TNU says tire recycling alone is no longer enough to complete the circular economy unless recovered materials return to the market and replace virgin raw materials. In an article by Javier de Jesús Landesa, Operational Director of Tratamiento de Neumáticos Usados, the Spanish collective system argues that public procurement can become one of the strongest tools for creating stable demand for materials recovered from end-of-life tires. Spain already has a consolidated tire management system and an industry capable of converting used tires into rubber, steel, textile fibers and other secondary raw materials. However, TNU says the main challenge is now commercial and industrial: recycled rubber, retreaded tires, recovered carbon black and other tire-derived materials need markets large enough to absorb them and recognize their technical, environmental and economic value.

Recycling must lead to real material use

TNU argues that the circular economy does not end when waste is recycled. It is only completed when recovered materials are reincorporated into production and substitute virgin raw materials. Without stable commercial outlets, recycled tire materials lose much of their environmental, economic and industrial value.

The organization says Spain has the technical capacity and infrastructure needed to manage end-of-life tires responsibly. The remaining challenge is to ensure that recovered materials are used in sufficient volumes in roads, public works, industry and other applications.

Recycled rubber use remains below potential

TNU highlights recycled rubber granulate as one of the clearest examples of an underused circular material. Its technical performance has been demonstrated in applications such as bituminous mixtures for roads, safety pavements, playgrounds, sports facilities, civil engineering, acoustic insulation and urban furniture.

In road construction, recycled tire rubber can improve asphalt elasticity and durability, reduce rolling noise and improve resistance to aging and fatigue. However, TNU says the use of rubber-modified bitumen in Spain has fallen from around 10,000 tonnes in 2005 to less than 3,000 tonnes today, despite the material’s proven advantages.

Initial cost still limits rubberized asphalt adoption

According to TNU, the limited use of rubberized asphalt is not due to poor technical performance. The organization argues that many decisions are still based mainly on initial cost rather than the total cost over the full service life of infrastructure.

This creates a barrier for materials that may provide durability, maintenance or environmental benefits over time. TNU says procurement decisions should consider lifecycle performance more systematically if recycled tire rubber is to compete fairly with conventional materials.

Retreading presented as priority circular economy route

TNU also points to retreaded tires as a strong example of circular economy practice. Retreading extends tire life and reduces the consumption of raw materials and energy compared with the production of new tires.

According to the article, retreading can save up to 70% of oil, 24% of water and reduce CO₂ emissions by around 30% compared with manufacturing a new tire. Royal Decree 712/2025 places retreading within preparation for reuse, ahead of recycling in the waste hierarchy, and sets minimum targets of 10% in 2030 and 15% in 2035.

Spanish retreading sector has declined sharply

Despite its environmental benefits, Spain’s retreading sector has contracted significantly. TNU says production has fallen by 52% over the past 20 years, from 1,132,500 retreaded tires to 540,850 units. The number of plants has also declined from 46 to 19.

The article cites several causes, including competition from low-cost imported tires, market evolution and limited mechanisms to recognize the environmental and economic value of retreading. TNU says green public procurement could help reverse this trend by creating demand in public fleets and services where retreaded tires are technically and operationally suitable.

Italy cited as example for public fleet procurement

TNU points to Italy as an example of how public procurement can support retreading. Since 2021, Italy has maintained a minimum 30% quota for retreaded tires in certain public fleet categories.

The Spanish organization says similar procurement criteria could help strengthen circular economy markets, support industrial activity and contribute to the targets established by Royal Decree 712/2025.

New markets needed as artificial turf rules change

TNU says the need to create new markets is becoming more urgent because some traditional applications for recycled rubber, including granulate used in artificial turf, face regulatory changes in Europe. These changes increase the need to develop alternative outlets for recovered tire materials.

Potential markets include roads, construction, urban equipment, industrial products, acoustic applications and other uses that can absorb recycled tire rubber while meeting environmental and technical requirements.

Pyrolysis also depends on market demand

The article also refers to new recycling technologies such as pyrolysis, which can recover valuable materials including recovered carbon black. TNU says the technology can produce raw materials with potential to re-enter tire manufacturing and other industrial products.

However, the organization argues that the key challenge is no longer only technological. Recovered carbon black and other tire-derived materials must secure sufficient demand to become established as real secondary raw materials.

Public purchasing power can create circular demand

TNU says public administrations are among the largest buyers in the country and can use procurement to promote recycled materials, innovation and market development. Each public contract can become an opportunity to include environmental criteria and support circular economy products.

The article calls for public tenders to encourage bituminous mixtures with recycled tire rubber, retreaded tires in suitable fleets, urban furniture made with recycled materials, granulate from end-of-life tires and other secondary raw materials. TNU argues that acting from the demand side is essential to allow recycled materials to compete on equal terms and demonstrate their technical, environmental and economic value.

TNU calls for market integration of recycled materials

TNU says Spain’s tire recycling sector has demonstrated that it can collect, manage and process end-of-life tires effectively. The next step is to ensure that the materials obtained from this system have stable applications and sufficient demand.

The organization concludes that circularity is only achieved when recycled material returns to productive use and replaces virgin input. For Spain’s tire sector, this means linking tire recycling, rubber recycling, retreading, recovered carbon black, public procurement and industrial demand into a more complete circular economy system.

Article source: TNU.