The Leading Journal for the Tyre Recycling Sector

The Leading Journal for the Tyre Recycling Sector

Home Blog Page 2

Two Awards for SDAB Design

Swedish Tyre Recycling (SDAB) has won two prestigious design awards at Svenska Designpriset 2025 – one for the anniversary book Repurposed Performance and one for the inspirational film When Glass Meets Steel

On 23 October in Stockholm, Sweden’s design community celebrated top achievements at Nalen

SDAB won awards in both categories they were nominated for. Repurposed Performance, an in-house coffee table book on recycled tyre materials, received a Silver Medal in the Editorial – Book category. This recognition was notable since most other entries were produced with established design agencies. “The book was born out of a need to showcase recycled tyre rubber in a new and unexpected way.

Many people are unaware of the possibilities this material offers. Through an accessible and inspiring format, we hope more people will discover the material’s second life,” says Frida Grunewald, SDAB Communications Manager and designer of the anniversary book.

SDAB received recognition for its film When glass meets steel, featuring artist Lisa Hartwig Ericson’s use of recycled tyre steel in glass art. The film won the People’s Choice award in the Film/Animation – Information, Culture, Leisure 2025 category as part of the Art of Recycling initiative with True North/True Production.

“These two awards show that our approach to design and communication is making a difference. More people are discovering the value of repurposed tyre materials and the attractive properties they offer. It’s an important shift,” says Fredrik Ardefors, CEO of SDAB.

“Both the book and the film aim to broaden the perception of what recycled tyre materials can contribute to. The recognition we’ve received from both the jury, and the public means a great deal for us and the industry,” he added.

Aaron Stevens of Te Rapa Tyre Centre on NZ’s Regulated Tyre Scheme

Welcome to the first episode of TRR Video Insights, recorded following The Round Trip: Tyre & Conveyor Belt Recycling Summit in Melbourne, presented by Tyre Stewardship Australia and Tyrewise. In this video, we speak with Aaron Stevens, owner of the Te Rapa Tyre Centre in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Aaron Stevens Discusses the Shift to a Regulated Tyre Stewardship Scheme in New Zealand

Aaron discusses the significant shift from a non-regulated system to New Zealand’s regulated tyre stewardship scheme (Tyrewise), explaining the challenges of the old system like inconsistent collection fees and hidden costs, especially for larger tyres.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction to TRR Video Insights & Aaron Stevens

1:14 Shift to Regulated Scheme & Old Cost Issues

2:24 Easing Transparency & Collection Fee Issues

3:48 Communicating Recycling to Customers

4:31 Tyrewise First Year Summary & Future Hopes

5:10 Conclusion

Tyromer Discuss The Growing Uptake of Devulcanised Rubber in Episode #79

Jon Visaisouk, CEO of Tyromer, joins The Tyre Recycling Podcast live from the Round Trip Tyre and Conveyor Belt Recycling Summit in Melbourne for Episode 79.

Tyromer Talk on Potential for Recycling Mining Tyres and Conveyor Belts in Australia

In this episode, Jon discusses his objectives for the summit, emphasising the need for actionable outcomes beyond discussion. He shares insights into the company’s transition following the passing of Sam Visaisouk, the progress of their European facility in Arnhem (Netherlands), and the growing uptake of their devulcanised rubber, particularly from Tyromer India which produces significant volumes.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction to Episode #79: Jon Visaisouk from Tyromer

1:08 Objectives for the Round Trip Summit: Moving Beyond Discussion

2:47 Tyromer’s Transition and Vision Post-Sam Visaisouk

4:47 Update on Tyromer’s European Business in Arnhem

6:04 Uptake of Devulcanized Rubber: Europe & India Volumes

7:23 Global Partnership Strategy & Licensing Technology

8:01 Focus on Mining Tyres and Conveyor Belts in Australia

9:42 Progress with Continental & Apollo Tyres Partnerships

11:51 Discussions with Other Manufacturers & Global Footprint

12:37 Tyromer India Update & Competing with Reclaim Rubber

14:18 New Product Announcement: TDP-A from Mining Tyres

15:32 Advancements in Conveyor Belt Recycling Solutions (Fenner Dunlop Project)

17:57 Conclusion to Episode #79

CM Shredders Announced the Commissioning of a High-Capacity Tyre-Derived Aggregate System in Tahiti

CM Shredders announced the successful commissioning of a high-capacity Tyre-Derived Aggregate (TDA) shredding system for EVIROPOL in Tahiti, marking a significant environmental achievement for the island nation

For a long time, just like many remote islands, Tahiti has faced increasing pressure from the amount of used and discarded tyres. Thousands of tyres had been left in open storage or informal dumps due to the limited landfill space and high transportation costs, creating environmental hazards.

