News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

A "controlled withdrawal" from the Russian market has been declared by Continental AG in response to the challenges caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. During the annual financial results press conference on March 8, Continental’s CEO Nicolai Setzer said that the invasion "driven up prices for goods, raw materials, and energy". This, according to Setzer, is the reason of the withdrawal. “This includes selling our business operations in Russia – such as our plant in Kaluga. We are already at an advanced stage of the sale process here. The regulatory approvals required to ensure its successful conclusion have not been made yet”, said Nicolai Setzer.

*** Webinar recording inside *** The webinar "Upgrading Tire Pyrolysis Oils for Fuels and Chemicals Applications" was held by Topsoe on February 28. The high participation (200+ attendees) shows that the tire pyrolysis industry is interested in innovative technology solutions for upgrading pyrolysis oil.

Greater efficiency in protecting the environment, promoting the circular economy and promoting balanced and loyal relations between all operators in the sector are the main objectives of the Code of Best Practices. Adine, Cetraa, Conepa, the Spanish Recovery and Recycling Federation, Ganvam, Open, Signus and TNU signed the document that reflects the relationship between all the agents involved in the collection and management of end-of-life tires, which is entitled: "Code of Best Practices for the Management of End-of-Life Tires" . With the signing of this document, article 12.3 of Royal Decree 731/2020 is fulfilled, which includes the need to formalize a 'Voluntary Code of Best Practices for the Management of End-of-Life Tires', which promotes balanced and loyal relations among all the operators involved in this waste stream and contribute to the use of best practices in the development of these relationships.

Titan International, Inc. and United Steelworkers (USW) called for restrictions on downstream products made from Russian petroleum inputs, citing in particular concerns over imports of off-the-road (OTR) tires from India. Paul Reitz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Titan International, stated, "Imports of Indian OTR tires increased by close to 38% in 2022 compared to 2021. India was not among the nations to ban imports of Russian oil products, including the production of the by-product, carbon black, which is a key ingredient the production of OTR tries. It is vital to our industry that we intensify our efforts to bring light to and close loopholes in the issued sanctions to Russia."

A Seoul-based startup LD Carbon, which specializes in pyrolysis, waste treatment and raw material recycling, received an equity investment from SK Incheon Petrochem, the petrol business subsidiary of SK innovation. Based on its patented technology, LD Carbon produces Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) by utilizing the residue generated from the pyrolysis of waste tires and supplies it to domestic and foreign tire and rubber product manufacturers. With the latest investment, LD Carbon will establish a new facility producing tire pyrolysis oil, which is produced as end-of-life tires decompose. Korea Development Bank will also help it by issuing new convertible bonds.

On March 2, the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC; www.tracanada.ca) announced that the nominations for its 2023 Industry Leadership Awards are now open. The nominations are open until April 21, 2023, in four categories: Leader of the Year, Young Leader, Lifetime Achievement, and Sustainability. Anyone can nominate a deserving individual or organization (self-nominations are no longer accepted). Corporate nominees must have a physical presence, e.g., office or facility, in Canada. Nominated individuals can be domiciled anywhere. The awards ceremony will take place in conjunction with TRAC’s Annual General Meeting of Members on June 14, 2023.

Robert Weibold – an internationally renowned expert in the field of tire recycling and tire pyrolysis – is attending the 28th Annual ETRA Conference on Tyre Recycling at Le Louise Hotel in Brussels on March 29 - 31, 2023. If you would like to connect with Robert Weibold, discuss business opportunities or request information on consulting services, please send your inquiry at sales@weibold.com. Influential and informative as always it is the unrivalled ‘one-stop’ shop for all those seeking the latest insights into the worldwide business of tyre recycling. With its focus on providing insights into every aspect of the ever more important subject of used tyre management no other single event comes close to delivering essential insights into our future as an industry with its many conference sessions, exhibitions networking and social opportunities.

Learn about the developments of chemical recycling and how it works for artificial turf at the upcoming online webinar by Synthetic Turf Council (STC): Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023 Time: 11:00 AM (EST), UTC -5 Environmental responsibility is an important issue for the turf industry and it is critical to stay informed about the latest advancements. In this webinar, STC takes a closer look at the process of chemical recycling and uncover the opportunities and challenges it presents for end-of-life turf.

The European Rubber Journal (ERJ) reports that the EU has included sanctions on imports of both synthetic rubber and carbon blacks from Russia in its 10th package of sanctions in response to the Putin regime’s war in Ukraine. The decision, announced on February 25, introduces import quotas of 562,973 tons for synthetic rubber and 752,475 tons for carbon black, apparently with immediate effect. According to the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA), the import quotas are valid until 30 June 2024, after which an import-prohibition will apply.