News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

On December 12, OMV the integrated energy, fuels & feedstock, and chemicals & materials company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and Synthos, the biggest synthetic rubber producer in Europe with a global reach, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under the MoU, the two companies will cooperate on sustainability, focusing in particular on the supply of sustainable raw materials that can be used to manufacture high-performance tires. This step underlines both companies’ commitment to a circular economy by using bio-based and circular feedstocks, underpinning their mass-balance approach to manufacture essential products in everyday life.

Episode 56 of The Tyre Recycling Podcast is out, featuring Contec's CEO Krzysztof Wróblewski. This episode was recorded at The Future of Recycling Conference during Futurmotive, Expo & Talks. Tune in to hear Contec's plans for the pyrolysis sector.

Australian environmental technology company Entyr has achieved a significant milestone by entering into offtake and collaborative agreements with global commodities industry giant Trafigura. Specializing in addressing the global tire waste problem, Entyr and Trafigura will collaborate on exploring markets for high-quality products derived from end-of-life tires. The offtake agreement stipulates that Trafigura will receive 100% of Entyr's products, including tire pyrolysis oil, carbon char, and recovered carbon black production. The collaboration spans 20 years, aiming to contribute to Entyr's growth and profitability by sustainably recycling key waste streams.

A collaborative effort is underway, uniting companies and professionals across tire manufacturing, retailing, and recycling industries, as they seek a substantial grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The objective is to create a comprehensive system for generating Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all recycled tire products originating from tire recycling processes. Led by the United States Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (TIA STREF), this collective initiative is focused on advancing sustainability practices within the tire industry.

Bekaert – a Belgium-based company that specializes in the transformation and coating of steel wire, with operations spanning 45 countries – has been paving the way for tire reinforcement with high recycled content that contributes to the circular economy. High recycled content reduces the CO2 footprint of the company’s product by about 50%. As a next milestone on its sustainability journey, Bekaert announced that it has obtained its first third-party certificates for its tire reinforcement with high recycled steel content. Such certification helps meet the rising demand of its customers and end markets and address a critical challenge in the industry.

Rosehill Security intruduced its Impakt Defenders – an effective and sustainable solution for preventing hostile vehicle attacks in crowded spaces and during events. According to Resehill, their large footprint and unique shape - designed to deform upon impact - significantly improves their stopping power. Each Impakt Defender is made using 100% recycled rubber, strengthened with polyurethane for enhanced durability. These units are straightforward to install and remove, and their reusability for multiple events reduces waste and lessens environmental impact.

The renowned in the tyre recycling industry British magazine Tyre & Rubber Recycling,recently shared a comprehensive recording of this year's Future of Recycling Conference. The full stream for the 2023 Future of Recycling Conference can now be accessed on YouTube where we welcomed three different speakers:

On December 4th, 2023, Reoil Sp. z o.o. of Poland was awarded REACH Registration EC: 948-949-8 for pyrolysis oil from waste rubber and tires. This makes Reoil the first manufacturer in the world with a permit to produce/import the substance or produce or import an article containing it in quantities exceeding 1,000 MT per year in Europe. Reoil is a tire pyrolysis technology developer and operator in Poland. Reoil has been producing tire derived oils and carbon products at their Bukowna site since 2016. Their successful operation allowed them to achieve positive results over the last three years, achieving a turn-over of EUR 11 million from sales of product in 2023 with an EBITDA margin of EUR 6 million.

Ecore International – a converter of reclaimed tire rubber in North America – has recently acquired Ameritread Remanufactured Tires, a Pennsylvania-based company specializing in remanufacturing certified reconstructed tires. This strategic move is in line with Ecore's dedication to sustainability and circular economy. The acquisition enhances Ecore's access to crucial recycled materials, aligning seamlessly with its mission to transform waste into environmentally responsible, high-performance solutions. Art Dodge, CEO of Ecore, emphasizes the synergy between Ameritread's commitment to remanufacturing tires and Ecore's dedication to the circular economy, solidifying their industry leadership in sustainability.