EVIROPOL, a Tahiti-based environmental services company, partnered with CM Shredders to bring tyre recycling solutions to the island. The newly installed CM High-Capacity TDA system converts tyres into tyre-derived aggregate, which is used as a lightweight, free-draining substitute for natural stone in civil engineering projects.

The new system represents the first large-scale tyre recycling installation in French Polynesia and it can process up to 10 tonnes of tyres per hour. Built around CM’s H-250 shredder technology, the system is designed to operate efficiently even in remote island conditions with limited logistics and energy reliability.

“The commissioning of this system is a remarkable achievement for both EVIROPOL and the Tahitian community,” said Mario Vazquez, Sales & Marketing Director of CM Shredders. “For islands like Tahiti, where every resource must be managed carefully and where nature is both an asset and a responsibility, this project demonstrates how circular economy principles can thrive even in the most geographically challenging locations. We’re proud to see EVIROPOL leading the way with a vision that balances sustainability, innovation, and local economic value.”

TDA is also being integrated into several island infrastructure projects, such as road base layers, stormwater drainage systems and slope stabilisation works.

According to Thomas Mireau, Responsable Technique et Développement at EVIROPOL, the project is a breakthrough in local sustainability: “For many years, Tahiti struggled with what to do with its growing stockpile of used tyres. Exporting them was expensive and unsustainable. With CM’s system, we can now process and reuse these materials locally. The TDA we produce not only reduces waste but also directly contributes to the island’s development and environmental protection. It’s a perfect example of innovation serving the community.”

The initiative is expected to create local employment opportunities and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors on future recycling initiatives.

“This project illustrates the power of localised recycling,” added Vazquez. “What EVIROPOL is doing here in Tahiti can serve as a model for other island nations across the Pacific, the Caribbean, and beyond—turning what was once a costly environmental burden into a valuable asset for infrastructure and community development.”

Cveta Majtanovic of Rubber Conversion Selected for the 2025 MB100

Cveta Majtanovic, Chief Sustainability Officer of Rubber Conversion Srl, a Verona-based circular economy innovator transforming end-of-life rubber into new sustainable compounds, has been selected as one of the 2025 Meaningful Business 100 (MB100) – the global award programme championing leaders combining profit and purpose to tackle complex social and environmental issues

A panel of expert judges from esteemed organisations such as Google, Mastercard, Unilever, SAP, Temasek, and the World Economic Forum evaluated nominees from a pool of more than 900 submissions spanning 86 countries. Winners included distinguished social entrepreneurs, sustainability leaders, corporate CEOs, and impact investors, who were assessed on five key criteria: equity, impact, innovation, leadership, and scalability.

As part of the ongoing MB100 programme, now in its seventh year, winners will receive access to investment opportunities, capacity-building resources, and pro-bono services provided by a selection of leading organisations, including EY, Hogan Lovells, Forster Communications, Green Frontier Capital, Kenya Climate Ventures, and The Portman Estate. In addition, recipients are welcomed into the Meaningful Business community—a global network comprising social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and corporate sustainability executives.

Regarding the 2025 MB100, Tom Lytton-Dickie, Founder & CEO of Meaningful Business, stated, “Firstly, congratulations to Cveta Majtanovic. Her work at Rubber Conversion exemplifies how the integration of profit and purpose can address complex social and environmental challenges. This year’s applications demonstrated exceptional quality, and we are privileged to have Cveta join our international membership. We look forward to supporting her continued progress as she expands her reach and influence.”

Upon receiving the recognition, Cveta responded, “I am proud of our achievements since establishing Rubber Conversion. The receipt of this year’s EcoVadis Gold Medal and subsequent MB100 acknowledgement mark 2025 as a pivotal year for our organisation. These honours affirm that Italian circular innovation delivers global impact and inspire the industry to advance sustainability as a driver of competitiveness and growth rather than mere compliance.

At a time when collaboration and visibility are increasingly important, we welcome engagement with footwear manufacturers, tyre producers, and automotive companies interested in trialing our next-generation devulcanised rubber compounds. Throughout this month, we are offering special rates to encourage new partners to experience our materials and participate in our circular innovation journey.”

