As part of the Art of Recycling initiative led by Swedish Tyre Recycling (SDAB), glass artist Lisa Hartwig Ericson has conducted a unique experiment—blowing glass using steel wire recovered from end-of-life tyres. The initiative encourages artists and designers to reinterpret recycled tyre materials through their own creative practices, with the aim of shifting perceptions around tyre waste.

Hartwig Ericson, currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Craft at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, was particularly interested in the fine steel particles left after tyre materials are separated. Her process involved incorporating this steel into molten glass, resulting in intricate internal patterns formed by air bubbles trapped around the steel. These patterns reflect and interact with light, revealing unexpected visual effects.

In addition to highlighting aesthetic value, the project draws attention to the broader potential of tyre-derived materials. Steel, rubber, and textile fibres recovered from tyres are often overlooked, but can serve useful purposes across various sectors—including art, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

Frida Grunewald, Communications Manager at SDAB, emphasized the importance of reframing how tyres are viewed: “We need to move from seeing tyres as a waste problem to recognising them as a valuable resource.”

The Art of Recycling project aims to facilitate that shift by encouraging cross-disciplinary exploration of recycled materials. It remains open to participation from artists, designers, and creators interested in contributing to a more circular approach to materials use.

More information about the initiative and a film documenting Hartwig Ericson’s glassblowing process can be found at: www.artofrecycling.se.