Copyright RubberWorld
Tokyo, Japan – On October 21, 2025, Bridgestone held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Seki Plant in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, for a new pilot demonstration plant designed to chemically recycle end-of-life tires through precise pyrolysis. The project, part of Bridgestone’s “EVERTIRE INITIATIVE,” treats used tires as valuable resources rather than waste. The plant will recover tire-derived oil and carbon black, feeding these raw materials back into tire production and other applications, aiming to drive circular-economy practices. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2027. Once operational, the facility will process approximately 7,500 tonnes of end-of-life tires per year. The initiative is a collaboration with ENEOS Corporation under a joint project selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The recovered materials will include tire-derived recycled oil and eco carbon black (eCB™), aiming for performance comparable to virgin materials. Bridgestone says the new plant will enhance its Seki facility’s role in sustainability, reinforcing its commitment to its “E8 Commitment” framework and efforts toward carbon-neutral mobility and nature-positive business practices.