Commenting as an MB100 judge, Stasia Mitchell, EY Global Entrepreneurship Leader, noted, “Congratulations to the MB100 Class of 2025. These outstanding leaders in social entrepreneurship, sustainability, corporate innovation, and impact investing demonstrate the transformative power of entrepreneurial thinking. Selected from over 900 nominations across 86 countries, they offer scalable solutions to global issues by aligning purpose with profit. It was an honour to serve as a judge and witness the ways in which they are helping to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.”

Manuel de Sousa Martins Becomes BB&G’s CEO

Manuel de Sousa Martins has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of BB&G, a company controlled by Prismore Capital that is implementing a pioneering project at the forefront of the circular economy in Portugal

BB&G uses proprietary technology to turn end-of-life tyres into renewable products like tyre pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black, addressing environmental challenges with innovation.

Manuel de Sousa Martins leads BB&G during a critical growth phase in Portugal and abroad. With nearly 20 years of executive experience spanning retail, telecom, renewables, petrochemicals, environmental services, construction materials, lithium chemicals, and datacentre development, de Sousa Martins brings substantial industrial and international expertise from roles in over a dozen countries.

He previously served as CEO at SECIL Portugal, Supremo Cimentos Brazil, ETSA, and Aurora Lithium, and was a Director at SEMAPA overseeing large-scale operations. de Souse Martins holds a degree and MBA from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, has attended executive programs at INSEAD, London Business School, and MIT, is a Fellow Chartered Economist, and lectures at Nova School of Business & Economics.

BB&G is held by Prismore Capital, in partnership with BDI – BioEnergy International and the Rieckermann Group. With a demonstration plant already operational in Portugal, the company has established collaboration agreements with industry leaders, including Bridgestone and Versalis (ENI). BB&G is also developing a new facility in the Santarém region, designed to reach a full processing capacity of 30,000 tons of end-of-life tyres per year.

TANA Hammerhead on View at Ecomondo 2025

TANA takes the Hammerhead high-capacity mobile shredder to Ecolomondo with Tana Italia

Tana Italia provides innovative waste management technology to support resource recovery and the circular economy. Their goal is to help businesses turn waste into value. At Ecomondo 2025 in Rimini (November 4-7, Hall A5, Stand 103), Tana Italia will showcase the TANA Hammerhead, a new high-capacity mobile shredder offering high productivity and precise particle size control.

Hammerhead is built on TANA’s extensive experience and customer feedback, offering a single machine to tackle varied waste types—municipal solid waste, biomass, bulky items, plastics, wood, and construction debris. Retaining the proven TANA Shark technology and adapting for secondary shredding, it expands application options and boosts productivity while maintaining TANA’s signature reliability.

Available in electric or diesel, stationary or mobile, and on wheels or tracks, Hammerhead provides flexibility and shares parts with the Shark line for easier maintenance and lower operating costs.

This shredder is ideal for maximizing efficiency, minimising downtime, supporting continuous operation, and promoting both environmental and economic sustainability.

Klean Industries and KBR to Deploy TyreNova Tyre Pyrolysis Technology

Klean Industries announced the signing of a Strategic Alliance Agreement with KBR INC., marking a major milestone in the global deployment of TyreNova – Klean’s proprietary tyre pyrolysis technology

Under the agreement, KBR will be the exclusive licensing partner and will lead global sales, marketing, engineering and delivery of tyre recycling projects powered by TyreNova technology, while Klean will continue to focus on innovation, project development, and technical leadership.

“This alliance is built on proven performance,” said Jesse Klinkhamer, CEO of Klean Industries. “A commercial-scale plant has been operating successfully for nearly a decade with this technology at its core. With KBR’s global reach, engineering depth and track record at successfully scaling emerging sustainable technologies globally, we’re now scaling that success worldwide.”

The TyreNova technology is defined by its triadic, interdependent architecture: the Kiln, Quench, and Thermal Afterburner, three core components that work in concert to deliver high-efficiency, low-emission tyre recycling.

This Alliance reinforces Klean’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global impact while leveraging KBR’s legacy of engineering experience to scale sustainable, impactful solutions.

Aersol and Ecolomondo Sign Growth Deal

ARESOL Renovables, a Spanish business group with a recognised track record in the renewable energy and circular economy sectors, has announced an agreement with Ecolomondo Corporation 

Ecolomondo is launching its European subsidiary, “Ecolomondo EU” in Spain, to manage the rollout of its TDP technology at a minimum of four tyre pyrolysis plants across the EU.

Before this agreement, on December 2, 2024, Ecolomondo signed a non-binding letter of intent with Aresol for a joint venture to build a tire pyrolysis plant in Spain. The facility would use four reactors and process 20,000 metric tons of end-of-life tires annually.

