Lehigh Technologies Wins 2015 Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer award

On 13 April Lehigh Technologies, a materials company producing micronized rubber powders (MRP), announced it won the 2015 Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer award. Lehigh Technologies was recognized for its innovation in commercializing a range of Micronized Rubber Powders (MRP) from end-of life tyres that are used as raw materials in a wide range of industrial markets, ranging from rubber to asphalt. MRP can reduce feedstock costs by 30 per cent or more, while delivering equivalent or improved performance and an improved sustainability profile compared to oil-based chemical inputs.

“Lehigh is at the forefront of a megatrend to develop sustainable chemical building blocks that can replace oil-derived materials at a compelling price point, without sacrificing performance,” says Alan Barton, CEO of Lehigh Technologies. “The Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer award is a tribute to our world-class team of chemists and engineers who work closely with our customers to optimize how MRP is used to improve end-products. We are honotred to receive this prestigious award and look forward to continuing to help our customers across the world improve their sustainability profile.”

The Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers award recognizes the top 10 companies globally that are revolutionizing the field of clean energy technology and innovation. The nominees are judged based on the potential to scale the technology, the originality of the technology and business model, as well as momentum and ability to grow the company. Judges include industry experts from US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Bloomberg New Energy Finance and BP Alternative Energy North America. Previous winners have included industry leaders such as Opower, Clean Power Finance and Silver Spring Networks.

“Our New Energy Pioneers program seeks to recognize innovative companies that have the potential to impact the future energy landscape.” said Michael Wilshire, Head of Analysis and New Energy Pioneers Committee Chair, Bloomberg Energy Finance. “One important aspect is the extent to which industrial processes use energy efficiently and minimize the release of CO2 emissions. The judges were impressed by Lehigh’s approach to this – with an innovative solution that turns waste tires into recyclable micronized rubber powder that can be incorporated into new tires, asphalt or plastics, as an alternative to incineration.”

To date, Lehigh’s MRP has been used to manufacture over 300 million tires. Lehigh counts six of the top 10 global tyre manufacturers as customers and supplies MRP to 15 different countries.