Bolder Industries has secured €34 million in combined funding to establish a next-generation tyre recycling facility in Antwerp, marking a significant expansion of its proven circular economy technology into Europe.
The company received a €32 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund, administered through CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency), alongside an additional €2 million from the Flanders region. The investment will support construction of a commercial-scale plant capable of recycling over six million end-of-life tyres annually whilst delivering an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional carbon black production.
Scheduled to commence operations by spring 2027, the facility represents far more than a pilot project, according to chief executive officer Tony Wibbeler, who spoke exclusively to Tyres & Accessories.
"Bolder is beyond an ambitious idea. Since 2019, we have demonstrated years of commercial success with BolderBlack and BolderOil, which are now supplied across thousands of applications in tyres, rubber, plastics and coatings," Wibbeler explained. "Our US operations have proven our technology at scale and the Antwerp facility is not a pilot project; it is backed by the European Commission's Innovation Fund through CINEA as part of the NextGen Thermal Tyre Re-use (N2TR) project."
The company's flagship product, BolderBlack (a sustainable alternative to virgin carbon black) is already integrated into more than 3,000 global applications, including tyres, manufactured rubber goods, inks, coatings and plastics. BolderOil, the complementary output from the recycling process, serves high-value markets such as petrochemicals, solvents, carbon black feedstocks and sustainable fuels.
"We do not focus on what others are doing. Our steadfast focus is on delivering consistent, high-quality solutions to customers who demand reliability," Wibbeler noted. "Our technology has consistently delivered high-quality products for over five years, making us one of the few companies with a proven commercial-scale history."
The company sources its feedstock exclusively from post-consumer and post-industrial end-of-life tyres and scrap rubber through established partnerships in the US and Europe. Notably, this approach insulates Bolder's pricing from oil market volatility. "Because we are not tied to oil markets, our products are shielded from oil volatility and tariffs. That stability enables predictable pricing, typically at a discount to virgin carbon black," Wibbeler contended.
Strategically positioned on a 55,152-square-metre site within Antwerp's NextGen District, the facility will house four proprietary reactors and a state-of-the-art finishing line. The plant will be powered predominantly by renewable energy, including wind power and recovered heat, achieving water use reductions of more than 90 per cent compared to conventional carbon black production.
The location offers significant operational advantages, including direct port access and integration within Europe's largest petrochemical cluster—factors that will prove crucial as the company scales its supply chain across the continent.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the facility expected to create at least 50 new jobs in Flanders whilst reinforcing Antwerp's position as a circular economy hub.
The Antwerp plant will operate alongside Bolder's US expansion in Terre Haute, Indiana, which will recycle a comparable volume of tyres, producing 18,000 metric tonnes of BolderBlack and 21,000 metric tonnes of BolderOil annually.
"Together, these two facilities create a robust transatlantic supply network that guarantees customers consistent and reliable volumes," Wibbeler highlighted.
The dual-facility strategy addresses a critical challenge in the sustainable materials sector: maintaining consistent product quality and reliable supply at commercial volumes. Bolder has established traceability and certification frameworks, including ISCC Plus certification, ensuring customers receive validated, circular and consistent materials.
Meeting stringent tyre manufacturer quality standards remains an ongoing priority. Beyond traditional certifications such as ISO 9001, Bolder has developed its processes through direct customer engagement.
"While audits can be daunting, we embrace their experiences and utilise their suggestions to improve our manufacturing processes continually," Wibbeler noted. The company also holds a Silver EcoVadis rating, reflecting its commitment to corporate responsibility.
Bolder's customer base spans both major global tyre manufacturers and smaller players. "This segmentation strategy places BolderBlack into thousands of products, from performance tyres to wetsuits, exemplifying our market reach," Wibbeler affirmed.
Whilst BolderBlack has achieved mainstream production status with some manufacturers, others remain in pilot phases. Multi-year offtake agreements provide operational stability for existing and future capacities—a crucial factor that influenced the company's decision to proceed with the Antwerp investment.
Regarding BolderOil, the company emphasises genuine circularity rather than simply diverting waste to alternative markets. "Our primary markets for BolderOil are carbon black oil feedstock and petrochemicals, supporting circularity goals in tyre and rubber goods industries," Wibbeler stated. "We anticipate entering sustainable fuels markets in Europe, though nothing has been finalised currently."
The company has also faced questions about whether pyrolysis merely delays the eventual disposal problem. Wibbeler rejected this characterisation firmly: "That critique is both misinformed and short-sighted. Pyrolysis is just one step in our broader process. Our traceable tyre-to-tyre reuse model effectively solves the problem rather than delaying it."
Beyond the EU and regional grants, Bolder recently secured significant equity investment from Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm with expertise in scaling infrastructure projects across the US and Europe.
The company's resilience strategy incorporates multiple safeguards, including geographic diversification, alignment with ISCC Plus and European Union regulatory frameworks, and securing commercial offtake agreements before capacity expansions.
This approach reflects lessons learnt from the broader sustainable materials sector, where numerous promising technologies have struggled to transition from pilot projects to commercially viable operations. By contrast, Bolder entered the European market only after establishing a five-year commercial track record in the United States.
Bolder Industries actively participates in industry forums and circular economy initiatives, positioning itself as a thought leader in sustainable materials and tyre recycling advancements.
The timing of the Antwerp facility aligns with accelerating regulatory pressure and voluntary commitments from major tyre manufacturers to incorporate recycled content. As environmental compliance requirements tighten globally, companies producing validated, traceable sustainable materials are well-positioned to capture growing market share.
Looking ahead, Wibbeler outlined an ambitious expansion strategy: "The industry faces many challenges ahead. Our aim for the next decade is to expand globally, deepen partnerships and deploy a range of technologies to deliver scalable, traceable circular solutions. That's the role we are committed to playing."
The success of the Antwerp facility will provide a crucial test case for scaling advanced recycling technologies within Europe's complex regulatory environment. If Bolder can replicate its US performance whilst navigating European certification requirements and supply chain logistics, it could establish a template for broader industry transformation.
With construction beginning in 2026 and operations targeted for 2027, the industry will be watching closely to see whether the company's proven technology can deliver on its circular economy promises at European commercial scale.
Antwerp’s approval arrives as European producers evaluate rCB, oil and gas outputs from advanced tyre recycling to meet recycled-content and emissions goals. Tyre News recently reported sector activity spanning technology showcases and new offtake frameworks, context that points to rising commercial readiness across the recovered-materials value chain.
Tagged with: Bolder Industries, Antwerp NextGen District, recovered carbon black, tyre recycling, pyrolysis oil, EU Innovation Fund, ISCC Plus, circular economy, tyre manufacturing, transatlantic supply
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