News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Porous Lane, a pioneering venture led by Associate Professor Mahdi Disfani and Dr Amir Mehdizadeh, is revolutionizing the pavement and construction industry in Australia by transforming used tires from landfills into robust and permeable pavements. This technology aims to create flood-resistant cities, enhance water quality, and divert waste from landfills. The founders, supported by the University of Melbourne's Translating Research at Melbourne (TRAM) programs, participated in the 2019 TRAM Track and are currently part of the 2023 TRAM Air cohort, focusing on refining their venture's investibility.

At its Board meeting of 9 November, ETRMA Members elected Chris Delaney of Goodyear as President of the Association for a two-year term of office starting on 1 January 2024. Mr Delaney is President EMEA of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and currently serves on the Board of ETRMA. Dr Ralf Holschumacher of the German Rubber Industry Association (WDK) was elected Vice President at the meeting.

On November 9, the European tyre industry welcomed European Parliament Plenary vote and the progress made towards delivering meaningful tyre abrasion limits under the auspices of Euro 7. “The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) is committed to setting tyre abrasion limits that are global and based on a reliable and reproducible test method,” said Adam McCarthy, Secretary General of ETRMA.

With new European partners, Allianz Zukunft Reifen (AZuR) is gaining additional expertise in pioneering technological fields of the tire circular economy. Among AZuR’s new partners is now Weibold – tire recycling and pyrolysis consulting company from Austria. Beside this, AZuR-Network joined: The Bavarian CTS Bitumen is the technology leader in the rubber modification of bitumen for road construction.

During the recent 2023 Recircle Awards ceremony on the 16th of November 2023, 20 winners were announced. Among the winners, a very-well deserved recognition received Jean-Paul Bouysset, Senior Consultant for Rubber Products Pyrolysis at the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA), who received a Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.

According to the latest Pyrum Innovations AG’s (Pyrum) press release, Pyrum and BASF Antwerpen NV have signed a new cooperation agreement on November 15, 2023. This provides for a conditional loan of initially EUR 25 million, available in tranches, which is intended to serve as start-up financing for the implementation of Pyrum Innovations AG's specific project pipeline by 2026. The subject of the agreement is the planning, project planning and construction of at least three new plants with an annual capacity of 20,000 tons of used tires each using the funds made available. Pyrum plans to use the funds in particular for the construction of the announced plant in Saarland as well as the equity contribution and co-financing of up to five of the projects announced in recent months with financially strong partners.

Tire Stewardship BC – a not-for-profit group dedicated to the collection and recycling of scrap tires in British Columbia – announced that it will provide an annual grant of $30,000 to Ocean Legacy Foundation (OLF) for a period of five years. This funding will support OLF in their efforts to conduct clean-up expeditions for scrap tires across British Columbia, with the aim of diverting waste from landfills and promoting circularity in the waste sector.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) releases the Monthly Natural Rubber (NR) Statistical Report, September-October 2023 (combined issues). During this period of September and October, the snapshot of the recent trend of global NR market are available at ANRPC’s website. The escalation of geopolitical tensions and adverse weather conditions, particularly during the monsoon season in NR-producing countries, such as Thailand, have played a pivotal role in shaping market sentiment.

Contec S.A. – a Poland-based company that specializes in producing sustainable raw materials by upcycling end-of-life tires – reports that its team has visited Contec’s partner, TRS - Tyre Recycling Solutions SA – an innovative tire recycling company from Switzerland. During the visit, the companies have signed the Joint Development Agreement.