Orion S.A. a global specialty chemicals company, has announced the European Commission has listed the company on its “Innovation Radar” website, which identifies high-potential innovators that have done EU-funded research
The recognition highlights Orion’s achievement as a “Key Innovator” for being the first company to produce circular carbon black from 100% pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tyres. The market-ready material serves as an alternative to carbon black made from fossil oil.
“Driving circularity is part of Orion’s long-term strategy,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said;. “Our customers are increasingly relying on us to provide solutions to meet the growing demand for circular products. We are scaling up our capabilities to process tire pyrolysis oil and have other innovations in our sustainability pipeline focused on cost-effective solutions.”
Orion developed the circular carbon black recognised by the Innovation Radar as a partner in the EU-funded BlackCycle project (Horizon 2020 program under grant agreement No: 869625).
The award-winning BlackCycle initiative was led by Michelin and included seven industrial partners and five research and technology organisations, with the objective to design pioneering processes to make new tires from end-of-life tires.
“Although the BlackCycle project has concluded, our innovation work continues with other initiatives with circular carbon black that involve reducing our carbon footprint, improving yield and throughput, and potentially lowering material costs,” said Natalia Scherbakoff, chief technology officer at Orion.
Last year, Orion launched its “Clean Carbon Black Research and Development Project,” funded with a €6.4 million grant from the German government and European Union. The project is focused on developing a climate-neutral process for producing carbon black from alternative carbon sources.
