Recovered Carbon Black Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Primary Carbon Black and Inorganic Ash), By Grade (Commodity and Specialty), Application (Tire, Non-Tire Rubber, Plastics, Inks, Coatings, and Others), By End-Use Industry (Transportation, Industrial, Printing and Packaging, Building and Construction, and Others), and Region 2020-2031

Recovered Carbon Black Market size was valued at US$ 251.2 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 652.1 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 14.6% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. Recovered Carbon Black Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 203.5 Million by 2031. The market is involved in producing and supplying carbon black that is reclaimed mainly from recycled rubber, such as end-of-life tires, through processes like pyrolysis. The market is being primarily driven by rising environmental concerns and regulatory pressure to reduce tire waste and carbon emissions. rCB offers a sustainable alternative to virgin carbon black by recovering valuable carbon from end-of-life tires through pyrolysis, aligning with circular economy initiatives and global decarbonization goals. T

his eco-friendly solution is gaining traction across industries such as tire manufacturing, plastics, inks, and construction. A key trend shaping the market is the vertical integration between pyrolysis firms and tire manufacturers to establish closed-loop supply chains, ensuring quality control and consistent demand. At the same time, advancements in pyrolysis technologies and efforts to standardize rCB specifications are increasing its appeal in performance-sensitive applications. The market presents a strong opportunity in green tire production and certified sustainable materials, supported by corporate ESG goals and global regulatory support.

However, the major restraint remains the inconsistency in rCB quality compared to virgin carbon black, which limits broader adoption in high-performance segments. Additionally, high capital requirements for advanced facilities and a lack of awareness among small manufacturers further challenge market expansion. Despite these hurdles, the momentum toward sustainable materials and industrial decarbonization continues to position rCB as a promising, transformative solution.

Facts & Figures

• Environmental Regulations and Circular Economy Mandates: With global concerns rising over tire waste and carbon emissions, governments are pushing industries toward sustainable material recovery and responsible waste management. rCB offers a viable way to reuse end-of-life tires while reducing reliance on fossil-based carbon black. For instance, the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan emphasizes increasing the recyclability of rubber products and promoting green materials. Countries like France and Sweden have enforced EPR laws mandating tire recyclers to meet performance targets, driving demand for rCB.
• Rising Demand from Sustainable Tire Manufacturing: Tire manufacturers are under pressure to incorporate sustainable inputs to meet carbon neutrality goals and improve brand ESG ratings. rCB serves as a partial substitute for virgin carbon black without significantly compromising performance, particularly in sidewalls and non-critical components. For instance, in 2024, Michelin and Bridgestone both announced targets of over 40% sustainable materials in their tires by 2030, partnering with pyrolysis firms such as Scandinavian Enviro Systems and Delta-Energy. These deals are being supported by long-term supply contracts, proving commercial-scale integration of rCB in tire production.
• Technological Advancements in Pyrolysis and rCB Quality: Earlier limitations in rCB consistency, like high ash content and poor particle control, are being addressed through advanced reactor designs, post-treatment steps, and better feedstock segregation. For instance, in 2024, Black Bear Carbon introduced a next-gen rCB product with lower ash (<10%) and higher surface activity, making it suitable for high-quality rubber applications.
• Expanding Applications Beyond Tires: As awareness grows about sustainable materials, other industries, such as plastics, paints, printing inks, and even construction, are exploring rCB as a cost-effective, eco-friendly filler or pigment alternative. For instance, Orion Engineered Carbons, in late 2024, released a range of rCB-based pigments for use in black plastics and ink formulations.

Key Developments

• In June 2025, Klean announced four new rCB plants (two in India, two in Malaysia) capable of processing 50,000?MT of tire char annually, enabling global scale-up of sustainable carbon black supply.
• In May 2025, Nexen Tire signed a long-term agreement with LD Carbon to supply rCB produced via pyrolysis of end-of-life tires, reinforcing its shift toward eco-friendly materials in global tire production.
• In February 2025, Marubeni acquired a stake in rCB Nanotechnologies (Germany) to produce next-gen “rCB2.0” with high purity and low ash content for tire-grade applications.
• In January 2025, Bridgestone, Tokai Carbon, and Kyushu & Okayama Universities launched a joint project funded under Japan’s NEDO to produce “eCB™” with vCB-equivalent reinforcement properties by 2032.

Recovered Carbon Black Market Segmentation:

Based on the type:

• Primary Carbon Black
• Inorganic Ash

In the market, the primary carbon black segment holds the largest market share due to its closer resemblance to virgin carbon black in terms of reinforcing properties, surface area, and structural integrity. This segment is widely used in high-performance applications such as tire manufacturing, rubber goods, and automotive components, where consistency and strength are critical. Manufacturers prefer this type as it offers a more reliable and functional replacement for traditional carbon black, helping them meet both performance and sustainability goals. In contrast, the inorganic ash segment, often a byproduct with limited functional use, holds a smaller share due to its lower commercial value and limited applicability.

Based on the grade:

• Commodity
• Specialty

The commodity grade segment holds the largest market share. This is primarily due to its widespread use in cost-sensitive, volume-driven applications such as rubber tires, conveyor belts, molded rubber goods, and plastic masterbatches. Commodity rCB meets the basic reinforcement needs and is an ideal sustainable alternative in these industries looking to reduce costs and environmental impact. Its demand is further supported by the abundant availability of end-of-life tires used as feedstock for recovery. Meanwhile, the specialty grade segment, used in high-performance coatings, inks, and electronics, commands a premium price but remains smaller in share due to stricter quality specifications and the advanced processing required.

Based on the application:

• Tire
• Non-Tire Rubber
• Plastics
• Inks
• Coatings
• Others

The tire segment holds the largest market share, driven by the sheer volume of carbon black historically used in tire manufacturing for reinforcement, durability, and UV protection. As leading tire manufacturers increasingly commit to sustainability goals and circular economy initiatives, rCB is being adopted to replace a portion of virgin carbon black without compromising performance, especially in non-critical tire components like inner liners, sidewalls, and carcasses. The tire industry also generates the majority of waste tires, creating a natural supply loop. On the other hand, coatings and inks represent a smaller share due to their need for finer, high-purity grades of carbon black with tighter consistency standards, which are more challenging to achieve with current rCB processes.

Based on the end-use industry:

• Transportation
• Industrial
• Printing and Packaging
• Building and Construction
• Others

In the end-use industry segment, the transportation segment holds the largest market share in the recovered carbon black (rCB) market. This is largely because of the high demand for rCB in tire manufacturing and various automotive rubber components like hoses, gaskets, and sealing systems. As automakers and suppliers aim to lower their carbon footprint and meet evolving emission norms, rCB provides an eco-friendly alternative to virgin carbon black in transportation-related applications. Moreover, major tire manufacturers are integrating rCB to meet sustainability targets. Meanwhile, the printing and packaging segment holds a smaller share due to the stringent purity and performance requirements of pigments in inks, which rCB currently meets in limited, specialized applications only.