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Discarded tyres pose significant environmental and health risks, accumulating in landfills, and polluting ecosystems with toxic substances. The current scale of tyre waste exceeds the reach of existing recycling efforts, with over half of Europe’s waste being incinerated or being exported to Asia and Africa for environmentally damaging disposal, underscoring the vital need for innovative solutions in tyre waste management. Moreover, the increasing adoption of electric vehicles will further exacerbate the tyre waste problem as tyres used for electric vehicles wear down faster. CIRCTEC, a UK-headquartered technology company, has developed a proprietary technology for decomposing old tyres through pyrolysis, (a process that transforms waste into valuable circular materials through thermal decomposition in an oxygen-free environment), and for upgrading the products to high-quality recycled chemicals and renewable fuels.

Bridgestone EMEA (Bridgestone), Grupo BB&G (BB&G) and Versalis (Eni) announced the signing of an agreement aimed at establishing a closed-loop ecosystem to transform end-of-life tyres into new tyres. The agreement will bring together the innovation, experience and technological skills of all three companies. The partnership aims to develop a model for the creation of a scalable and increasingly sustainable supply chain. Around one billion tyres reach the end of their useful service life every year, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’s Tire Industry Project1. Bridgestone, BB&G and Versalis are seeking a solution that provides innovative and more environmentally responsible ways to address increased sustainability in the synthetic rubber business, helping to maximise the complete lifecycle of a tyre.

bp has signed an eight-year offtake agreement with Circtec, a UK-based technology company that develops and operates innovative pyrolysis chemical process technology and whose plants convert hard-to-recycle waste tyres into HUPATM - Circtec’s proprietary renewable drop-in marine fuel, and circular naphtha petrochemical feedstock. Under the agreement bp is committed to purchasing up to 60,000 tonnes per year of HUPATM renewable drop-in marine fuel and up to 15,000 tonnes per year of circular naphtha petrochemical feedstock, on a take-or-pay basis, from Circtec’s new commercial-scale plant, for eight years after the new plant is commissioned.

On 15 April, EuRIC’s tyre recycling event “Reinventing the Wheel: Advancing tyre recycling”, brought together all the value chain stakeholders to address tyre circularity challenges and collaborate on opportunities for increased material recovery in the EU. Held in Brussels, the event emphasised the significant untapped potential for tyre circularity. Key requirements include improved ecodesign of tyres, mandatory recycled content targets either in new tyres or other applications, and chemical legislation for recycled materials from tyres based on risk assessment rather than the precautionary principle, all fostered by harmonised EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria.

During August 2020, Weibold's webinars about tire recycling and pyrolysis business will be on a summer break. Our webinars will resume in September to deliver a high-quality content to anyone contemplating business opportunities in tire recycling or pyrolysis. In September 2020, Weibold is hosting an online webinar conducted by Luis Roca Blay and Nora Lardiés Miazza from AIMPLAS, Spain. Our previous webinars covering introductory and some advanced topics will be available as recordings on our website. Special topic: Holistic approach to the recycling of end of life tires (September 24, 2020).

Resuming in September, Weibold's webinars will continue delivering a high-quality content to anyone contemplating business opportunities in tire recycling or pyrolysis. In September 2020, Weibold is hosting an online webinar conducted by Luis Roca Blay and Nora Lardiés Miazza from AIMPLAS, Spain. Our previous webinars covering introductory and some advanced topics will be available as recordings on our website.

Faced with millions of end-of-life tyres in landfill or openly dumped, the Gulf States are developing individual strategies to deal with the waste stream including a growing interest in pyrolysis… The meeting was kicked off by Committee Chairman Max Craipeau of Greencore Resources in China who wondered if “there’s ever been a better time” for tyre recycling. Investors were taking a much closer interest in the sector, especially because of the increasing concern from customers for greater sustainability. “Circularity is finally a reality for the tyre and rubber industry,” he said, referring to chemical recycling such as pyrolysis. “We have always been the poor relative in the recycling industry – because for a long time there was no circularity, as with metals which can be recycled infinitely. “Materials that weren’t necessarily sustainable from a chemical recycling point of view are becoming more and more sustainable thanks to growing demand.”

In a recent article by Automotive World, Krzysztof Wróblewski, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer at Contec S.A., delves into the potential of recycled tires to reshape the future of mobility. Rather than viewing end-of-life tires (ELTs) as mere waste, the automotive industry can leverage them as valuable secondary feedstock for tire manufacturing, aligning with circular principles. This shift could substantially reduce the carbon footprint of tires and contribute to manufacturers' ambitious 2050 goals of achieving net-zero emissions.

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.