The Rebirth of Discarded Tires - ENRESTEC’s Carbon Black Has Become The First in Asia Being Affirmed by the Cradle to Cradle Certification™

ENRESTEC is one of the biggest enterprises in Taiwan that devotes to the circular economy.

ENRESTEC, founded in 2005, is a pioneer of the pyrolysis technique and heat treatment system. ENRESTEC recycles around 36,000 tons of discarded tires in Taiwan annually, transforming them into valuable carbon black and pyrolysis oil by their pyrolysis technique. 

ENRESTEC collaborated with EPEA Taiwan and EPEA GmbH last year (2019). They received the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certification™ Bronze level the year after. By reaching the benchmark on five attributes, including: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy, Water Stewardship, and Social Fairness, they have produced the first carbon black in Asia, which receives the C2C Certification™.

The pyrolysis technique could also recycle materials other than carbon black.

ENRESTEC has achieved multiple C2C goals, including: 

1. Using materials and chemical substances with low environmental and health risk

2. Defining the appropriate cycle (i.e., technical or biological) for the products

3. Quantitatively measuring the percentage of energy use and carbon management utilized in the manufacture of the products, then develop a strategy

4. Measuring the water usage and effluent of the manufacturing process of carbon black

5. Completing a full social responsibility self-audit and developing a positive impact strategy

Among them, the recycled carbon black of ENRESTEC has reached Silver for Material Reutilization, which means having a high ratio of product material reuse.

The carbon black is by discarded tires

Carbon black is the second most widely used raw materials in the rubber industry, which could enhance the tear resistance, hardness, and abrasion resistance of rubber. According to worldwide statistics, rubber products accounted for 90% of carbon black’s total consumption, and 67% of them are used in tires.

Traditionally, carbon black is manufactured by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products such as natural gas or aromatic compounds. This process consumes a lot of energy, and only 1 in 2.2 tons of carbon black could be extracted from the crude oil. In contrary, the resource integration system by ENRESTEC could recycle waste tires and convert them into carbon black, while consumimg less energy. Moreover, not only can the system reduce the carbon footprint by 20%, it could also be used to make diving suits, conveyor belts, printing inks, tires, EVA foam, and other products. Those raw materials have earned recognition and reputation by tire manufacturers.

It is always an encouraging thing to see innovative technologies applying the concept of cradle to cradle, and with no doubt, ENRESTEC’s technique has successfully reduce material costs and carbon footprints of the products at the same time, profiting both companies and the environment.

ENRESTEC collaborated with EPEA Taiwan and EPEA GmbH in the year of 2019.

The chairman of ENRESTEC noted: "The value and attitude of ENRESTEC toward sustainable development have been rooted in the products. Obtaining C2C Certification™ reflects our active efforts and commitment to providing safe and sustainable products. They are healthy, permanently circulative, and made in a way that respects human beings, biology, and the environment."

Congratulations to ENRESTEC for receiving the C2C Certification™, and we appreciate their efforts in the circular economy. We are looking forward to seeing Enrestec further optimize their products by applying C2C design principles.

ENRESTEC has reached the C2C Certification™ Bronze Level.

Reference:

C2CPII:https://www.c2ccertified.org/products/scorecard/carbon-black-enrestec-inc

ENRESTEC:https://www.enrestec.com.tw/en/