Goa for summer work alongside local faculty and peers.

This endeavour builds upon nearly a decade of collaboration, which since 2014 has funded research opportunities for over 110 KSU students as Birla Carbon Scholars. In its inaugural year, the programme will facilitate hands-on research for up to 12 students, marking a significant evolution in the longstanding alliance between the university and the global company. The initiative is designed to provide immersive, cross-cultural scientific training, equipping students with global perspectives and advanced research skills crucial for their future careers in science and technology.

Sharing his thoughts about the program, Terence Norman, HR Head, Americas, Birla Carbon, said, “Birla Carbon is now in its 15th year of partnership with Kennesaw State University overall, and over the years, we have seen phenomenal growth and development opportunities for the students here in the College of Science and Mathematics. Our ongoing commitment is driven by a genuine belief in making a positive impact not only for the students who participate in this programme but also for the impact their solutions can have across major industries and society at large. Fifteen years mark not just a partnership but a shared journey of growth and discovery. Birla Carbon’s purpose is to ‘Share the Strength’, and Kennesaw State gives us an opportunity to do that first-hand.”

Kadian Callahan, Associate Dean for Student Success and Community Engagement, KSU – College of Science and Mathematics, said, “We’re excited to partner with Birla Carbon to bring this opportunity to our students. The college’s focus is on providing quality undergraduate research experience to students, and this programme allows students to take their work beyond campus and into an international research setting. Students can begin their research at Kennesaw State and continue it at BITS in India, working closely with faculty and peers at both institutions. That continuity strengthens their projects and creates opportunities for shared publications with KSU and BITS faculty and students.”

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Bekaert has achieved an industry milestone with Dramix Loop, its most sustainable steel fibre. This product is the first in its sector to be manufactured industrially using steel reclaimed from end-of-life tyres, creating a new benchmark for circular construction. It directly tackles a significant circularity challenge within the tyre industry by transforming discarded tyre cords into a high-performance resource. This innovative approach preserves the material’s inherent tensile strength while bypassing carbon-intensive reprocessing, resulting in a near-zero carbon footprint with an exceptionally low Global Warming Potential of only 0.0436 kg CO₂eq per kg.

The launch reinforces the longstanding leadership of the Dramix brand, which already offers concrete reinforcement solutions that substantially reduce material use and CO₂ emissions. Dramix Loop further advances this legacy, providing fibres with very low contamination and high tensile strength suitable for diverse applications, including industrial flooring, precast elements and ultra-high-performance concrete. Beyond performance, it supports major sustainability frameworks like LEED and BREEAM, aids in compliance with the EU Taxonomy and helps companies reduce their Scope 3 emissions, thereby assisting owners and developers in meeting critical environmental, social, and governance objectives.

Eric Peeters, Divisional CEO Sustainable Construction, said, “Just like our other Dramix products, Dramix Loop ticks all the boxes: safe, smart and sustainable. It’s less labour-intensive, reduces CO₂ up to 80 percent compared to traditional reinforcement and leverages our structural design capabilities. And the circular aspect adds even more value, because with end-of-life steel, the carbon footprint is close to zero.”

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