Tyre manufacturer ZC Rubber is firmly committed to sustainability. The Chinese market leader and the world’s ninth-largest player in the industry aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. To this end, the company which also runs the well-known tyre brands Westlake and Goodride is continuously investing in production, recycling and innovative technologies, with the aim of making the value chain increasingly resource-efficient.
Resource constraints and growing environmental demands pose fundamental challenges to the global tyre industry. ZC Rubber addresses these challenges by taking an integrated approach, making sustainability an integral part of all areas of the business.
From Raw Materials To Recycling: The Circular Economy As a Guiding Principle
A key enabler is the principle of the circular economy, which at ZC Rubber encompasses the entire value chain: from raw material sourcing to production and on to recycling. The company is a pioneer in this field in China and has received numerous awards for its work, most recently in 2023 with the “First Prize in Technological Advancement” from the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation.
For more than 20 years, ZC Rubber has been continuously expanding its recycling capacity and, in collaboration with research and technology partners, has built up extensive expertise. End-of-life tyres are collected and sorted through structured take-back processes. At its own recycling facilities, materials such as steel, rubber and carbon black are recovered and returned to the recycling cycle. By 2030, waste tyre recycling and processing capacity is expected to increase by around 190% compared with 2023. As of the end of 2025, ZC Rubber has recycled a cumulative total of over 344,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres.
Tyre retreading also plays an important role in this context, particularly within the commercial vehicle sector. Retreading allows the tyre carcass to be reused several times, significantly extending the product’s lifespan. This reduces material consumption and lowers the environmental impact.
Modern Manufacturing: A Focus on Efficiency, Energy and Technology
Awareness of sustainability is also evident in ZC Rubber’s modern production processes. In its connected facilities, known as ‘Future Factories’, the company relies on 5G-based processes, cloud-supported control systems and efficient manufacturing technologies, which together enable energy savings of around 10%.
In recent years, ZC Rubber has invested heavily in the modernisation and upgrading of highly efficient, energy-saving and low-emission production facilities in line with its ‘clean production’ philosophy. At the heart of this is a comprehensive energy management system incorporating energy recovery and waste control, which helps to reduce consumption and emissions in the long term. In 2025, RMB 93.1791 million (approximately €11.7 million)was invested in sustainable production measures. Measurable successes include the use of 162,988.76 MWh of electricity from clean energy sources and the recycling of over 97 per cent of the water consumed.
Product Development: Sustainability Meets Performance
At ZC Rubber, sustainability is evident not only in the processes but also in the products themselves. For years, the company has been actively driving forward the development of ‘green products’ These include, for example, tyres with modern silica compounds and optimised designs that offer lower rolling resistance whilst delivering high mileage and reduced noise levels. These characteristics help to lower fuel consumption and emissions in everyday use. ZC Rubber’s tyres are developed specifically to meet the requirements of their respective markets and meet high standards in terms of safety, efficiency and performance.
International Presence and Market-Specific Proximity
With its holistic approach, ZC Rubber positions itself as a responsible and forward-looking tyre manufacturer that combines environmental responsibility with technological excellence. As a global company with sites in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, ZC Rubber combines international production and development expertise with a close understanding of specific markets. In Europe, the company runs a state-of-the-art Technical Center in Hanover. A global network of around 1,500 distribution partners in 200 countries and regions also ensures worldwide availability.
Sustainability as a Key Factor For the Westlake brand
Sustainability plays a central role for the Westlake brand, with which ZC Rubber competes in the European market. This issue is becoming increasingly important, particularly in the OEM segment, as vehicle manufacturers are increasingly reliant on low-emission and resource-efficient components. At the same time, requirements are rising due to regulatory mandates and a continuously growing environmental awareness in the market. Sustainable tyre solutions such as those from Westlake are therefore becoming a decisive factor for ZC Rubber’s competitiveness and further growth in Europe.
Henry Shen, Senior Vice President, Zhongce Rubber Group: “For us, sustainability is not a one-off project, but an ongoing process of transformation. We set up our first recycling plant back in 2005, as we were already aware of our responsibility towards the environment at that time. With our clear commitment to the circular economy and our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, we are actively shaping the future of mobility.”
Martin Wells, Managing Director / President ZC-Technical Center & Global OE Zhongce Rubber Group: “In the European market, sustainability has long been a key competitive factor – particularly in the OEM business. Manufacturers expect solutions that combine efficiency, performance and environmental compatibility. This is precisely what we consistently focus our product development on.”
