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Continental is prioritizing the use of renewable and recycled materials in its tire production. While the share of these materials averaged 26 percent in 2024, the tire manufacturer expects an increase of 2 to 3 percentage points by the end of this year. In just five years, by 2030, this figure is expected to rise to at least 40 percent. Among other materials, the focus is on rubber and resins from various more sustainable sources. Both materials are essential for the quality and performance characteristics of tires.

Seoul, Korea, August 1, 2025 — Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has released its 2024/25 ESG Report, which outlines its sustainability initiatives, performance, and strategic direction for the future over the past year. Now in its 16th edition, this year's report offers a multidimensional view of Hankook Tire's sustainability practices from the past year based on its global ESG vision encompassing: Eco Value Chain, Sustainable Product, Responsible Engagement.

When Europe adopted the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) in June 2023, few outside the energy policy sphere anticipated how consequential the reform would be for niche industries. Yet, for producers of Tire-Derived Pyrolysis Oil (TPO), RED III is more than legislative housekeeping; it's a turning point that transforms a once-marginal circular fuel into a recognized contributor to Europe's decarbonization ambitions.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for June 2025, highlighting a bearish trend in global natural rubber (NR) prices. According to the report, improving supply conditions in major producing regions, combined with rising port inventories and continued uncertainty over international trade tariffs, have placed downward pressure on the market.

Pirelli has launched the first standard production tyre for the global market made with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials, including FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) -certified natural rubber. This certification attests to the responsible management of the natural rubber supply chain, from plantation to factory. By 2026, all natural rubber used in Pirelli's European factories will be FSC™-certified.

Each year, well over a billion tires worldwide reach the end of their life. Many of these discarded tires still accumulate in landfills or are burned for a one-time energy gain, creating pollution and wasting valuable materials. Tire pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling, breaks down end-of-life tires (ELT) into useful products like oil (TPO), gas, and recovered carbon black (rCB). Across the globe – and especially in Europe and the United States – evolving legal frameworks are transforming tire-derived pyrolysis oil (TPO) into a strategic commodity. New laws and policies on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to treat TPO as a sought-after resource for fuels and petrochemicals. This shift in perspective is driving a wave of investment and innovation in ELT (end-of-life tire) pyrolysis, positioning it as a crucial component in the puzzle of the circular economy.

The 30th Annual ETRA Conference on Tyre Recycling, titled “30 Years of Tyre Recycling: Innovations to Build the Future”, will take place on 25-27 March 2025 at Le Louise Hotel, Brussels. This milestone event will reflect on three decades of progress and explore future opportunities driven by innovation and EU-supported initiatives.

The Competitiveness Compass for the EU highlights the need for securing critical raw materials, a crucial aspect for the tire industry which relies heavily on natural rubber. The European Commission’s renewed focus on industrial resilience must include a dedicated Rubber Strategy to ensure long-term supply stability and sustainability.

A research team from the School of Chemical & Process Engineering at the University of Leeds, UK, has published a comprehensive study in the Journal of the Energy Institute (Volume 118, 2025) on the thermal decomposition of end-of-life tires (ELT) and plastics. The study investigates the potential of co-pyrolysis, a process that thermally decomposes mixed materials under oxygen-free conditions, to enhance the production of valuable products such as oil (TPO), gas, and char (raw rCB). Utilizing a laboratory-scale batch reactor, the researchers focused on a 1:1 mass ratio of tire and plastic feedstocks, examining the synergistic effects of decomposition and their impact on product quality and yield.