30 Years of Tyre Recycling: Innovations to build the Future
is the title of the 30th Annual ETRA Conference on Tyre Recycling that will take place Tuesday through Thursday, 25-27 March 2025 at Le Louise Hotel in Brussels.
Thirty years is an important milestone which has been achieved thanks to a continuous innovation and to the efforts of many SMEs around Europe, supported by the EU Commission through research projects and environmental policies. Innovation will be the corner stone to build the future.
Along the years new materials were produced : rubber, steel fibres and textile fibres, that are used in many different products and applications, from roads and road furniture to sport surfaces, from building materials to infrastructure – and many others.-
Despite the above mentioned efforts the market did not grow as expected but grew randomly. Some markets have expanded significantly in recent years, e.g. the sport sector, which represent a success story for recycling. Others, like roads and public works, have not grown enough to represent a stable and reliable demand.
Tyre manufacturers at the beginning disregarded Recycled Tyre Materials owing to the fact recycled rubber being vulcanized is not suitable to be incorporated into new tyres compound. But owing to the fragility of the value chain of natural rubber, included by the EU among Critical Raw Materials (CRM), they recently took into consideration various output of Tyre Recycling sector, such as fine rubber powder, devulcanised rubber, recovered carbon black. Again, innovation is key word for the future expansion of this market.
This is where we are now after 30 years. And the future? We will try to discover together during three days Conference.
The Workshop on Tuesday is designed to stimulate Public Administrations and to create synergies among various EU funded projects on Recycled Tyre Materials.
The Plenary Sessions on Wednesday will focus on the Critical Challenges we face: reduced availability of EOL tyres for recycling owing to uncontrolled export towards the south of the world, Sport market under pressure, Public Works market to be stimulated, Green Deal under discussion. Which will be the EU Policy adjustments of the new Commission? What are the positions of the stakeholders? Tyre manufacturers will be able to use more recyclates ? How will impact the crisis of the Automotive industry and other changes in mobility? These are just some points that will be addressed. Quantifying ELT arising across the EU is still important and will help to understand more.
Then 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 technology to up-cycle the rubber and use it back into new mixes for the industry. Pyrolysis is still catalyzing the attention of tyre manufacturers and the interest of investors. 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.
