reTyre, a sustainable tyre manufacturer, will unveil the world’s first carbon-neutral tyre at Eurobike 2024. This innovative concept tyre is made entirely from reclaimed materials, showcasing reTyre’s commitment to reducing emissions and revolutionising sustainable tyre production.

Sustainable materials for a greener future

The carbon-neutral tyre incorporates several unique materials, each chosen for its minimal environmental impact. Algae, sourced through controlled harvesting of blooms, helps restore aquatic ecosystems by preventing eutrophication and methane release. Recycled para-aramid, obtained from used body armour, is broken down and repurposed for the tyre’s beads and puncture protection, promoting a closed-loop recycling system and incorporating renewable carbon. Locally sourced post-consumer recyclate (PCR) with a low carbon footprint further minimises environmental impact. Finally, recycled fish nets collected from oceans are used for the tyre casing, leading to a 49 percent reduction in emissions and a 15 percent decrease in energy use compared to virgin materials.

Friedemann Ohse, who is leading the Carbon-Neutral Tyre Project at reTyre, elaborates on the meticulous process behind achieving carbon neutrality: “The product carbon footprint of this tyre is based on our third-party verified LCA, including the end-of-life, which is how we measure all our products. Our production and transportation processes are optimised to have close to zero emissions. End-of-life is reduced to almost zero due to the recycling of the tyres. The algae used in the tyre has a negative CO2 equivalent, balancing any remaining emissions to achieve a net-zero impact. This way, we have a carbon-neutral product without using well-known shortcuts, such as carbon quotas, subsidies, or other non-product-related contributions.”

Global collaboration for sustainability

reTyre partners with suppliers worldwide to ensure the responsible sourcing of materials. The UN Ecosystem Restoration Programme supports algae harvesting from lakes and oceans across the globe.

Sustainable tyres without compromise

reTyre offers a comprehensive portfolio of 100 percent sustainable products, providing brands with high-quality, eco-friendly tyres. Bio-based and fully renewable materials, never before used in pneumatic tyres, significantly reduce emissions. Additionally, a third-party-verified life cycle assessment (LCA) confirms an 82 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional tyres.

Ohse continues: “This carbon-neutral tyre is at a concept stage, and it is a result of continuous innovation that shows what our unique manufacturing is capable of.”

Beyond innovation: a full range of sustainable options

Alongside the groundbreaking carbon-neutral tyre, reTyre will showcase its entire range of sustainable products, including the new City Range bicycle tyre models explicitly designed for urban riders. These tyres boast bio-based and sustainable materials utilising reusable plant-based elastomers, new tread patterns for enhanced performance and grip, and matching performance to standard tyres, ensuring a smooth, eco-friendly cycling experience. The City Range also features a low carbon footprint throughout production and the product lifecycle and is fully reusable, setting a new benchmark in tyre sustainability. For complete data transparency, reTyre provides comprehensive compliance and sustainability tracking information.

reTyre’s entire product range prioritises sustainability and reusability, a unique proposition in the tyre industry. This commitment ensures that every component can be fully recycled and repurposed, fostering a closed-loop system that benefits the environment.

Green Carbon, a Japan-based developer of nature-based carbon credits, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thailand’s Rubber Authority (RAOT) to launch a biochar project utilising rubber trees from the country’s extensive plantations.

The initiative, which aims to transform waste rubber trees into biochar for carbon sequestration, could become the largest carbon credit project globally, spanning approximately 4 million hectares of plantations, said the Japanese company.

The collaboration supports Thailand’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and aligns with RAOT’s mandate to oversee and modernise the rubber industry.

Rubber trees, typically felled after 25 years of latex production, will now be repurposed to enhance soil carbon storage. This will generate tradable carbon credits while improving plantation sustainability.

Project Highlights

1. Carbon Credit Generation: Waste rubber trees will be processed into biochar, and the resulting soil carbon sequestration effects will be quantified to produce carbon credits.
2. Agricultural Research: Biochar will be tested as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilisers, potentially enhancing rubber plantation productivity.
3. Industry Transformation: Green Carbon will assist RAOT in aligning with global environmental standards, including forest certifications and compliance with EU regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Expansion plans

Green Carbon aims to replicate this model in other major rubber-producing nations, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, to drive broader decarbonisation efforts across Southeast Asia.

The global reclaimed rubber market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5 percent from 2025 to 2034, driven by cost-efficient alternatives to virgin rubber and a shift towards circular economy practices, as per a report prepared by Polaris Market Research & Consulting LLP.

The report further added that the market size is expected to rise from USD 1.6 billion in 2025 to USD 3.95 billion by 2034.

Market dynamics and growth drivers

The report said the market’s growth is underpinned by the increasing adoption of circular economy models, particularly in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

The Reclaimed rubber, sourced primarily from end-of-life tyres, reduces waste while offering a sustainable alternative to virgin materials. Regulatory pressures on waste management and carbon reduction have accelerated its adoption globally.

The report added that technological advancements are also bolstering the industry. Modern techniques, such as devulcanisation, have significantly improved reclaimed rubber quality and production efficiency, addressing the limitations of traditional recycling methods.

Automotive sector leads demand

The automotive sector remains the largest consumer of reclaimed rubber, driven by sustainability targets and cost considerations. Automakers face stringent emissions regulations and rising pressure to reduce environmental footprints, prompting increased use of reclaimed rubber in tyres, seals, and other components.

Regional trends

Regarding regional trends, the report said North America currently dominates the reclaimed rubber market and is expected to maintain its leadership throughout the forecast period. However, growing demand across Europe and Asia-Pacific, fuelled by industrial and automotive expansion, will further accelerate global market growth.

Specialty material solutions provider Trinseo has announced that it has established a tool that provides cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.

The tool features nearly 6,000 Trinseo products, which can be accessed by customers to know the exact carbon footprint associated with a particular product.

On the other hand, LCA assess the environmental impacts of a product beyond PCF, including the use of resource, human health, ecological impacts, and more. This data the company said is crucial for understanding the environmental impact of products, allowing effective material comparison, enhancing R&D innovations, and ultimately contributing to a customer’s sustainability goals.

The Trinseo’s PCF and LCA tool follow the TfS guidelines and the latest European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology and are compliant with the GHG Protocol and ISO standards 14040, 14044, and 14067.

Longxing Chemical Stock has announced plans to acquire 100 percent of China Rubber (Chongqing) Carbon Black from CSRC (Singapore), according to a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

The target company is a key producer of carbon black, a vital material used in the manufacture of automobile tyres and other rubber products.

Longxing Chemical initially proposed purchasing a 55 percent stake in the company, with its actual controller, Liu Jiangshan, set to acquire the remaining 45 percent. However, the plan has been revised, and Liu Jiangshan will no longer participate in the acquisition.

The updated proposal is still in the planning stage, with specific terms and conditions yet to be finalised. Further details are expected as the process progresses.