Despite two decades of reform, Europe’s tyre recycling ecosystem remains mired in regulatory inertia and market fragmentation. While the EU successfully curbed tyre landfilling in the early 2000s and achieved high collection rates, true circularity remains elusive. Over half of collected tyres are still incinerated rather than recycled into new products. The lack of mandatory recycled content targets, harmonised end-of-waste criteria and coherent eco-design regulations continue to stall progress. As environmental stakes rise and end-markets like artificial turf face bans, EuRIC’s latest manifesto lays bare the urgent need for systemic reform, spotlighting persistent policy voids, legal ambiguities and missed opportunities across the value chain.

Europe’s tyre recycling challenges have been building for over two decades. Back in 1999, the European Union banned tyre landfilling under Directive 1999/31/EC. This forced a major shift, and by 2003, landfilling tyres was officially prohibited. At that point, Europe still struggled to manage the sheer volume of end-of-life tyres (ELTs), often resorting to incineration or exporting them for disposal elsewhere.

Since then, collection rates improved dramatically, from around 25 percent in the mid-1990s to nearly 95 percent by 2010, but recycling quality remained substandard. Although most ELTs were collected, half were used for energy recovery, not material recycling. True circular solutions like reusing rubber in new tyres have lagged due to technological and regulatory hurdles

Complex EU regulations, limited mandates on recycled content and ecological concerns slow innovation. Over the past few years, initiatives like Life Green Vulcan, BlackCycle and policy push from the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) show growing momentum, but real impact is yet to be seen.

EuRIC has been constantly advocating reforms that would change the course of the continent’s tyre recycling space with its recent manifesto delving into the immediate steps that ought to be undertaken to strengthen the tyre recycling industry.

EuRIC, through its Mechanical Tyres Recycling Branch (MTR), outlined a comprehensive vision for strengthening Europe’s tyre recycling sector. With over five million tonnes of tyres produced annually in the EU and around three million tonnes becoming ELTs, only about half are recycled – the rest are incinerated. EuRIC underscores the environmental advantages of mechanical tyre recycling and advocates for prioritising it over energy recovery to align with circular economy goals.

Speaking to Tyre Trends on the biggest obstacles to implementing mandatory recycled rubber content targets in new tyres and how industry collaboration can help overcome them, EuRIC’s Technical Advisor for tyres, Gabriel Gomez, mentioned, “Currently, the main regulatory challenge is the lack of a mandate from the authorities to define how and when the mandatory recycled content targets are to be implemented. We have received good feedback from the manufacturers in Europe regarding their willingness to include these targets. However, there is a need for a solidly defined regulatory framework that guarantees a level playing field in the tyre value chain and promotes innovation in this area.”

“The main risk of failing to implement harmonised end-of-waste criteria lies in the growing, practical need for a defined set of criteria to determine end-of-waste status. If the EU delays further in the creation of harmonised end-of-waste criteria, this will push member states to create their own national criteria, which could vary significantly and prove incompatible. This fragmentation would lead to market disruption, create confusion across the value chain and introduce legal uncertainty – all of which would ultimately weaken the European recycling industry and its competitiveness,” he added.

He noted that EuRIC strongly supports a complete ban on the export of tyres and tyre shreds for incineration or landfilling. These practices represent a misuse of valuable resources that should be reintegrated into the economy and clearly contradict the waste hierarchy in the European Waste Framework Directive.

“EuRIC, representing Europe’s tyre recyclers would welcome swift implementation of such a ban, especially since existing tools such as the Waste Shipment Regulation are already being used to prevent exports to operators and facilities that do not ensure environmentally sound treatment of these materials,” noted Gomez.

THE MANIFESTO

The recently published manifesto by EuRIC proposes five key policy actions to address systemic barriers and unlock the potential of tyre recycling. First, it calls for mandatory recycled content targets – 10 percent for new tyres and 20 percent for automotive parts – to stimulate demand and reduce reliance on virgin rubber. Public procurement and financial incentives like VAT reductions are also suggested to support this demand shift. Currently, artificial turf accounts for a major share of ELT-derived rubber, but impending bans on micro-plastics threaten this end-market, making policy support more critical.

Second, EuRIC demands a ban on the export of unprocessed and shredded waste tyres outside the EU. ELTs are often exported to regions with weak environmental controls, where they are landfilled or incinerated. Countries like India have become significant importers, raising environmental and regulatory concerns. To counter this, EuRIC stresses the need for strict enforcement of the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation and advocates for EU-wide end-of-waste (EoW) criteria to facilitate trade within the EU and promote high-value recycling.

Thirdly, the manifesto emphasises the importance of eco-design in tyres, urging that tyres be made retreadable, recyclable and free from hazardous substances. Innovations like self-sealing and noise-reducing foams, while performance-enhancing, impede recycling and can even cause fires during shredding. EuRIC supports the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and wants tyre manufacturers to bear the cost of non-recyclable designs.

Fourth, EuRIC promotes the Digital Product Passport (DPP) as a key enabler of recycling efficiency. Current data on tyres is insufficient; hence, they propose leveraging RFID technology to track chemical composition and recyclability through a centralised database. This transparency would help recyclers better handle materials and comply with chemical regulations.

