Orion SA, a specialty chemicals company, has announced an investment in Alpha Carbone, a French tire recycling specialist. The partnership aims to scale up the production of commercial volumes of tire pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black.
Orion has secured a long-term supply agreement to be the exclusive customer for the tire pyrolysis oil produced by Alpha Carbone. This oil will be used by Orion to manufacture circular carbon black for tire and rubber goods customers.
“This investment enables Orion to make large-scale volumes of circular grades of carbon black for our rubber customers who are seeking sustainable solutions,” said Orion CEO Corning Painter. “It further strengthens Orion’s position as an innovator focused on the future and accelerating the transition to a circular economy.”
Alpha Carbone’s plant, expected to start operations in late 2025, will utilize tire pyrolysis technology. This process involves exposing end-of-life tires to high temperatures, removing wire, mesh and other materials, and converting the tires into synthetic gas, recovered carbon black and tire pyrolysis oil.
An estimated 500,000 metric tons of tires are discarded in France each year, and this technology provides a proven method to produce circular carbon black that can be used in new tires.
In addition to supplying pyrolysis oil to Orion, Alpha Carbone will sell recovered carbon black to its own customers, primarily under long-term contracts.
“This investment will allow Alpha Carbone to bring its Dole, France, facility to the best industrial level in order to supply the growing demands for quality recovered carbon black and tire pyrolysis oil to our customers. This new step aligns with the strategy of Alpha Carbone’s main shareholder, Alpha Recyclage Franche Comté, to offer the best possible solution for recycling end-of-life tires,” said Laura Pech, CEO of Alpha Carbone.
