Technological Breakthrough | 2026 Global Sustainable Rubber List Released, Closed-loop Recycling of Vulcanized Rubber Realizes Industrial Breakthrough

European Rubber Journal unveiled the Top 10 Benchmark Projects of Global Sustainable Rubber 2026, with recycled rubber and bio-based rubber & plastic materials standing as core R&D focuses of the industry.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have overcome the long-standing challenge of irreversible recycling of vulcanized rubber via reversible disulfide bond reduction technology. Recycled vulcanized rubber can regain physical and chemical properties equivalent to virgin rubber and be directly reused to manufacture seals and rubber hoses. The university is now cooperating with domestic Chinese rubber enterprises on mass-production formula trials.

In addition, Trelleborg has developed low-carbon EPDM together with raw material suppliers modified from agricultural and forest straw. The new material cuts carbon footprint by 55% year-on-year and is widely applied in sealing parts for new energy vehicles and construction machinery rubber components.