Lastly, the manifesto addresses the need for a science-based chemicals policy that supports recycling rather than undermining it. The current trend towards hazard-based regulation with near-zero thresholds for certain chemicals risks sidelining recycled materials. EuRIC urges a shift towards risk-based assessments, transparent

testing methods and harmonised standards to ensure recycled materials remain viable in the EU’s green transition.

TOWARDS RECYCLABILITY

According to Gomez, mechanical tyre recycling is a recycling method for rubber that has stood the test of time. It remains the most common and best-established route for recycling tyres in Europe with the technology offering high-quality output. It also has the added value that it can serve as a reliable supplier for further processing technologies dealing with vulcanised rubber. Recycled rubber from ELTs offers significant potential for technologies that require a uniform and predictable input to maintain control over industrial processes.

Nonetheless, over three years after rubber from ELTs was prioritised, no regulation has materialised yet. Commenting on what lead to the stalling, Gomez noted, “The past year has brought major changes at EU level with the start of a new Commission mandate, which may explain the shift in priorities. However, at EuRIC we are working closely with manufactures and policymakers to keep the issue high on the agenda. We see harmonised EoW criteria as a key opportunity to align the interests of recyclers and manufacturers. Harmonised EoW criteria would bring significant benefits for the entire value chain, from boosting investment and legal certainty to increasing the uptake of recycled materials.”

Alluding to whether the current EU chemicals legislation, especially restrictions on substances like PAHs, appropriately balances environmental protection with the needs of a circular economy or does it unintentionally favour virgin materials, he stated, “It is not a matter of favouring virgin materials. The main issue is that the current legislation is not designed to consider that the materials in an article may have more than one life. Whenever the legislation targets the content of a substance in a recycled material, sometimes it fails to consider the real exposure to the substance based on the application and the nature of the material.”

Digital Product Passport is another vital tool for the entire industry’s circularity goals. While it is still in its early stages, EuRIC notes that there are projects that target the implementation of the DPP in tyres and it is optimistic about the possibilities this tool offers to the industry. Amongst the information that the DPP should make available for recyclers is the contents of substances of concern and hazardous substances as well as any substances or features that would hinder the recycling of the tyres. With this information in hand, the recyclers will be able to sort the tyres in a manner that allows for safer recycled products and more efficient processing.

PERSISTENT HURDLES

According to Gomez, illegal or poorly regulated exports of tyres create serious problems both economically and environmentally. They drain valuable raw materials from the EU and risk harming the environment and public health in importing countries if ELTs are not treated in an environmentally sound manner.

Furthermore, the loss goes beyond the economic aspect when it comes to the materials used on tyres. Incinerating ELTs destroys a valuable resource like rubber and locks us into a linear economy model that’s no longer fit for purpose. Recycling, on the other hand, and overall circularity of tyres, keeps materials in the loop, boosts resilience and contributes to EU sustainability and competitiveness.

A strong starting point to combat illegal exports would be the rigorous enforcement of the Waste Shipment Regulation, specifically targeting ELT exports. If recyclers can count on a steady, reliable supply of materials, they will invest. Increased availability of material and supply security are essential to encourage investments in recycling.

“An important take-away of the policy related to tyre recycling is that tyres should be treated as strategic resources, not just waste. Tyres are essential to every economy activity and inevitably reach its end-of-life stage. This makes it critical to regulate the full lifecycle, from design to disposal, with circularity in mind. Aligning on principles, like prioritising recycling over landfilling or incineration, would already be a big step forward globally,” averred Gomez.

Commenting whether Europe’s mechanical recycling infrastructure is equipped to handle a sharp increase in ELTs if exports are banned, he mentioned, “The mechanical tyre recyclers in Europe are determined to meet the challenge and tackle the increase in ELTs if an export ban is implemented. However, unlocking further capacity and investments in future development projects depend on regulatory certainty. That means a guaranteed level playing field through harmonised EoW criteria, recycled content targets and eco-design for improved recyclability. With the right framework and tools, uncertainty can be removed and investments will follow.”

While the mandatory recycled content requirements are essential to boost recycling, complementary short-term financial incentives, whether market-based or fiscal, are equally necessary to close the price gap between primary and recycled materials. Fiscal incentives, such as reduced VAT rates for recycled materials and products made from recycled materials, can play a major role in encouraging uptake. Green public procurement also holds substantial potential to stimulate demand for more sustainable and circular products.

Recycled materials from ELTs have real potential in the EV supply chain. Interest is growing, and EuRIC is confident that recycled rubber can be a reliable, high-quality material to support the shift to greener mobility.

Gomez noted that there are many encouraging examples of manufacturers incorporating recycled and sustainable materials into tyre design. A great advantage that recycled materials from ELTs offer is the availability of high-quality recycled raw materials that reliably allow manufacturers to experiment and innovate as they know that the recycling industry is capable and ready to deliver.

