At FSB 2025, the initiative NEW LIFE solutions for sustainable sports and exercise areas that promote environmental compatibility and social participation. At the NEW LIFE stand, visitors were able to experience a tyre circular economy trail. The white paper on the survey "How sustainable is the sports and fitness industry?" and the new online learning portal NEW LIFE macht Schule for administrative staff were also presented in Cologne. On the first day of the trade fair, NEW LIFE was delighted to welcome vocational school students to the second Climate School Day at the trade fair congress centre. Â
At NEW LIFE's promotional stand in Hall 10.2, schoolchildren and visitors were treated to a tyre recycling experience course. Visitors, especially the invited schoolchildren, were able to experience 30 high-quality flooring systems made from recycled tyre rubber granulate up close, feel the materials and understand the system structure - from barrier-free fall protection for playgrounds and various sports floors to flooring systems for terraces, balconies, squares, paths and horse stables. Anyone who was able to correctly match five randomly selected floor coverings was entered into a prize draw to win five high-quality Terrasoft outdoor vases from NEW LIFE partner Conradi+Kaiser.
[Photos: Stefan Durstewitz]
On the first day of the trade fair, NEW LIFE invited vocational schools from all over Germany to the Climate School Day - with pupils and teachers in the Europasaal of the Congress Centre at KölnMesse. The programme included presentations on the opportunities and possibilities of climate-friendly mechanical waste tyre recycling. In addition, the new animated film "1001 ideas for the liveable city of the future" celebrated its premiere - in which a good tyre fairy uses recycling magic to ensure a green urban future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIhjvZ-Bn_w&t=2s
Until the last day of the fair, visitors were able to submit suggestions for the ideal name for the good tyre fairy. The spectrum of around 50 suggestions submitted ranged from CUIRCULINA to PIRELLA and TINKERTYRE. A jury of experts will soon decide on the best name. The winner will receive a turtle made of rubber tyre granulate: https://www.kraiburg-relastec.com/euroflex/schildkroete/
The new, free-to-use online learning portal "NEW LIFE macht Schule" (NEW LIFE goes to school) was also presented to school classes at the Climate School Day and at the trade fair stand. In eight varied lessons with short films, educational games and interactive content, the importance of circular economy, climate protection, recycling and high-quality products made from tyre rubber granulate for municipal urban development is conveyed to the municipal decision-makers of tomorrow. Teachers can order a free sample pack with attractive NEW LIFE exhibits to help them communicate the content more effectively: https://initiative-new-life.de/new-life-macht-schule/fuer-verwaltungsfachangestellte/
[Photos: Stefan Durstewitz]
The white paper on the NEW LIFE survey was presented exclusively to trade visitors and media representatives in Cologne: "How sustainable is the sports and fitness industry?". The survey of fitness studio and sports centre operators shows that Sustainability has arrived in the industry - over 80 % of respondents rate climate protection, environmental protection and resource conservation as "important" or "very important". Nevertheless, there is still potential: recycled materials, especially rubber granules from used tyres, are still too rarely used. The white paper sees itself as a source of inspiration for implementation - and impressively demonstrated fields of application, innovation potential and opportunities for action at the trade fair: https://initiative-new-life.de/wp-content/uploads/new_life_greenpaper_umfrage-Sport-und-Fitness_2025_04_A.pdf
NEW LIFE's presence at the trade fair made it clear that the circular economy is not just an abstract concept, but an active field of endeavour. Used tyres are turned into high-quality secondary raw materials - textile fibres, steel wire and rubber granules - which in turn are used in construction, sport, cities and infrastructure. At least tens of thousands of tonnes of waste can be avoided in Germany every year.