Solvay Converts Asian Silica Plants to Circular Raw Materials for Greener Tires
Asian conversion marks a global shift toward sustainable sourcing, enabling tire makers to adopt circular materials at scale.
Solvay is accelerating its global circularity efforts by converting its highly dispersible silica (HDS) production in Asia to circular raw materials. As of 2026, plants in Qingdao (China) and Gunsan (South Korea) will adopt ISCC+ certified waste sand. This pivotal shift could enable over half of Solvay’s regional HDS capacity to become circular, directly supporting the tire industry's ambitious target of achieving 40%+ circular raw materials by 2030, with a worldwide rollout planned from 2026 onwards.
By replacing virgin raw materials with industrial waste, Solvay develops technologies to reduce resource consumption and offers tire manufacturers a seamless, cost-effective, high-volume, drop-in circular Zeosil silica that requires no reformulation.
This strategic move expands upon the successful conversion of Solvay’s Livorno (Italy) site, which uses rice husk ash, and reflects a coordinated, global approach to circular sourcing. It complements Solvay Silica’s broader sustainability roadmap, which includes implementing low-emission technologies, such as electric furnaces, to reduce the product carbon footprint of silica worldwide.
“Solvay’s circular silica helps improve fuel efficiency and EV range, offers long-lasting wear benefits, improves safety, while advancing sustainability,” said An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica business unit. “This is more than innovation - it’s a reinvention of how we source, produce, and collaborate across the value chain.”
Solvay is a pioneer in offering circular silica beyond rice husk ash across multiple global regions. This transition fosters stronger, more sustainable supply chains through new partnerships and sourcing methods throughout the value chain.
