News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

New Zealand is calling on innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs to help drive circular solutions for tyre recycling, as the country launches a major funding initiative to develop markets for tyre-derived recycled rubber. With millions of end-of-life tyres generated annually, this effort aims to unlock economic value from used tyres and support the transition to a more sustainable, circular economy.

In Richmond, British Columbia, a renewed playground in Steveston Park highlights how recycled tires can create safer, more inclusive community spaces. As part of the 2024 TSBC Community Grant Program, the project features durable, slip-resistant rubber surfacing made from nearly 3,000 locally recycled car tires. This innovative use of tire-derived material enhances safety, reduces maintenance needs, and supports local recycling initiatives.

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Each year, well over a billion tires worldwide reach the end of their life. Many of these discarded tires still accumulate in landfills or are burned for a one-time energy gain, creating pollution and wasting valuable materials. Tire pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling, breaks down end-of-life tires (ELT) into useful products like oil (TPO), gas, and recovered carbon black (rCB). Across the globe – and especially in Europe and the United States – evolving legal frameworks are transforming tire-derived pyrolysis oil (TPO) into a strategic commodity. New laws and policies on both sides of the Atlantic are beginning to treat TPO as a sought-after resource for fuels and petrochemicals. This shift in perspective is driving a wave of investment and innovation in ELT (end-of-life tire) pyrolysis, positioning it as a crucial component in the puzzle of the circular economy.

The U.S. compliance fuel market is undergoing a pivotal shift – from volume mandates to carbon performance. Tire- and plastic-derived pyrolysis oils (TPO & PPO) are now emerging as competitive low-carbon fuel options under key programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

Murfitts Industries and tyre giant Michelin have announced a project to process old tyres, recovering the energy and materials within them. As part of the project, Murfitts, the UK’s largest tyre recycling company, has submitted plans to set up a tyre reprocessing site at Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent premises. The “cutting-edge” process developed by Murfitts will reportedly generate energy which will be used to power Michelin’s production on site, thereby lowering CO2 emissions from the factory by 1,500 tonnes per year. In addition to the energy recovered, the process will also produce recovered carbon black (rCB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO).

Tyre Stewardship Australia’s newly released Material Flow Analysis Report is the national benchmark for tyre flows, recovery, and end-of-life fates. Developed in partnership with sustainability consultancy Blue Environment, it provides the most comprehensive and independent dataset available on tyre material flows in Australia — tracking volumes from import to reuse, recycling, energy recovery and disposal.

Modern Meadow, a pioneer in bio-design, has partnered with Mercedes-Benz AG to develop a sustainable leather alternative for the CONCEPT AMG GT XX. Using Modern Meadow’s INNOVERA™, the collaboration aims to set new interior standards for future vehicles. The innovative material combines plant-based proteins, biopolymers, and chemically recycled AMG GT3 racing tires, aligning with the mass balance approach.

In Episode 74 of The Tyre Recycling Podcast, John Loudermilk, CEO of Birla Carbon, shares insights into the future of recovered carbon black (rCB). He outlines Birla Carbon’s approach to scaling sustainable carbon-based materials, discusses current limitations facing rCB, and explores how continued research may expand its potential uses. The episode also covers the launch of Continua 8030 and updates on the company’s new Patalganga facility.