Wastefront, a Norwegian rubber waste recycling company, has partnered with VTTI, a global energy storage infrastructure provider, for an investment of up to USD 43 million for the construction of the first phase of Wastefront's plant in Sunderland, England. Over five years, the two companies will also conduct site selection surveys to identify eight jointly-owned VTTI-Wastefront sites, where Wastefront's solution will be implemented and operated by VTTI.

The partnership marks the first time Wastefront's technology has been licensed for global deployment; Wastefront hopes to further accelerate global deployment by leveraging VTTI's industry-leading expertise, existing global footprint, and terminal locations. For VTTI, this investment is part of its global growth strategy, with the goal of having more than 50% of its activities in new and transitional energy sources by 2028.

Founded in 2019, Wastefront chemically recycles end-of-life tires (ELT) using pyrolytic reactors that employ thermal depolymerization to produce carbon black to be used as a reinforcement for natural rubber in tire production, mechanical rubber goods, or as a filler for plastics. The company's first facility in the northeast of England at the Port of Sunderland will begin construction this year and is expected to be fully operational in 2026.