Bolder Industries wins €32M EU innovation grant for European expansion
Boulder, CO – Bolder Industries Belgium, an affiliate of US-based Bolder Industries Inc., the circular solutions provider for rubber, plastics, and petrochemical industries, announced a landmark achievement in its global expansion efforts. The European Commission awarded the company a €32 million grant from its highly competitive EU Innovation Fund pilot program, marking a significant endorsement of its cutting-edge approach to sustainable materials. The Flanders region has committed an additional €2 million to support the construction of Bolder Industries’ new state-of-the-art facility at the Port of Antwerp.
The grant, awarded from a pool of over 337 applicants with only 85 selected projects, highlights Bolder’s dedication to circular innovation and underscores its potential for substantial impact on greenhouse gas reduction. The Antwerp facility is projected to achieve up to an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional virgin carbon black production, showcasing the company’s commitment to transformative sustainability.
The forthcoming Antwerp plant, modeled after its successful U.S. facility in Missouri, will have four proprietary reactors, a state-of-the-art finishing line and will use wind power and heat generated at the location for its energy needs. The Antwerp facility will process over 4 million end-of-life tires annually. This increased production capacity will accelerate the availability of the company’s flagship sustainable raw materials, BolderBlack™ and BolderOil™, to meet the rising global demand for eco-friendly alternatives. BolderBlack is currently in more than 3,000 commercial products including passenger tires, wetsuits, belts, hoses, automotive plastic parts and coatings. BolderOil™ is also providing sustainable attributes to renewable fuels, traditional carbon black production, process oils and solvents.
“This is more than a grant—It’s an investment in the future of sustainable manufacturing,” said Tony Wibbeler, Founder & CEO of Bolder Industries. “Support from the European Commission and the Flanders region validates the innovation at the heart of our technology and the critical need for sustainable solutions across the globe. This allows us to create a blueprint for a greener, more circular future.”
“As Bolder’s first facility of this scale in Europe, the Antwerp plant is a foundational step in the company’s broader European growth strategy,” added Wim Van den Broeck, Bolder Industries Director of Project Development. Construction of the facility will begin in 2026, with full operational capacity anticipated by 2027.”
The success of Bolder Industries’ grant application is due in part to the support of Moore Grants & Incentives, whose expertise throughout the process has helped make a difference.