Global consumption of biomass, fossil fuels, metals and minerals is expected to double over the next 30 years. The annual volume of waste will even increase by up to 70 per cent by 2050. In order to achieve the goals of the Green Deal, the EU must resolve the conflicting objectives between the circular economy and chemicals legislation and promote the use of sustainable recycled products (including those made from used tyres) across the EU. Otherwise, the Green Deal is at risk of being cancelled!

Tyre recycling industry is one of the European sustainability pioneers

The circular economy of tyres ranges from the sustainable production of new tyres to the environmentally friendly recycling of the raw materials contained in used tyres into high-quality recycled products for a wide range of applications. In this way, the material cycle is sustainably closed.

The cross-industry expansion of the circular economy, from pioneers (such as the tyre recycling industry) to established economic players, will make a decisive contribution to achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, decoupling economic growth from resource use and ensuring competitiveness.

Reuse and recycle 100 per cent of used tyres

Used tyres should be 100 per cent reused or recycled wherever possible in order to avoid waste, reduce CO₂-emissions, conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Around 3.5 million tonnes of used tyres are produced in Europe every year. The more of these tyres can be retreaded, recycled or chemically recovered, the better it is for people, the climate and the environment.

Expand environmentally friendly, material-based tyre recycling

Rubber powder/rubber granulate (ELT) recycled from used tyres in an environmentally friendly way is a valuable secondary raw material for a wide range of sustainable, durable products. The spectrum ranges from weather-resistant, elastic flooring for playgrounds and sports fields to building protection mats for green roofs and photovoltaic systems to rubber-modified (whisper) asphalt.

Around 700 kg of CO₂ emissions can be saved per tonne of used tyres that are recycled and not incinerated. Around 40 per cent of used tyres in Germany are currently recycled, and this figure is set to rise to 75 per cent in the future. In order to achieve this quota across the EU by 2030, the following measures must be implemented by 2030:

• Tyres that can no longer be retreaded must be 90 percent recycled into sustainable rubber granulate and rubber powder.
• Used tyres that are currently still being thermally recycled (especially in the cement industry) must be recycled as quickly as possible.
• Recycled rubber granulate contains firmly bound PAHs, the migration of which cannot be measured under realistic conditions. As part of the EU Commission's review of current PAH limit values, hazard-related, migration- and emission-based measurement methods must be implemented at EU level in order not to jeopardise the sustainable recycling of tyres.