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ContiTech, a group sector of Continental, has officially launched production at its new USD 90-million hydraulic hose manufacturing facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This significant investment is a strategic move to reinforce local supply chains, boost regional production capacity and position innovative fluid power solutions closer to its customer base across North America.

The new 900,000-square-foot plant will produce high-performance hoses for numerous industrial and mobile applications, serving vital sectors such as construction, agriculture, mining and energy. It has been designed to operate in a tightly coordinated network with ContiTech’s existing facility in Norfolk, Nebraska. This dual-plant strategy enhances production flexibility, improves operational efficiency and allows the company to be more responsive to evolving customer demands by strategically balancing technology, volume and lead times.

This expansion underscores ContiTech's long-term commitment to growth in key markets through substantial investment in local infrastructure and talent. Production at the Aguascalientes site will be gradually increased, with the first customer deliveries anticipated to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Philip Nelles, Member of the Continental Executive Board and CEO of the ContiTech group sector, said, “The start of production in Aguascalientes marks a key milestone in ContiTech’s journey towards being a more agile, regionalised partner to our customers. At ContiTech, we build on 150 years of materials expertise. While our portfolio is broad and diverse, all our solutions are grounded in the same strength: high-performance materials that are mission critical, innovative and engineered to perform. Whether they connect, convey or cover, our products play essential roles across industries and applications.”

Andreas Gerstenberger, CEO of ContiTech USA and Head of Business Area Industrial Solutions Americas, said, “We are ready to lead in this segment. This new plant reflects our commitment to both innovation and proximity. With our customers increasingly looking for responsive and innovative solutions, we are proud to deliver with local production, advanced technology and a skilled workforce. More than just expanding our footprint, this investment is about creating mutual value with our customers, partnering closely to help them succeed in their own markets. By placing customer needs at the centre of everything we do, we aim to be their first choice for material-driven solutions, now and in the future.”

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Vipal Rubber, a leading global producer of retreading rubber, has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation with the launch of its new V SUPER HYBRID technology. Available from 1 March 2025, this new compound is designed to redefine performance standards for mixed-terrain applications, offering enhanced mileage, durability and resistance for retreaded tyres across various fleet sizes.

The V SUPER HYBRID achieves a superior balance between on-road and off-road performance. It has proven effective in demanding sectors such as logging, grain and livestock transport, demonstrating robust capabilities across diverse operating conditions. Key advantages of the innovation include improved resistance to chipping and punctures, enhanced casing protection that extends tyre service life, lower environmental impact through increased tread utilisation and significant operational cost savings for fleet operators.

Field tests substantiate these claims. In one trial involving a high-torque truck on steep, unpaved terrain, tyres with V SUPER HYBRID technology showed an 11.5 percent increase in mileage over a standard market compound while maintaining structural integrity with no signs of breakage. Furthermore, the same technology demonstrated the potential for up to a 140 percent mileage increase over conventional compounds in continued testing. The tread's regular wear pattern also allowed for better depth utilisation, enabling tyres to remain in operation down to 5-6 mm, compared to the previous limit of 12 mm. Another test with a grain and livestock truck confirmed these results, documenting a 12.5 percent performance gain across different tread designs.

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Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuraray Co., Ltd., has inaugurated the Kuraray Asia Pacific Centre in Singapore's Science Park. This new facility will function as a dedicated technical support hub for the Asian market. Its primary focus will be on providing specialised expertise for growing regional demand in PVOH resin, EVAL EVOH resin and activated carbon products.

Equipped with advanced material evaluation and analysis laboratories, the centre is designed to deliver prompt and tailored solutions to meet specific local customer requirements. It will also act as a platform for open innovation, fostering collaborative development and product demonstrations to generate new value.

By establishing itself within the concentrated research environment of the Singapore Science Park, the centre aims to accelerate market development and attract global talent through strategic partnerships. This initiative is a key part of the Kuraray Group's strategy to address emerging customer needs, explore new applications and strengthen its overall business expansion throughout the region.

Lim Wey-Len, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board, said during the opening ceremony on 1 September: “We welcome Kuraray and other like-minded companies to leverage Singapore’s innovation ecosystem, talent pool, and regional connectivity to scale impactful and sustainable solutions from here.”

Tomoyuki Watanabe, Director and Managing Executive Officer, and President of the Vinyl Acetate Resin Company at Kuraray, said, “By offering a place for co-creation with our customers, we hope to drive the rapid market growth in the region.”

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for July 2025, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

According to the report, natural rubber prices exhibited significant volatility in July. This instability was driven by a combination of adverse weather conditions impacting production, ongoing geopolitical tensions and international trade tariffs. After an initial phase of ample supply and muted demand, market sentiment shifted as concerns over potential supply disruptions prompted a notable increase in purchasing activity.

The report further projects a modest global production increase of 0.5 percent for 2025, while demand is anticipated to grow by a slightly higher 1.3 percent. However, this growth is expected against a challenging backdrop of a potential global economic slowdown. Complex US tariff policies and their widespread ripple effects are primary factors contributing to what may become one of the most subdued years for economic expansion since the pandemic.

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