Ahead of this year's Recovered Carbon Black Asia 2025, we spoke with Yogesh Gaikwad, Technical and Product Development Manager at Weibold, to get a sneak peek of what we can expect from his presentation on 'Scaling rCB for Tire Applications – Global Volume Trends and Asia's Emerging Role' Here's what he had to say…



Q1. Why is it important for others in the industry to hear your message about scaling rCB for tire applications and Asia's emerging role?

Based on data and feedback from industry stakeholders, Asia has emerged as a key player in rCB production, supported by a strong ELT processing infrastructure. This positions the region as a vital contributor to the future of circular tire manufacturing.
My talk will focus on how Asia is evolving from being just a volume leader to becoming a technology- and compliance-oriented hub for tire-grade rCB. I’ll also share insights on:

• Global demand trends from OEMs in tires, mechanical rubber goods, plastics, etc.
• Asia’s increasing readiness for quality and certification upgrades
• Key challenges and collaborative pathways to achieve scalable, sustainable growth

Q2. Can you give us an update on what's happening in your local market? What are the latest trends over there?

The rCB industry in Asia is gradually moving from basic recovery practices to more specification-focused production.
Key trends include:

• Increased investments in post-treatment and fine milling processes
• Rising attention to REACH and ISCC certifications
• Growing collaboration with technology providers
• Strengthening interest from tire and rubber manufacturers

Asia is clearly aligning itself as a quality-driven and export-ready ecosystem for rCB.

Q3. Which challenges and opportunities do you see for the rCB industry in Asia?

Opportunities:

• Strong availability of ELT feedstock
• Gradual but increasing interest from the tire and rubber industries
• Enhanced certification efforts aimed at global market access
• Cross-border collaborations for process and quality improvements

Challenges:

• Product quality inconsistencies and lack of standardization
• Environmental performance of current production methods
• High certification costs and procedural complexity for smaller players
• Limited regulatory clarity and prolonged customer validation cycles

Unlocking the region’s full potential will require deeper alignment across quality, compliance, and innovation efforts.

Q4. Looking ahead, what do you think will be some exciting developments in recovered carbon black or tire pyrolysis soon?
         
We anticipate exciting advancements such as:

• Breakthroughs in surface treatment, and pulverizing techniques
• AI and automation adoption for better process control
• Increased OEM participation in material validation
• Emergence of certified, export-oriented rCB production hubs
• Development of circular business models with integrated traceability and carbon credit benefits

These developments will help elevate rCB into a high-value, performance-focused material class.

Q5. What hurdles does the tire pyrolysis value chain need to tackle in the next few years?

Some of the key hurdles include:

• Inconsistent product quality and lack of established standards
• Use of outdated technologies and suboptimal process efficiencies
• Regulatory challenges that limit access to international markets
• Fragmented coordination across the supply chain
• OEM hesitancy around performance and volume consistency

Addressing these issues is essential to creating a stable, scalable, and globally competitive rCB industry.

Q6. Are there any specific collaborations within or with the value chain that you're looking for?

As consultants working closely with various stakeholders across the rCB and pyrolysis value chain, we strongly believe in collaborative approaches. We encourage and facilitate partnerships that support value creation for pyrolysis operators, end-users, technology providers, and others focused on scaling quality and sustainability in this evolving space.