• Marubeni Corporation is investing in Green Rubber Energy Company Limited (GRE) to establish a tire recycling business in Thailand.
• With over 30 million tires discarded globally each year, recycling presents a vital solution.
• Marubeni aims to create a tire recycling supply chain, expand this model internationally, and enhance sustainability in the tire and rubber industry.

Marubeni Corporation is investing in Green Rubber Energy Company Limited (GRE) to advance their End-of-Life (ELT) pyrolysis recycling operations in Thailand

Over 30 million tires are discarded globally each year, with many ending up in landfills or being incinerated, which contributes to environmental issues. As countries tighten regulations on End-of-Life Tire (ELT) disposal, tire manufacturers are increasingly focusing on using renewable materials. This has spurred interest in recycling technologies that can convert ELTs into raw materials for tire production.

For over a decade, Green Rubber Energy Company Limited (GRE) has been developing technology to recover carbon black (rCB) and tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) from ELTs. Previously, rCB was unsuitable for tire production due to impurities, but GRE has now achieved stable production of rCB that meets tire manufacturing standards.

Marubeni’s investment aims to establish a comprehensive tire recycling supply chain in Thailand. This initiative will include the collection of ELTs, production of recycled materials like rCB and TPO, and leveraging Marubeni’s extensive network for broader distribution.

B-Quik Co., Ltd., a Marubeni subsidiary, will supply ELTs to GRE. Additionally, the quality of rCB will be enhanced using technology from RCB Nanotechnologies GmbH, and sales will be promoted through Marubeni Techno Rubber Co., Ltd.’s network. Marubeni plans to use this model to expand tire recycling efforts in Japan, Southeast Asia, and globally.

This investment aligns with Marubeni’s green strategy as part of their Mid-term Management Strategy GC2024. In the tire and rubber sector, Marubeni is committed to building a sustainable value chain from raw materials to tire sales. This initiative will help reduce the environmental impact of ELTs and encourage the use of renewable materials.