Tyre Recycling: is the future Circular ? 

is the title of the 31^st Annual ETRA Conference on Tyre Recycling that will take place Tuesday through Thursday, 24-26 March 2026 at Le Louise Hotel in Brussels. 

Green Deal has been criticized under different point of view from many parts. In 2025 after the new EU Commission has been appointed and a new policy has been designed  green objectives have been put in less prominent position. However, the core values had been already internalized by the society. Companies and people have understood and agreed on the logic and the benefits. Despite there will be revisions, adapting in the objective and in the schedule, the way is marked.

What is at stake for Europe is not just economic growth, but the future of its model. Europe must be the place where tomorrow’s technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured and marketed, as we stay the course to climate neutrality. Three transformational imperatives have been identified to boost competitiveness:

• Closing the innovation gap
• A joint roadmap for decarbonisation and competitiveness
• Reducing excessive dependencies and increasing security

In 2024 EU automotive industry entered a severe crisis which worsened in 2025, obliging the EU Commission to review the 2035 deadline of zero emission goal.

This down turn is generating a vicious deflationary circle pushing the adoption of trade protection measures through tariff adoption, which will probably worsen the situation. It is difficult to believe that  tyre production will not be affected. This will have implications either on the EOL tyre generation and their management. Then there are all the strategic, economic, technical aspects connected to Rubber. Despite NR is no more classified as Critical Raw Material (CRM) the reality is even more critical: the supply chain is still at high risk owing to the political instability in many global areas.

From one side there are pushes to postpone decarbonisation going back to older models, on the other side recycled rubber has become a reliable alternative to virgin materials.

This is where we are now. And the future? Is it circular ? We will try to discover together during three days Conference.

The Workshop on Tuesday is designed to offer a practical responses to technicians of Public Administrations about the use of rubberized asphalt as regard to materials and mixes, comparative performance data, how to use standard equipments, which norms to apply and GPP.

The Plenary Sessions on Wednesday will focus on the Critical Challenges we face: Where Tyre Recycling is going, which are the quantiy of ELT arisings across the EU, how they are changing at global and local level, old or green econony, which one is prevailing. Then what could make the Sector Economy working better, what market is demanding, what are main changes in the value chains and most effective market models, without forgetting the role of innovation. We will try to answer to some questions: Which will be the EU Policy changes? How will impact the crisis of the Automotive industry and other changes in mobility? Tyre manufacturers will focus on using more recuyclates in Europe or will move production outside the EU ? These are just some points that will be addressed. Then will give a look to the options of roads and transport infrastructures as well as those Building sector. 

Furthermore the exciting Spotlight on Innovation will offer an overview on new products trends and developments, New technologies, EU Projects.

Thursday will start by considering various technologies for material recycling to use them back into new products in rubber and polymers. Pyrolysis is still a field of innovation and attract the attention of tyre manufacturers and investors. Then we will have a look at Retreading which was and still is the most sustainable way to recycle tyres, thanks to improved technologies. The last session will be on EU Programs, Cooperation and Funding opportunities. 

There are many informal opportunities for Delegates and Speakers to meet and discuss common interests during, cocktail receptions and meals and after-hours meetings.