Contec Monthly #26: Circularity Challenges in the Tire Industry ??

In this issue, we focus on the circularity challenges of the tire industry.

As the world increasingly shifts focus toward low-carbon business, it’s important to understand the hurdles we face in transitioning from a linear economy model to a circular one, especially in industries like tire manufacturing.

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The Challenges of Circularity in Tire Production ??

Most tires are produced using a linear model, extracting raw materials, producing and using tires, and then disposing of them, often incinerating end-of-life tires (ELTs) for energy. This process depletes valuable resources and contributes to environmental damage and an increase in carbon emissions.

The circular economy offers a powerful alternative by retaining the value of materials within a closed loop. Collecting and recycling ELTs means we can reuse, repair, refurbish, and recycle the materials, keeping them in circulation for as long as possible.

The current challenges in bringing circularity to the tire industry are:

• Material Recovery and Reuse: According to the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC), while 60% of collected ELTs are used for material recovery, over 30% are still incinerated for energy recovery, meaning their raw materials are lost after just one use cycle. Complex tire compositions—made up of rubber, steel, and textiles—complicate recycling efforts.
• Resource Dependency: The tire industry is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for both production and raw materials, with the oil, gas, and coal industries rapidly becoming more turbulent. This resource dependency underscores the urgency to move toward circularity.
• Policy and Regulatory Support: The tire industry requires stronger legislative frameworks to drive the adoption of circular practices. Without regulatory encouragement, tire manufacturers may struggle to integrate sustainable practices widely.
• Technological Innovation: The complex makeup of tires means that new technologies must be developed to efficiently separate, recycle, and reuse the materials involved. There’s a growing need for innovation in processing technologies to make recycling more efficient and cost-effective for tire manufacturers.

What Are The Major Tire Manufacturers Doing to Bring Circularity in The Tire Industry? ??

Companies like Michelin, Bridgestone, and Continental are investing heavily in projects to increase the use of recycled materials in their products and improve tire longevity.

• Michelin has committed to producing tires made from 100% sustainable materials by 2050 and is actively researching ways to increase the percentage of recycled content in their current lineup.
• Bridgestone has also introduced the "Circular Economy Roadmap," focusing on advancing tire recycling technologies and promoting the use of renewable materials.

These initiatives are complemented by pilot projects that explore tire-as-a-service models—where tires are leased, and manufacturers take responsibility for their recovery and recycling—signaling a shift towards extended producer responsibility.

Such efforts showcase the tire industry's growing commitment to sustainable innovation and a circular economy.

Sustainability at Contec: A Focus on Innovation ??

At Contec, we’re taking bold steps to drive the tire industry toward circularity.

Our protected tire pyrolysis process focuses on recovering valuable materials from ELTs, including carbon black (ConBlack), oil (ConPyro), and steel (ConWire?).

By working closely with tire manufacturers, we aim to integrate these recovered materials into new production cycles, reducing reliance on virgin resources and lowering the environmental impact of tire production.

Krzysztof Wróblewski , Contec’s CEO, encourages the importance of overcoming the current challenges in tire circularity:

“At Contec, we believe that the future of the tire industry lies in the circular economy. The journey has technical, economic, and regulatory challenges; innovation and collaboration will help us overcome these hurdles. Working with industry partners and advocating for stronger policies, we can drive meaningful change that will lead to a more sustainable and resource-efficient tire industry.”

The road to a fully circular tire industry is long, but we at Contec are committed to making progress every step of the way.

Circularity in Manufacturing: Latest News in the Industry ??

Every month, we publish trending articles about the circular economy in our industry. Don’t miss what was published in the last month:

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