Peter Taylor OBE, tyre industry veteran with vast experience in new tyre and recycling markets around the world, is a former Director of the International Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ITMA Europe), Secretary General of the UK Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) and Vice President of the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA). Taylor, a prolific writer on industry matters, spoke to Tyre Trends on TRA’s role in sustainability drive.

Please elaborate on TRA’s (Tyre Recovery Association, UK) operations in the recovery process and further handling of recovered tyres

The TRA is a UK industry-wide association of ELT collectors and recyclers founded almost two decades ago when it has to be said interest in tyre recycling and its potential was a great deal less than it is today.

The ‘driver’ behind the push to beneficially recycle much more of our waste was undoubtedly the EU Landfill Directive which required that by 2006 almost all of our end-of-life tyres both here, in the UK and across Europe be appropriately reused or recycled. Here in the UK, we have largely met this requirement though like other countries, sometimes imperfectly.

The underlying concept behind the Landfill Directive was the notion of Producer Responsibility. This, however, was never clearly defined. In many countries the ‘producer’ was rather imperfectly defined as the ‘manufacturer’ of the product whereas elsewhere such as here in the UK, our government opted for the concept of shared PR, thus placing an onus on everyone in the recovery chain from manufacturer and importer through distributor and retailer to consumers, collectors and recyclers. This broader UK approach helped us build on our existing infrastructure and evolve a wider market-based approach to tyre recycling. That said, no ELT recovery programme is wholly effective in eliminating bad practices but we believe that a more effective monitoring pinch point in the recovery chain is not where our new tyres are first introduced into a market, but where they are ultimately removed from a wheel, i.e., the ‘pull’ rather than the ‘push’ approach. Almost from the outset we, as an association, set out to build a credible best practice approach to ELT recycling which would have broad industry support, we named this the TRA Responsible Recycler Scheme (RRS). All full TRA members subscribe to this and are required to be regularly audited for compliance and today, I am pleased to say that some three-quarters of all UK ELT’s are responsibly handled by our members supported by most retailers and manufacturers. As a purely voluntary approach to recycling, we are proud of this, in purely tonnage terms alone, we are the largest single recovery initiative almost anywhere in the world.

So, what now? ELT recovery markets everywhere are in flux as new markets for ELT-derived materials evolve as we exit the very undesirable trade in baled-tyre exports which undermined market stability here in Europe and well beyond.

In moving forward our challenge and great opportunity will be to better valorise ELT-derived materials by better exploiting their great intrinsic worth. As important a concept producer responsibility is, we should avoid being totally captivated by it at the cost of ignoring the simple principles of the waste hierarchy.

Our old tyres are more than a convenient fuel but potentially full of market opportunity for the very many other products derived from processes such as granulation and for very significant emerging technologies like pyrolysis and its by-products. This must be our direction of travel.

How much of a competitive edge you have in the market, compared with other recyclers?

We are of course an industry association and not an individual business but our propositions, and those of our members are simple, they are:

Best Practice – Legal Compliance – Customer Confidence

Here in the UK the concept of ‘Duty of Care’ is underpinned in law and potentially applies to every player in the recovery chain which is one more reason we enjoy such a large measure of cross-industry support.

Your view on how huge is the potential of tyre recycling sector in future?

We believe that the potential for tyre recycling everywhere is exponential, we are simply at the foothills of the possible as just a glance back at the waste hierarchy pyramid demonstrates all too clearly. Countries only have to compare their own current performances against the valorisation objectives of the pyramid. However, getting there is not simple. To do so will require entrepreneurship, investment and market confidence, elements which some of the more rigid approaches to ELT recycling will struggle to engage with. Recycling is not an acronym for convenient ‘disposal’ but a journey into ever greater resource efficiency.

On the challenges you face, including whether you get any support from government environmental agencies

The way in which we handle our ELT arisings here in the UK is often dubbed the ‘free market’ approach but this is very misleading. A better description of our approach would be ‘market-based with strong regulatory underpinning’. Our environmental laws are strict though not always as business friendly as we would like them to be. Good regulation should not just be about managing compliance but of providing a basis for market stability and the best possible conditions for market growth. I hope we will slowly get there and one of our prime duties is to engage proactively with the government and other regulators to help them adapt to this mindset.

In all of this however, it is all too easy to point the finger of responsibility at those who rule us, some of the responsibility is ours too and it was with this in mind when we first launched our Responsible Recycler Scheme all those years ago now. We chose to lead, rather than wait to be led and to help mould our futures rather than be made the reluctant captives of often inappropriate official policies and initiatives. The choice was ours as much as it will be yours in India and in very many other parts of the world.

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Continental Tires has achieved a major sustainability milestone with all its European tyre production facilities now certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS standard. The certification extends to plants in Lousado (Portugal), Puchov (Slovakia), Korbach (Germany), Sarreguemines (France), Otrokovice (Czech Republic) and Timișoara (Romania), along with the supporting Industria Textil do Ave textile plant in Portugal. The company's Hefei facility in China has also earned this recognition, expanding Continental's sustainable manufacturing network globally.

