Marubeni Invests in Thai-Based Pyrolysis Recycling Firm, Green Rubber Energy

Marubeni Corporation has made a strategic investment in Green Rubber Energy Company Limited (GRE), a Thai company specializing in End-of-Life Tire (ELT) pyrolysis recycling. Each year, approximately 30 million tons of tires are discarded globally, with many ending up in landfills or being incinerated, leading to severe environmental consequences. In response, various nations are strengthening regulations on ELT disposal, while tire manufacturers are focusing on increasing the use of renewable raw materials to create environmentally sustainable tires. This has driven interest in technologies that recycle ELTs into raw materials, reducing the environmental burden.

GRE has been developing pyrolysis technology for over a decade, enabling the extraction of valuable materials like recovered carbon black (rCB) and tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) from ELTs through thermal decomposition. Previously, using rCB in tire production was challenging due to impurities that compromised its quality. However, GRE has overcome this hurdle, achieving consistent rCB quality suitable for tire manufacturing.

Marubeni’s investment in GRE is aimed at establishing a comprehensive tire recycling supply chain in Thailand, covering the collection of ELTs and the production and sale of recycled materials such as rCB and TPO. Marubeni plans to leverage its group network, including its subsidiary B-Quik Co., Ltd.—Thailand’s largest car maintenance company—to supply ELTs to GRE. Additionally, the company will enhance rCB's quality by applying German technology from RCB Nanotechnologies GmbH, another Marubeni investment. The recycled products, rCB, and TPO will be marketed through Marubeni Techno Rubber Co., Ltd., a subsidiary that specializes in procuring and selling rubber materials.

Looking ahead, Marubeni intends to expand this tire recycling model beyond Thailand, into Japan, Southeast Asia, and other global markets. This initiative aligns with Marubeni’s "GC2024" Mid-term Management Strategy, which prioritizes green strategies for enhancing corporate value. In the tire and rubber material sector, Marubeni aims to create a sustainable value chain from raw material supply to product sales, contributing to reducing the environmental impact of ELTs and promoting renewable materials in the tire industry.

Green Rubber Energy Company Limited (GRE), established in 2007 and headquartered in Samut Prakan, Thailand, is a leader in End-of-Life Tire (ELT) pyrolysis recycling. Under the leadership of Ongart Auapinyakul, the company processes 10,000 tons of ELTs annually, using advanced pyrolysis technology to extract valuable materials like recovered carbon black (rCB) and tire pyrolysis oil (TPO). GRE's innovative approach contributes to reducing environmental impact by recycling waste tires, providing sustainable solutions for the tire and rubber industries.