Zeon Starts Up Pilot Plant for Carbon-Neutral Butadiene Production

Japanese chemical producer Zeon has completed a pilot plant for the carbon-neutral production of butadiene.

According to the company, the facility is located at its Tokuyama site in Shunan, southwestern Japan. Construction began in summer 2025, with full-scale commissioning scheduled to be completed by January 2027. The pilot plant will be used to test a proprietary process developed by Zeon to produce butadiene from plant-derived ethanol and other sustainable feedstocks.

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The facility forms part of a joint project between Zeon and Japanese tire manufacturer Yokohama Rubber aimed at establishing more sustainable tire production. Zeon intends to use the butadiene produced at the pilot plant to manufacture new polybutadiene materials. Yokohama Rubber will subsequently use these materials to develop corresponding tire products. Commercialization of the new production processes is currently targeted for 2034.

The companies have not disclosed the level of investment associated with the projects. The collaboration between Zeon and Yokohama Rubber is receiving financial support from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Headquartered in Tokyo, Zeon is one of the world’s leading suppliers of synthetic rubber and specialty polymers. The group operates numerous production sites and subsidiaries in Japan and also has a presence in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mexico and Brazil.

In fiscal year 2025/2026, Zeon generated sales of JPY 412 billion (EUR 2.231 billion), operating profit of JPY 36.4 billion (EUR 197 million) and net profit of JPY 36.2 billion (EUR 196 million).

More information: www.zeon.co.jp, www.y-yokohama.com, www.nedo.go.jp

Zeon Corporation, Japan + Zeon Europe GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany