ZC Rubber expands green projects, targets net-zero by 2050

Hangzhou, China – ZC Rubber is targeting carbon neutrality by 2050 as the Chinese tire maker expands investments in recycling, clean manufacturing and lower-emission tire technologies.

In a recent statement, the group, which manufactures the Westlake and Goodride tire brands, said sustainability had become an “integral part” of its operations as the industry faces growing environmental pressure and resource constraints.

According to ZC Rubber, the company is applying circular economy principles across its value chain, from raw material sourcing and production through to recycling and retreading.

The manufacturer said it has been developing recycling capabilities for more than 20 years and currently operates its own facilities to recover materials including steel, rubber and carbon black from end-of-life tires.

By 2030, ZC Rubber expects waste tire recycling and processing capacity to increase by around 190% compared with 2023 levels.

As of the end of 2025, the company said it had recycled more than 344,000 tonnes of end-of-life tires cumulatively.

Retreading also remains a “key” part of the strategy, particularly in the commercial vehicle segment, where reused casings can “significantly” extend tire life and reduce material consumption.

On the manufacturing side, ZC Rubber said its “Future Factories” use 5G-based processes, cloud-supported systems and energy-efficient production technologies designed to reduce energy consumption by around 10%.

The tire group added that it invested Yuan93.2 million (€11.7 million) in sustainable production measures during 2025.

According to ZC Rubber, clean energy consumption reached 162,988 MWh during the year, while more than 97% of water used in production was recycled.

The tire maker also highlighted ongoing development of “green products”, including tires using silica compounds and optimised tread designs aimed at lowering rolling resistance, fuel consumption and noise emissions.