Nexen Tire, LD Carbon sign long-term rCB supply agreement

Seoul – Nexen Tire has signed a long-term offtake agreement for recovered carbon black (rCB) with LD Carbon Co., a South Korea-based end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis company.

Through the partnership, Nexen said it aims to boost the sustainable content of its tires as it moves to increase eco-friendly tire manufacturing capabilities.

In a 7 May statement, Nexen said it has been gradually increasing its use of rCB, and that the deal with LD Carbon will accelerate its transition to sustainable raw materials.

Nexen intends to use rCB across its production facilities in China, the Czech Republic, and Korea.

“Nexen Tire is developing a circular resource structure [for] a consistent supply of recycled materials and incorporating them into its global manufacturing chain,” it said.

The move will also help Nexen prepare for the European Union’s upcoming “ecodesign for sustainable products regulation” (ESPR), which will mandate the use of sustainable materials in tire manufacturing.

By “proactively establishing a sustainable raw material supply chain”, Nexen said it will strengthen its competitiveness particularly in Europe, where it generates around 40% of total sales.

LD Carbon inaugurated what it describes as South Korea’s “first and largest” waste tire pyrolysis plant in Dangjin late last month.

The unit has an annual capacity to process 50 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of ELT-based “tire chips”, to produce 20ktpa of rCB and 24ktpa of pyrolysis oil.