Belgian chemical firm 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 tyre manufacturers a 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.
Zeosil Highly Dispersible Silica (HDS) reinforces rubber goods such as tyres. This range offers a wide variety of HDSs, including the well-known dust-free Micropearl form.
To comply with international regulations (like tyre labelling) and answer to the sustainable mobility challenges, tyre manufacturers have to lower rolling resistance, the main means of reducing energy consumed by tyres and, therefore, vehicle fuel consumption & CO2 emissions. For electrical vehicles, the need to lower rolling resistance is critical in order to extend the battery range. Solvay says its HDS range is the best way to lower tyre rolling resistance while improving tire performance.
The HDS range was instrumental in the development of energy-efficient tyres (green tyres). By reducing the rolling resistance of tyres by 25%, Zeosil technology reduces vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by as much as 7% without impairing tyre performance.
In addition, Solvay’s Zeosil introduced in tyres can improve the wear resistance which increases circularity in the industry with longer tyre life and the grip which improves safety on the road, it adds.