Analysis: How rCB can become key to sustainable tire industry
8 May 2024
Consultancy Emerton issues white paper titled ‘Unlocking the Potential of Recovered Carbon Black’
Paris – Recovered carbon black (rCB) is “poised to become a fundamental lever” for the decarbonization of the tire industry, according to consultancy firm Emerton, which has issued a new white paper* on the topic.
As an alternative to virgin carbon black, it said, rCB offers a sustainable way to recycle used tires on a large scale, while its production generates five times less CO2 emissions than the conventional fossil-based filler.
In 2023, global demand for carbon black reached approximately 18 million tons per year, with a market value of around $18-20 billion, according to the report.
The European market, it estimated, accounts for 15% of global carbon black demand, about 2.7 million tons, equating to a value of $3 billion.
According to Emerton, rCB has the potential to replace 10-20% of virgin carbon black, or approximately 250-550 kt per year in Europe – representing an economic value of $265-530 million.
However, it noted, this potential is limited “by the inferior quality of rCB compared to virgin carbon black, a major challenge for producers aiming to ensure sufficient quality for successful industrial integration.”
Challenges such as the presence of impurities particularly limit its use in demanding applications like tire treads, the consultancy pointed out.
However, it said, ongoing R&D efforts and technological advances aim to improve the production process and the quality of rCB, thereby expanding its range of applications.
