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Since their launch in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 169 timebound targets underpinning them have provided all stakeholders – the private sector included – with a lens through which to translate global needs and ambitions into business solutions. Companies and sectors that apply their creativity and innovation to develop these solutions will be able to better manage risks, anticipate consumer demand, capture growth markets, and strengthen supply chains in line with the sustainability needs outlined by the SDGs.

The chemical recycling of end-of-life tires (ELT) via state-of-the-art pyrolysis technologies does not only avoid greenhouse gas emissions compared to today’s conventional production processes, but it also increases the resource efficiency while closing the loop in the transition to a circular economy. However, civil organisations criticise the production of fuel through chemical recycling, sometimes mutilate the terminology, pointing to the associated environmental impacts, while they overlook the fact that modern ELT pyrolysis concepts are not geared towards the production of "fuels" (which, by the way, should not be defined as "recycling" but rather as less preferred "recovery" according to the EU waste hierarchy).

Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum), a pioneer in the sustainable recycling of end-of-life tires (ELT) based on its patented pyrolysis technology, is closing material cycles together with BASF SE and Mercedes-Benz AG. For this purpose, Pyrum supplies the cooperation partner BASF SE with pyrolysis oil, which is used in combination with biomethane as a raw material in the production of virgin plastics for Mercedes-Benz vehicle components.

In its recent press release, BASF announced it would join the K 2022 trade fair in October 2022 and present its ‘Plastic Journey’ (MAKE – USE – RECYCLE) aimed at a more sustainable plastics (and rubber) economy. Noteworthy, BASF's focus goes beyond plastics and touches other materials, including the topic of end-of-life tires.

Bridgestone Corporation has released its latest integrated report—Bridgestone 3.0 Journey 2022 Integrated Report—and made this report available on its corporate website. This report provides with comprehensive and better understanding of its approach and initiatives aimed at enhancing corporate value over the medium- to long-term.

Currently rubber recycled from end-of-life tires (ELTs) was ranked 3rd among the most suitable candidate streams for which to develop further EU-wide end-of-waste (EoW) criteria in the European Commission JRC’s report. The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ association (ETRMA) and the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) are pleased about this prioritization exercise, although they are right to wonder why there is no date on the horizon. The 3rd place (after Plastic and Textiles) is still worth a medal, nevertheless. Considering the enormous potential of chemical recycling (pyrolysis) of ELTs, the (very) few missing points could have been made up (author's opinion) and a time horizon might be foreseeable.

At the Future of Retreading and Recycling Conference conducted at Autopromotec on in May 2022, industry professionals highlighted numerous noteworthy tire recycling and retreading topics. Italian Autopromotec, a trade show for the automobile aftermarket that increasingly incorporates recycling, was one of the biggest and most informative events of late spring 2022.

Carbon pricing is a policy tool that governments can use as part of their broader climate strategy. A price is placed on greenhouse gas emissions, which creates a financial incentive to reduce those emissions or enhance removals. By incorporating climate change costs into economic decision-making, carbon pricing can help encourage changes in production, consumption, and investment patterns, thereby underpinning low-carbon growth.

Autopromotec is an international exhibition dedicated to automotive equipment and the aftermarket held in Bologna from May 25 to 28, 2022, where more than 1,200 companies will participate. According to Autopromotec, the quarter of all participants are international visitors. As part of this international exhibition, the conference on “The future of tire retreading and recycling” will take place on May 26th. Weibold will be represented by pyrolysis expert Claus Lamer, who will talk about the state of the art of chemical recycling (pyrolysis) of end-of-life tires, current trends, and opportunities.