Bridgestone has announced plans to construct a pilot demonstration plant for precise pyrolysis of end-of-life tyres at its facility in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Set to commence operations in 2027, the plant aims to accelerate tyre recycling by producing tyre-derived oil and recovered carbon black—key components in manufacturing new tyres.
This initiative is a significant step toward "horizontal recycling", where materials from old tyres can be reused to create new ones, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-derived raw materials. The project aligns with Bridgestone’s EVERTIRE INITIATIVE, which seeks to establish a sustainable tyre recycling business.
Bridgestone has been actively developing chemical recycling technologies since 2022, aiming to contribute to a circular economy. In 2023, the company introduced a test unit at the Bridgestone Innovation Park (BIP) in Tokyo, where it successfully tested pyrolysis technology to extract tyre-derived oil and recovered carbon black from waste tyres.
The new pilot plant will scale up these technologies, refining continuous operational processes and quality control to support future mass production. Bridgestone will also focus on talent development in chemical recycling to strengthen expertise in this emerging sector.
Bridgestone’s pyrolysis pilot plant is part of a Japanese government-supported initiative under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Selected in February 2022, the project falls under NEDO’s "Green Innovation Fund Project", which supports research into sustainable chemical manufacturing technologies from used tyres.
The project is also a joint collaboration with ENEOS Corporation, a major player in oil refining and energy solutions. The recovered carbon black produced at the facility will contribute to developing eco Carbon Black (eCB™)—a material with rubber reinforcement properties equivalent to virgin carbon black, enabling more sustainable tyre production.
Additionally, research is being conducted by Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. under another NEDO-backed R&D project titled "Technology Development for Carbon Recycling from Polymer Products Including End-of-Life Tyres."
The construction of this pilot plant is a major milestone in Bridgestone’s long-term sustainability strategy. As part of its "Bridgestone E8 Commitment," the company is dedicated to:
✔ Ecology – Advancing sustainable tyre technologies to protect the environment.
✔ Energy – Supporting carbon-neutral mobility solutions.
✔ Circular Economy – Developing tyre-to-tyre recycling solutions for raw material renewal.
Bridgestone aims to achieve carbon neutrality and build a fully circular tyre manufacturing system by 2050. This pilot plant will play a crucial role in transitioning from traditional tyre disposal methods to a more sustainable tyre renewal process.
What is Bridgestone’s new pyrolysis plant for?
The plant will recycle end-of-life tyres into tyre-derived oil and recovered carbon black, which can be used to make new tyres.
How does pyrolysis contribute to sustainability?
Pyrolysis breaks down old tyres into reusable raw materials, reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based synthetic rubber and virgin carbon black.
What makes this process different from traditional tyre recycling?
Unlike mechanical recycling, which produces crumb rubber for limited applications, pyrolysis enables "horizontal recycling", meaning old tyres can be used to manufacture new tyres.
When will the plant start operations?
The pilot plant is set to launch in 2027 at Bridgestone’s Seki City facility in Japan.
Who are Bridgestone’s partners in this project?
Bridgestone is collaborating with ENEOS Corporation and Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., with funding support from NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund Project.
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