In Germany, nearly 500,000 tons of end-of-life (EOL) tires accumulate each year, with only a small portion being recycled into new tires. A digital tool known as the Configurator for the Circular Economy (ConCirMy) has been developed to provide environmental information to stakeholders in the tire supply chain. This tool aims to help consumers, designers, and recyclers make informed decisions regarding tire purchases by considering their environmental performance. The ConCirMy project aims to optimize tires for the circular economy without compromising quality.

While tire recycling technologies exist, their adoption is limited. Vehicle manufacturers face pressure, driven by regulations like the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, to increase recycling rates. As the automotive industry shifts to electromobility, recycling becomes even more critical due to the complexities of recycling certain components.

ConCirMy seeks to create a product configurator that informs users about a tire's environmental and sustainability aspects, including raw materials, recycling, and reuse possibilities throughout its lifecycle. This tool is intended for various supply chain stakeholders, such as consumers, designers, and recyclers, allowing them to make environmentally conscious decisions alongside other factors like functionality and cost.

Ultimately, ConCirMy aims to promote the production and purchase of sustainable products, environmentally friendly designs, and the transition to recycling and reuse. This configurator serves as a unifying core system, making specific information accessible to different supply chain actors. It also integrates environmental assessments into the product configuration process.

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The configurator software can provide the various stakeholders in the supply chain with information on the environmental performance of the tyres | Image by Dechema.

The ConCirMy project involves CAS Software AG, Dechema e. V., the Department of Innovation Economics at TU Berlin, and DIN. CAS Software AG is leading software development for the configurator. Dechema e.V. conducts market research and life cycle assessments. TU Berlin focuses on socio-economic analyses and business models, while DIN explores potential standardization needs.

Read more about ConCirMy's efforts to enhance tire sustainability in the full article.