Solvay

On the Italian shoreline, Solvay is writing a new chapter in Silica’s history. We have officially inaugurated Europe’s first bio-circular silica facility at our Livorno site - a major milestone in the transition to sustainable mobility.

This new unit transforms rice husk ash (an agricultural byproduct) into highly dispersible silica (HDS) for energy-efficient tires. By skipping traditional, energy-intensive processes, we are:
📉 Reducing CO2 emissions by ~35% per ton.
🌾 Increasing recycled and renewable content for tire manufacturers by up to 15%.
🗺️Setting the blueprint for Solvay’s global circular silica strategy as we begin converting our sites worldwide to use ISCC® PLUS* certified materials.

A tire is the only part of a car that touches the road. By evolving the chemistry behind it, we are helping the industry reach the target of 40% recycled and renewable content by 2030 and stay ahead of upcoming regulations, such as the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

This is essential chemistry in motion.