The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. and Zeon Corporation have decided to work together to build a bench facility to showcase technologies for efficiently making butadiene from ethanol made from plant-based and other sustainable sources. Zeon's Tokuyama Plant in Sunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will house the plant, which is expected to start up in 2026. It will make it possible to produce a specific quantity of butadiene and make it easier to gather the many types of data needed to develop mass manufacturing.

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) chose two research and development themes in 2022 for its project, ‘Development of Technology for Producing Raw Materials for Plastics Using CO2 and Other Sources’, which is one of the Green Innovation Fund Projects of NEDO. This initiative is in line with one of those themes. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), National University Corporation Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology) and the national research and development agency RIKEN are working together to develop two technologies that will allow for the highly efficient production of butadiene and isoprene from plant-based and other sustainable materials in the 2030s. Zeon and Yokohama Rubber are working towards the social implementation of these technologies. The bench facility to be installed at the Zeon plant is part of initiatives based on the theme ‘Highly Efficient Butadiene Synthesis Using Ethanol’.

The experiment at the new bench facility will show how to use a very effective catalyst to turn ethanol made from plant-based and other sustainable materials into butadiene. This will be the first stage in establishing the technology's use for the large-scale manufacturing of synthetic rubber from plant-based and other sustainable ingredients. From the butadiene produced at the bench facility, Zeon will create a prototype polybutadiene rubber (butadiene rubber). Yokohama Rubber will use the butadiene rubber to create prototype tyres and test the tyres' performance to gather information for a larger-scale technology demonstration.

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Solvay is expanding its global circular economy strategy by converting its Asian production of highly dispersible silica (HDS) to use certified circular raw materials. Beginning in 2026, its plants in Qingdao, China, and Gunsan, South Korea, will transition to using ISCC+ certified waste sand. This major initiative is projected to make over half of the region’s HDS output circular, directly aiding tyre makers in their goal of incorporating over 40 percent sustainable materials by 2030.

This transition provides tyre manufacturers with a cost-effective, high-volume circular Zeosil silica that integrates seamlessly into existing processes without the need for reformulation. The move builds on the successful conversion of Solvay’s Livorno, Italy, facility to using rice husk ash and reflects a coordinated, global shift towards circular sourcing. It also supports the broader sustainability goals of Solvay Silica, including the adoption of low-emission technologies like electric furnaces to minimise the carbon footprint of its products worldwide.

By pioneering circular silica from diverse feedstocks and regions, Solvay is fostering more resilient and sustainable supply chains through innovative partnerships across the entire value chain.

An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica Business unit, said, “Solvay’s circular silica helps improve fuel efficiency and EV range, offers long-lasting wear benefits, improves safety, while advancing sustainability. This is more than innovation - it’s a reinvention of how we source, produce and collaborate across the value chain.”

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Following the formal approval of its foundational design, Sinopec has announced the construction of a new green, high-end rubber materials facility in Tianjin, China. The project, which was initially revealed in 2023, represents a total investment of CNY 2.452 billion (approximately USD 344.65 million). Its production output will include 100 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) of solution styrene butadiene rubber and an equal volume of nickel-based butadiene rubber.

Operated by Sinopec’s Beijing Yanshan branch, the venture will be funded through a combination of 70 percent bank loans and 30 percent company capital. The initial construction phase, focused on piling work for processing units, storage areas and auxiliary facilities, is valued at CNY 28 million (approximately USD 3.94 million) and scheduled for completion within 31 days.

This new rubber plant is an integral component of the larger Sinopec Nangang high-end materials industrial cluster, which also features a recently completed 1.2 million tonne-per-year ethylene complex. Encompassing a 277,004 sqm site with a built area of 43,522 sqm, the facility is projected to become operational in 2027.

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Elkem ASA, a global leader in advanced silicon-based materials, has announced a significant advancement in silicone sustainability with the successful validation of a new mechanical recycling process for High Consistency Rubbers (HCR). This innovation provides a scalable method for recycling crosslinked HCR waste and reintroducing it into new product formulations. The process achieves re-incorporation rates of over 50 percent while maintaining the excellent mechanical properties required for high-performance applications. This breakthrough demonstrates how material engineering can enable a more circular economy for silicones, helping to reduce waste and the carbon footprint while meeting rising market demand for sustainable solutions.

This mechanical recycling process expands Elkem's comprehensive silicone recycling strategy, which now encompasses both chemical and mechanical pathways. The ability to integrate multiple recycling technologies allows the company to tailor its approach based on the type of waste material, specific carbon reduction goals and the performance needs of the final product.

The development is a key outcome of the open innovation project ‘RENOV’ (Recycling & Reincorporation of Elastomer Materials), focused on creating technologies for recycling and reincorporating crosslinked elastomer waste. The project, supported by the French environment agency ADEME, unites Elkem with industrial partners Hutchinson and Nexans, as well as several CNRS-affiliated laboratories. A primary objective is to evaluate market acceptance and identify the most promising commercial and environmental applications for mechanically recycled HCR.

High Consistency Rubbers are valued for their exceptional strength, thermal stability and electrical insulation properties, making them critical components in industries ranging from electric vehicles and aerospace to medical devices and electronics. Elkem will present samples of the recycled material and detail this new technology at the K 2025 trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 7–14 October 2025.

Joséphine Munsch, R&T sustainability leader at Elkem, said, “This breakthrough demonstrates the power of purpose-driven innovation aligned with market expectations. After two years of development, we are proud to present a first proof of concept for mechanical recycling of HCR, opening the door to new industrial applications and reinforcing our ambition to leverage pragmatic, science-driven solutions to lead and accelerate the transition to a circular economy for silicones.”

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ContiTech, a group sector of Continental, has officially launched production at its new USD 90-million hydraulic hose manufacturing facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This significant investment is a strategic move to reinforce local supply chains, boost regional production capacity and position innovative fluid power solutions closer to its customer base across North America.

The new 900,000-square-foot plant will produce high-performance hoses for numerous industrial and mobile applications, serving vital sectors such as construction, agriculture, mining and energy. It has been designed to operate in a tightly coordinated network with ContiTech’s existing facility in Norfolk, Nebraska. This dual-plant strategy enhances production flexibility, improves operational efficiency and allows the company to be more responsive to evolving customer demands by strategically balancing technology, volume and lead times.

This expansion underscores ContiTech's long-term commitment to growth in key markets through substantial investment in local infrastructure and talent. Production at the Aguascalientes site will be gradually increased, with the first customer deliveries anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Philip Nelles, Member of the Continental Executive Board and CEO of the ContiTech group sector, said, “The start of production in Aguascalientes marks a key milestone in ContiTech’s journey towards being a more agile, regionalised partner to our customers. At ContiTech, we build on 150 years of materials expertise. While our portfolio is broad and diverse, all our solutions are grounded in the same strength: high-performance materials that are mission critical, innovative and engineered to perform. Whether they connect, convey or cover, our products play essential roles across industries and applications.”

Andreas Gerstenberger, CEO of ContiTech USA and Head of Business Area Industrial Solutions Americas, said, “We are ready to lead in this segment. This new plant reflects our commitment to both innovation and proximity. With our customers increasingly looking for responsive and innovative solutions, we are proud to deliver with local production, advanced technology and a skilled workforce. More than just expanding our footprint, this investment is about creating mutual value with our customers, partnering closely to help them succeed in their own markets. By placing customer needs at the centre of everything we do, we aim to be their first choice for material-driven solutions, now and in the future.”

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