The Mitsubishi Chemical Group ("MCG Group") is excited to announce the initiation of studies for chemically recycling end-of-life tires (ELTs) using the coke ovens at its Kagawa Plant in Sakaide City, Kagawa Prefecture.

Source: MarketScreener

The MCG Group plans to introduce sustainable carbon black derived from ELTs by March 2026. With the tire industry's increasing shift towards eco-friendly raw materials, the demand for recycled carbon black, a crucial material and reinforcing agent in tires, is on the rise.

By utilizing the MCG Group's supply chain, crushed ELTs can be fed into the coke ovens to produce carbon black from the tar. This groundbreaking process, as per the MCG Group's research, marks the world's first attempt to create sustainable carbon black from ELTs using coke ovens.

The sustainable carbon black matches the performance of traditional carbon black, making it suitable for reuse in new tires, thus supporting a closed-loop tire recycling system. To prepare for commercialization, MCG began demonstration experiments in July 2024 where ELTs are fed into coke ovens.

The goal is to market sustainable carbon black at a yearly rate of several thousand tons by FY2025 and increase to tens of thousands of tons annually by FY2030.

Through the development of ELT chemical recycling technology, the MCG Group aims to promote a circular economy in the automobile and tire sectors.

Please note that the information provided is accurate as of the press release date and may become outdated thereafter.