Blue Tide Environmental
Blue Tide Environmental is a Texas-based, PE-backed used motor oil re-refiner that processes waste lubricants into high-performance base oils, process oils, and CirCol specialty oils for lubricant manufacturers and industrial customers across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPlano, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blue Tide Environmental does
Blue Tide Environmental is a Texas-based used motor oil re-refining company that converts waste lubricants into high-performance base oils, process oils, and specialty oils. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company operates its flagship re-refining facility in Baytown, Texas — described as the world's newest, most advanced re-refining plant — and positions itself as one of North America's leading re-refiners of base and process oils. Blue Tide is controlled by private equity sponsor Tailwater Capital and has a strategic minority investor in Pennzoil-Quaker State (part of Shell Lubricants), reflecting a PE-to-strategic ownership model aligned with the capital-intensive nature of the re-refining industry.
The company's core technology is used motor oil (UMO) re-refining: a process that transforms waste lubricants into specification-grade base oils suitable for blending automotive and industrial lubricants, into industrial process oils used as inputs in manufacturing applications, and into specialty oils marketed under the CirCol brand for industries requiring reliability and environmental responsibility. The platform is anchored by the Baytown facility, with the company indicating plans to develop additional re-refining sites across North America. The technology is a circular-economy infrastructure play, monetizing a regulated waste stream into renewable feedstocks for lubricant blenders seeking lower-carbon alternatives to virgin base oils.
Blue Tide generates revenue through direct B2B sales of re-refined base oils, process oils, and CirCol specialty oils to lubricant manufacturers and industrial customers, with quote-based pricing for enterprise buyers. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting lubricant blenders, complemented by direct feedstock procurement from used-oil suppliers. The company is privately held under Tailwater Capital's control, with Pennzoil-Quaker State (Shell) holding a strategic minority stake acquired in December 2022 to support Baytown plant construction. The company is in a commercial ramp phase, scaling its executive team with new CFO and CCO appointments in 2026 as the platform grows.
Blue Tide Environmental firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Tide Environmental
- Legal name
- Blue Tide Environmental
- Website
- https://bluetideenv.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Tide Environmental is a Texas-based, PE-backed used motor oil re-refiner that processes waste lubricants into high-performance base oils, process oils, and CirCol specialty oils for lubricant manufacturers and industrial customers across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Tide Environmental industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Re-refined Base Oil Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (324)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Products Of Petroleum & Coal (2990), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Used Oil Collection, Re-refining & Circularity (Waste Oil, Recycled Base Oils) (EUALAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Base Oil Production & Supply (Group I–V, Re-refined) (EUALAJAA), Used Oil & Oily Waste Management (Collection, Re-refining, Disposal) (BPALAFAI)
Keywords
Where Blue Tide Environmental is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plano
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Blue Tide Environmental business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Re-refined Base Oils and Process Oils: Blue Tide generates revenue by selling high-performance base oils and process oils that are re-refined from used motor oil. The company positions itself as a supplier to lubricant manufacturers seeking lower-carbon, sustainable alternatives to virgin base oils.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Blue Tide Environmental product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Tide Environmental re-refines used motor oil into high-performance base oils and process oils at its flagship Baytown, Texas facility. The company supplies lubricant manufacturers with lower-carbon, recycled base oil alternatives and markets the CirCol line of sustainable specialty oils engineered for industrial applications.
Product overview
Blue Tide Environmental operates as a re-refining platform that processes used motor oil into high-performance base and process oils. The company offers a core portfolio centered on re-refined base oils and process oils from its flagship Baytown, Texas facility, complemented by its CirCol product line of sustainable, high-performance specialty oils designed for industries requiring reliability and environmental responsibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CirCol: A new line of sustainable, high-performance specialty oils engineered for industries that demand reliability and responsibility.
Products and services
- CirCol Specialty Oils A sustainable, high-performance line of specialty oils engineered for industrial buyers requiring reliable, responsibly produced oil inputs.
- Re-refined Base Oils High-performance base oils produced by re-refining used motor oil, used by lubricant manufacturers as feedstock for motor oils, industrial lubricants, and specialty oils.