The current agreement, executed in July 2025, reflects a heightened level of ambition and stronger alignment with the strategic objectives of both companies. This contract was formalised following an extensive and successful technical due diligence process, which verified the suitability of Ecolomondo’s TDP technology for converting vehicle and truck tyre waste into economically and environmentally valuable products.

The audit took place entirely at Ecolomondo’s commercial-scale facility in Hawkesbury, Ontario, where each stage of the tyre processing and transformation sequence was assessed and validated. This included pre-shredding, separation of textiles and steel, operations within the pyrolysis reactors, extraction phases for Tyre Pyrolysis Oil (TPO, also referred to as Tyre-Derived Oil or TDO), and the MPS process (Micronising, Pelletising, and Drying) for homogenising Recovered Carbon Black (rCB). Comprehensive analysis of TPO and rCB samples confirmed full compliance with prevailing market standards set by major purchasers, thereby demonstrating significant environmental benefits as well as robust economic viability.

According to Eliot Sorella, Executive Chairman of Ecolomondo, and Raúl Sáenz, Partner at Aresol, this strategic alliance “will enable the rapid deployment in Europe, over the coming years, of the most efficient, viable, and advanced end-of-life tyre management technology. It will also help EU member states continue improving their tyre waste management amid growing environmental restrictions on energy recovery and certain material recovery methods.”

Eliot Sorella
Eliot Sorella at the Hawkesbury plant

Both leaders highlighted the timeliness and strength of this agreement.

“We couldn’t imagine a better partner for our entry into Europe,” said Sorella. “We share a common vision to deliver a reliable, consistent technological solution to a pressing environmental challenge. We have both worked hard to build our capabilities and are 100% committed to this project. Aresol brings privileged presence in the EU, strong regulatory and cultural expertise, solid EPC capabilities that have led them to deliver large-scale renewable and circular economy projects, and, above all, a trusted team and partners we can rely on unconditionally in our growth and expansion journey.”

“At Ecolomondo, we have found not only a great technological partner but also an unstoppable driving force for our shared project,” stated Sáenz. “Their technology works — and exceeds expectations — something rare and difficult to confirm today. We’ve audited their process, validated their exceptional products, witnessed daily shipments of TPO and rCB to end customers, and, most importantly, we’ve done all this alongside Ecolomondo’s outstanding professional team. We believe Europe faces a major challenge in managing end-of-life tyres more sustainably, both environmentally and economically, and we are convinced that Ecolomondo’s TDP technology offers a reliable and scalable solution to achieve this quickly.”

Following comprehensive discussions and an extensive technical audit conducted by Aresol, the parties executed a definitive agreement in July 2025 to construct four turnkey tire pyrolysis facilities utilizing Ecolomondo’s TDP technology within the European Union. The inaugural facility will be established in Valencia, Spain, while the sites for the remaining three plants will be identified after due diligence, with consideration given to factors such as raw material availability, cost management, offtake arrangements, and government incentives.

Although the initial objective is to develop and deploy four tire pyrolysis plants in the near term, the company’s strategic direction, combined with the partners’ collective expertise and favourable market conditions, supports the establishment of more ambitious medium-term goals to expand and reinforce Ecolomondo’s TDP technology across the EU. This initiative is expected to substantially increase the prominence of pyrolysis as an essential method for tyre recovery, strengthen its position as a robust alternative to traditional recovery techniques, and further advance the recovered carbon black (rCB) market, establishing it as a high-value, economically viable, and environmentally beneficial product.

TNU Extends the Deadline for Its “The Tyre in a Positive Light” Contest on Instagram

Tratamiento Neumáticos Usados (TNU) extended the deadline for the sixth edition of “The Tyre in a Positive Light” contest on Instagram – an initiative that combines creativity with environmental awareness

The TNU contest aims to reward images that reflect the tyres’ role in the circular economy and sustainability.

Participants can take part in the contest via Instagram and submissions are open from 1 August 2025 to 28 February 2026. The only requirement: upload an image with the hashtags #TNU and #NeumáticosEnPositivo, tag @tnu.neumaticos, and follow them on Instagram.

Images may explore topics such as recycling, reuse, sustainable mobility, urban environments, or nature. TNU also accepts AI-generated creations in their contest on Instagram, provided this is clearly stated in the post.

The jury will award prizes to the top three entries — €1,000, €500, and €250, respectively. In addition, 10 honourable mentions of €40 will be granted: five by popular vote and five selected by the jury.

The winners will be announced on 9 March 2026.