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Tyre recycling can grow by 400%

A three-year project has shown the European tyre industry has the potential for reprocessing up 400 000 tonnes of ELT granules each year and an ‘astonishing’ increase of 100-400% in current recycle and reuse rates.

Life Green Vulcan, which officially winds up at the end of February 2024, is backed by the EU, has six partners including tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, compliance scheme consultants Innovando, car manufacturer Fiat and researchers at the University of Trento.

Three hundred million end-of-life-tyres (ELTs) are discarded each year in the EU. Less than 13% are reused or recycled, 65% end up in landfill and 17.5% go for incineration. Tyres and other auto components account for three-quarters of all rubber demand in the EU.

The project was tasked with revolutionising tyre recycling and reuse with an innovative and environmentally friendly rubber de-vulcanisation process said to offer enormous potential for extracting raw materials from ELTs.

It can then replace almost all virgin rubber needs, even in high performance applications, making the products significantly more sustainable.

Less GHG The complex process has a low environmental impact, eliminates the use of harmful chemicals, uses sustainable materials and reduces both post-production and post-consumption waste.

The project predicts 100-400% in current recycle and reuse rates with potential reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 15% for spring pads and 7% for treads.

‘Our expectations met reality,’ says Francesco Di Pierro, a business developer at project coordinator Innovando. ‘We’re taking a strategic approach to supplying high-quality sustainable rubber for the automotive and tyre industries. This project shows we’re serious about reducing GHG emissions and moving to the circular management of production waste and supply.’

‘As a result of Life Green Vulcan, I’m expecting new approaches to design fantastic new rubber-based materials,’ adds Nicola Pugno, professor of solids and structural mechanics at Trento University.

Mauro Patelli, project manager at Bridgestone points out the world is facing major challenges with the climate emergency, nature loss and growing inequalities.

‘We need to have easier, safer and more sustainable mobility than ever before. We’re investing a lot of money to identify potential alternatives to natural rubber, and we want to accelerate the collection of ELTs and introduce innovative and effective different recycling technologies.’

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