Lummus Takes Equity Stake in InnoVent to Scale Tire Recycling Technology Worldwide

Lummus Technology has made a strategic investment in InnoVent Renewables to accelerate the global rollout of a proprietary tire recycling process, a move aimed at addressing the growing environmental burden of end-of-life tires and expanding the supply of recycled industrial feedstocks, according to company reporting.

Discarded tires remain one of the most persistent waste streams globally, with industry estimates suggesting more than one billion units reach landfills or informal disposal sites each year. Governments and manufacturers have struggled for decades to manage tire waste at scale, relying largely on energy recovery, crumb rubber applications, or export markets that remain volatile. Analysts say rising regulatory pressure, coupled with demand for circular raw materials, is pushing pyrolysis-based recycling technologies closer to commercial maturity.

InnoVent’s process converts end-of-life tires into multiple outputs, including pyrolysis oil, recovered carbon black, steel, and fuel gas, integrating pre-processing, thermal conversion, and downstream purification. Observers note that the commercial viability of tire pyrolysis has historically been constrained by inconsistent product quality and limited integration into existing petrochemical and materials value chains, areas where Lummus’ process engineering experience may prove critical.

The two companies began working together in 2025, when Lummus became the exclusive global licensor of InnoVent’s tire pyrolysis technology. Under that agreement, Lummus has been responsible for deploying the technology through its international licensing network, drawing on its engineering, procurement, and construction capabilities. The new equity investment is intended to deepen that relationship and speed deployment in additional markets.

InnoVent currently operates a commercial facility in Monterrey, Mexico, with capacity to process up to one million passenger tires per year. The companies said the new funding will be used to expand throughput at the site and further refine the process to improve yields and product consistency, steps industry groups argue are essential if recycled tire-derived materials are to be adopted by large-scale manufacturers.

Company executives framed the deal as a response to mounting pressure on industrial supply chains to decarbonize and diversify feedstocks. Analysts say demand for tire-derived pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black is rising as refiners and manufacturers look for alternatives to virgin fossil-based inputs, though long-term offtake contracts and regulatory clarity will be decisive factors in determining how quickly capacity expands.

Observers expect competition to intensify among technology providers as more tire recycling projects move from pilot to commercial scale, particularly in regions tightening landfill restrictions and extended producer responsibility rules. The Lummus-InnoVent partnership positions both firms to target those markets, though execution and market acceptance will ultimately determine the pace of growth.

Source: Lummus Technology

SUNSHINE Spotlight: Lummus’ investment signals growing confidence that tire pyrolysis is moving from niche recycling solution toward scalable circular infrastructure.