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Bridgestone Corporation – a global tire manufacturer – announced the launch of a joint research and development program with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tohoku University, ENEOS Corporation and JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION. This program is aimed at developing chemical recycling technologies that utilize end-of-life tires to achieve high-yield production of isoprene, a raw material for synthetic rubber.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) announced the election of four new members to its Board of Directors during the Board’s January 25 meeting. "I am pleased to welcome these new members to USTMA’s Board of Directors," said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO.

End-of-life tires (ELT) are a valuable resource for the circular economy. Of course, natural rubber is important, but it only makes up roughly a fifth of a passenger vehicle's tire. Synthetic polymers, steel, and textiles all play a role in the process.

Episode 29 of the Tyre Recycling Podcast features a returning guest Tony Wibbeler, the CEO and Founder of Bolder Industries – a renowned tire pyrolysis operator and recovered carbon black producer – who gives a thorough update on the activities of the company in the last 12 months. In the interview, Wibbeler speaks about investments by Bolder Industries in Maryville and at the former Pyrolyx plant.

Modern chemical tire recycling (pyrolysis) plants produce environmentally friendly chemical raw materials, and thus they support the overarching and specifically specified goals of the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, they can make a significant contribution to reducing GHG emissions in the manufacture of tires.

In the most recent Tyre & Rubber Recycling Podcast, Michelin and Bridgestone's Call to Action received a good response. Tyre & Rubber Recycling's editor Ewan Scott met with a number of pyrolysis operators and inventors after the Smithers rCB Conference to find out what they anticipated the impact will be on their industry. The 28th episode of the podcast features video comments from Thomas Sorensson from Enviro, as well as feedback from Rob Harper from CIRCTEC and Pascal Klein from Pyrum Innovations. It also features video links with Jens Elton Andersen of Windspace and Henrik Selstam of Wastefront, both of whom have large-scale start-up aspirations.

Following its traditionally successful track record, another Recovered Carbon Black Conference organized by Smithers turned out to be a great success. The conference took place on November 22-23, 2021, in Amsterdam (The Netherland). Recognized within the industry as an essential platform for experts and innovators, the program offered a 360-degree perspective of the Recovered Carbon Black market. Key industry leaders from around the world shared their expertise, case studies and latest findings.

Michelin and Bridgestone publicly announced their collaboration on developing the recovered carbon black on November 22 at the Smithers rCB Conference in Amsterdam. Sander Vermeulen of Michelin and Jake Ronsholt of Bridgestone took to the stage to discuss the role of pyrolysis in the tire recycling industry as well as the opportunities it presents. Vermeulen was apparent that pyrolysis had the potential to reduce the amount of fossil fuel utilized for virgin Carbon Black used in tires, but there were obstacles. Vermeulen was apparent that pyrolysis had the potential to reduce the amount of fossil fuel utilized for virgin Carbon Black used in tires, but there were obstacles. According to Vermeulen, many operators had demonstrated that industrial pyrolysis on a small scale could produce the needed rCB. However, when scaled up to major commercial operations, there was no uniformity and no standards, and there was a lack of consistency and specification.

In a landmark commitment, Tyre Stewardship Australia Limited (TSA) recently announced that major OTR tire importers Bearcat, Bridgestone Mining Solutions, Goodyear, Kal Tire, Michelin and Yokohama have committed to joining the voluntary Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme (the Scheme) from January 2022. TSA stresses that some 140,000 tons of OTR tires are sold into the Australian market each year to industries including mining, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and aviation. Regrettably, less than 15 percent of end-of-life tires within this sector are recovered as a resource, with the majority ending up buried on site, dumped or in landfill.