- Process Oils Industrial process oils produced through re-refining operations, serving as key ingredients in various manufacturing applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Demand for recycled base oils continues to rise from lubricant manufacturers seeking lower-carbon alternatives
Companies that use Blue Tide Environmental
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Blue Tide Environmental technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Blue Tide Environmental partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Blue Tide Environmental competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Heritage-Crystal Clean: Heritage-Crystal Clean operates used oil collection and re-refining alongside its broader environmental services business, producing base oils and lubricant products. It is a direct peer in North American used motor oil re-refining and shares Blue Tide's B2B sales model into lubricant manufacturers.
- Vertex Energy: Vertex Energy is a US-based specialty refiner that re-refines used motor oil into base oils and other products, and recently commissioned a major re-refining plant in Texas. It is the closest public peer to Blue Tide in scale, technology, and end-market focus.
- Universal Lubricants: Universal Lubricants (PetroLiance / UPG brand) is a US-based re-refiner and blender of motor oils and industrial lubricants. It is a direct peer producing re-refined base oils and finished lubricants for similar customer segments.
Emerging players
- Neste: Neste is a Finnish renewable and circular fuels company that has expanded into renewable and re-refined base oils and lubricants, including a recent re-refining joint venture. It represents the emerging circular-base-oils segment that Blue Tide targets with CirCol.
- SK Enmove: SK Enmove (SK Innovation subsidiary) operates a major used oil re-refining business in South Korea with a Group III base oil focus and global distribution. It is an emerging global player in high-quality re-refined base oils comparable to Blue Tide's quality positioning.
Regional players
- Avista Oil: Avista Oil is one of Europe's largest re-refiners of used motor oil into base oils, with plants in Germany and Denmark. It is comparable in process technology and end products but operates primarily in European feedstock and customer markets.
- Puraglobe: Puraglobe operates a used oil re-refining platform in Europe producing high-quality base oils via its proprietary process. It is a technology-focused regional re-refiner comparable to Blue Tide in process specialization and product focus.
Broad incumbents
- Safety-Kleen: Safety-Kleen (a Clean Harbors company) is the largest used oil re-refiner and collector in North America, with an extensive branch-based collection network and re-refining capacity. It is the primary incumbent Blue Tide must compete with for feedstock supply, plant scale, and lubricant manufacturer relationships.
- Shell Lubricants: Shell Lubricants is the world's largest lubricants marketer and Blue Tide's strategic equity partner. As a major buyer and blender of base oils, Shell represents both a key customer and a benchmark for the recycled base oil supply strategy Blue Tide is building around.
- Chevron Base Oils: Chevron is a major virgin base oil producer (Group II) with global manufacturing and a stated circular economy strategy. It is a broad incumbent competing in the same base oil market and an indirect competitor for re-refined share of lubricant blender demand.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Tide Environmental social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Tide Environmental financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Tide Environmental leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Blue Tide Environmental funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Tide Environmental M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blue Tide Environmental
What does Blue Tide Environmental do?
Blue Tide Environmental re-refines used motor oil into high-performance base oils and process oils at its flagship Baytown, Texas facility. The company supplies lubricant manufacturers with lower-carbon, recycled base oil alternatives and markets the CirCol line of sustainable specialty oils engineered for industrial applications.
Is Blue Tide Environmental a public or private company?
Blue Tide Environmental is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Blue Tide Environmental founded?
Blue Tide Environmental was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Tide Environmental based?
Blue Tide Environmental is headquartered in Plano, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blue Tide Environmental make money?
One revenue line is on record: re-refined Base Oils and Process Oils.
Who are Blue Tide Environmental's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Heritage-Crystal Clean, Vertex Energy and Universal Lubricants. Emerging players are Neste and SK Enmove. Regional players are Avista Oil and Puraglobe. Broad incumbents are Safety-Kleen, Shell Lubricants and Chevron Base Oils.
Does Blue Tide Environmental have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Tide Environmental.
What industry is Blue Tide Environmental in?
Blue Tide Environmental's product category is Re-refined Base Oil Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALAJAK, Used Oil Collection, Re-refining & Circularity (Waste Oil, Recycled Base Oils), with a secondary code of EUALAJAA, Base Oil Production & Supply (Group I–V, Re-refined). Its NAICS code is 324191 and its SIC code is 2990.