New approach, new language for Sweden’s end-of-life tyres

A more entrepreneurial approach to the value of recycled end-of-life tyres is paying dividends for Sweden’s extended producer responsibility organisation Svensk Dackatervinning (SDAB).

‘How to create value from end-of life tyres’ was the theme of Fredrick Ardefors when he spoke to BIR’s Tyres and Rubber committee at the world recycling organisation’s recent convention in Copenhagen. Ardefors, who is ceo of SDAB, said the key approach was not to offer tyre-derived material but ‘repurposed performance’ materials.

The need for new opportunities is now greater because of the European Commission’s ban by 2031 of the widespread use of crumb rubber as infill in synthetic turf.

Real value

‘More and more tyres were going by boat for the cement industry energy recovery so we decided we had to do something about this,’ Ardefors told his audience. Two-and-a-half years of analysis led to a 400-page report which put value for the customer as a priority.
‘Repurposed performance means we take something from the material and give it real value for the customer,’ he said.

SDAB launched its new strategy in January 2023. ‘We decided to own the material from collection to delivery to customer. We buy the collection and we buy the processing. This means big volumes for long-term contracts. When pyrolysis companies come looking for 10-year contracts, we can give them that.’

The corporate structure has five divisions:

• EPR – non-profit
• ELTRP – research portal
• Cerub – sustainability label
• Rubber Hall – product exhibition and sales space
• Bon Orbit – raw material supplier

Facts, facts, facts

Ardefors said they saw a need for facts (‘facts, facts, facts’) about the different tyres and their composition. ‘There was no database in the world until we started it. We have 125 reports today and will have 500 by the end of the year.’

A perceived lack transparency and traceability in the sector led to the Cerub sustainability label, with Norway, Finland and the Netherlands. It is self-declared certification but third-party audited. ‘Rubber Hall’ was devised as a digital and physical showroom to highlight products using recycled tyres.