Beijing, China, January 4, 2026 - Driven by the global carbon neutrality goal, the silica industry is accelerating its transition towards green and low-carbon development. New technological routes, represented by bio-based raw materials, circular economy, and low-carbon processes, have become the core path for enterprises to break through homogenization competition and achieve high-end development.


Bio-based white carbon black: The leap from laboratory to industrialization
In 2025, significant breakthroughs were made in bio-based silica technology. The Petrochemical Institute, through in-situ green modification technology, produced modified bio-based silica using rice husk and carbon dioxide as raw materials. This new silica not only outperforms traditional products but also reduces carbon emissions by 40% during the production process. This technology has been partnered with multiple tire companies and is expected to achieve large-scale production in 2026. Meanwhile, Guizhou Wengfu Lantian Company has developed tire-grade silica using co-occurring silicon resources from phosphate mines. Through innovative processes, they have solved the problem of handling fluorine-containing silicon slag, transforming waste into high-value products and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 20,000 tons annually.


Circular economy model: reducing dependence on fossil raw materials
Leading enterprises in the industry are collaborating to build a circular system through industrial chain synergy. For example, Heimao Corporation has partnered with downstream silicone rubber manufacturers to recycle white carbon black from waste silicone rubber. After regeneration treatment, it is reused in production, forming a closed loop of "raw material - product - regeneration". According to estimates, this model can reduce the production cost of white carbon black by 15%-20% while also reducing the extraction of mineral resources. In addition, some enterprises are exploring the use of carbon dioxide from industrial waste gas to synthesize white carbon black, which not only addresses the issue of greenhouse gas emissions but also reduces dependence on traditional raw materials such as quartz sand.


Low-carbon process certification: opening the door to the international market
With the implementation of policies such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), silica export enterprises are facing stricter carbon footprint requirements. To this end, domestic leading enterprises are accelerating the promotion of low-carbon process certification. International giants such as Evonik and Cabot have already established low-carbon production lines for fumed silica in China. By optimizing reaction conditions and energy structure, the carbon emissions per ton of product have decreased by 30% compared to traditional processes. Domestic enterprises such as Xin'an Stock have developed a low-energy consumption precipitation process through cooperation with universities, reducing energy consumption per unit product by 25% and securing orders from global leading electronic component manufacturers.


Dual-driven transformation by policy and market
The national "14th Five-Year Plan" explicitly designates silica aerogel as a key development area for new materials, and numerous regions have introduced subsidy policies to encourage the research and development of green technologies. For instance, Fujian Province offers subsidies of up to 30% of research and development expenses for bio-based silica aerogel projects, while Guangdong Province has incorporated a circular economy model into its carbon trading market pilot. At the market level, downstream industries have seen a surge in demand for low-carbon products. In 2025, the proportion of low-carbon products in the global silica aerogel market for silicone rubber reached 18%, and it is expected to exceed 50% by 2030.


Future Outlook: Green Technology Reshaping the Industry Landscape
Analysts point out that 2026 will be a pivotal year for the green transformation of the silica industry. With the maturity of bio-based, circular economy, and low-carbon processes, the industry will shed its dependence on traditional fossil raw materials and high-energy-consumption processes, forming a triple competitive advantage of "technology-cost-environmental protection". It is estimated that by 2030, the global green silica market will exceed $20 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 12%, far exceeding the overall growth rate of the industry. In this process, enterprises that master core patents and quality control across the entire industry chain will dominate the new round of market reshuffle.