News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Following a successful edition in 2024, Sustainability in Tires will once again take place in Shanghai this September. As the region’s premier event dedicated to advancing sustainability across the tire value chain, the 2025 edition will feature two days of expert presentations, technical case studies, and in-depth discussions on sustainable materials, circular economy, decarbonization, green manufacturing, and more.

In Barcelona, Spain across the 4-6 November 2025 the Recovered Carbon Black Europe conference, promises to be an exceptional gathering of industry leaders, innovators and experts, all converging to explore the latest advancements and breakthroughs in the dynamic realm of recovered carbon black. Organised by Smithers, this eagerly anticipated event is proud to announce the 2025 full agenda. With presentations from Continental Tires, Circtec, Bolder Industries, Contec, BASF, Cabot Corporation, Birla Carbon, Orion Engineered Carbons and many more.

Ecolomondo Corporation, a leading Canadian innovator in sustainable scrap tire recycling technology, is proud to announce that it has concluded amending agreements to loans with Export Development Canada (EDC). The conclusion with EDC of these amending agreements is an extremely important step forward that should allow the Company to not only benefit from improved working capital but also give investors a higher level of confidence, which is pivotal for the Company to achieve its strategic goals.

On 8 July 2025, the AZuR project group on retreading met at Marangoni’s facility in Henstedt-Ulzburg to advance strategies for strengthening tire retreading in Germany and across Europe. A main focus was preparation for the second AZuR Retreading Summit, scheduled for 16–17 September 2025 at the KRONE TrailerForum. The event will bring together key players in transport and logistics to promote the circular economy through retreaded tires, with a special Logistics Day for fleet operators.

HANWA THAILAND CO., LTD., a subsidiary of HANWA CO., LTD., has made a partial investment in PYRO ENERGIE CO., LTD., a tire pyrolysis recycling company based in Thailand. Globally, large volumes of end-of-life tires and off-spec products from tire manufacturing continue to pose environmental challenges, including illegal dumping and landfilling. While HANWA Group currently supplies tire chips as a low-impact energy source to industrial users in Japan, pyrolysis has become a leading recycling method in international markets.

Austria generates around 70,000 tonnes of end-of-life tires each year. Approximately half of this volume is now materially recovered. A central role in this effort is played by KIAS Recycling GmbH in Ohlsdorf, Upper Austria, which operates the country’s only facility dedicated to material tire recycling. As a partner in the AZuR network, KIAS processes up to 30,000 tonnes of used tires annually from both Austria and neighboring regions.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft rules for calculating, verifying, and reporting recycled plastic content in single-use beverage bottles. This includes chemically recycled material, marking the first time the EU has developed a framework specifically addressing chemical recycling.

The UK government has announced it will remove the T8 exemption, which currently allows mechanical treatment of end-of-life tyres without a permit, as part of broader reforms to the waste exemption regime under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Government say the move is designed to curb illegal waste activity and improve environmental protection.

Pirelli has launched the first standard production tyre for the global market made with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials, including FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) -certified natural rubber. This certification attests to the responsible management of the natural rubber supply chain, from plantation to factory. By 2026, all natural rubber used in Pirelli's European factories will be FSC™-certified.