The ISCC PLUS certification verifies Continental's compliance with rigorous traceability and documentation requirements for renewable and recycled materials used in tyre production. This system enables the company to track sustainable inputs throughout the manufacturing process using the mass balance approach, which allows gradual incorporation of eco-friendly materials while maintaining existing production systems. Continental is currently increasing its use of certified materials, including bio-based synthetic rubbers and circular-process carbon black, as part of its strategy to include over 40 percent sustainable materials in tyres by 2030.

As a globally recognised standard established in 2010, ISCC certification promotes climate-friendly, deforestation-free supply chains across multiple industries. It covers sustainable biomass, recycled materials and renewable resources, providing a framework for transparent, responsible sourcing. For Continental, this achievement represents both a validation of current sustainability efforts and a foundation for future innovations in eco-conscious tyre manufacturing. The company's growing network of certified facilities demonstrates its commitment to reducing environmental impact while maintaining product quality and performance standards across its global operations.

Jorge Almeida, head of Sustainability for Continental Tires, said, “The ISCC PLUS certification of all our European tyre plants is an important milestone and a strong signal for a more sustainable industry in Europe. But we're not stopping there. Our plants in other regions will follow step by step, like our Hefei plant, which is already certified. We have a strong ambition to make our tyre production more sustainable worldwide across our entire supply chain.”

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Bandvulc has expanded its Wastemaster 5 tyre range with a new 315/70 size, enhancing options for urban waste collection and recycling vehicles. Originally launched in 2021, this robust tyre boasts a high load rating and is manufactured at ContiLifeCycle’s Ivybridge facility in Devon, which produces Bandvulc and ContiRe retread tyres.

The Wastemaster 5 incorporates ARMORBAND technology, featuring a reinforced rubber layer along the sidewall to resist scrubbing damage and prolong tyre life. Its advanced tread design includes wide zig-zag grooves for mud and water clearance, stone ejection features, stepped blocks and deep sipes for superior traction in tough conditions. This upgrade reinforces Bandvulc’s commitment to durability and performance in demanding waste management operations.

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Eurogrip Tyres, India’s top 2 & 3-wheeler tyre brand under TVS Srichakra Ltd, today launched two exclusive retail stores in Chennai – at Selaiyur and Villivakkam. These outlets will stock a full range of two-wheeler tyres, tubes and biking accessories like helmets, alongside offering tyre care, puncture repair, fitment services and engine oil changes.

Catering to scooters, commuter bikes, performance bikes and superbikes, the stores provide diverse tyre patterns and sizes. They will also handle warranty claims for customers. The Selaiyur store is located at J C Group, Plot no 3, Agaram Main Road, Chennai - 600 073, while the Villivakkam outlet is at ST Enterprises, Old no 39E/New no 103, MTH Road, Chennai - 600 049. These expansions reinforce Eurogrip’s commitment to premium service and accessibility.

T K Ravi, COO, Eurogrip Tyres, said, “We are happy to reach out to more customers through our new branded retail stores. In a city that has a bustling two-wheeler vehicle population, there is a need to have more outlets to expand our network. Chennai is an important market for us, and we had opened our first branded retail store in Velachery last May. The response from customers and riders has been encouraging and we are happy to be launching 2 more stores in the city – this will help bolster our brand strength here. We plan to have more such signature stores in different cities to make our products and services easily accessible to customers.”

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Apollo Tyres, one of the leading tyre makers in the country, has expanded its product portfolio with the introduction of the made-in-India for India and the world Apollo Aspire 5 ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre.

Available in 17-inch and above rim size with W/Y speed rating, the company looks to tap into the demand for Uthe HP tyre range, especially in the luxury car segment. The company shared that the UHP tyre has been designed with Dynamic Contour Technology for superior physical and acoustic comfort, and Tri-Flex Compound for high-speed grip and stability.

The electric vehicle-ready Apollo Aspire 5 tyre range has undergone extensively testing across Europe, India, Japan and Korea, and has been tailored to meet the demanding needs from Indian road conditions. Furthermore, the Apollo Aspire 5 will also be introduced in global markets such as Europe and Asia.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice-President, Commercial (India, SAARC and Southeast Asia), Apollo Tyres, said, “Performance today goes beyond speed; premium car buyers now demand a quieter, more refined driving experience, especially with the rise of electric crossover and luxury SUVs. At Apollo Tyres, we have been preparing for this shift with cutting-edge R&D, global benchmarking and technologies tailored for evolving mobility. Aspire 5 is a testament of our commitment to lead this new era of performance.”

The tyre maker stated that the new range of products have been co-developed with leading OEMs, deep industry insight with real-world consumer feedback.

The Apollo Aspire 5 tyre range offers better control, superior ride comfort and impressively low noise levels. The tyre will be produced at the company’s state-of-the-art plant in Andhra Pradesh.

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