As Europe and the USA wrangle over how to address aspects of sustainability for tyres, Australia’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science has launched an inquiry into the current state of the Australian tyre industry and its role within a circular economy. The inquiry was adopted on 5 November 2025 following a referral from the Minister for Industry and Innovation and the Minister for Science. Written submissions addressing the terms of reference are requested by Friday, 23 January 2026

The Committee will examine manufacturing, distribution, import and retail trends across the sector, together with current practices in reuse, retreading, recycling and resource recovery. The scope includes a review of federal, state and local regulations that affect tyre production, disposal and recycling activities. It will also explore technological developments in tyre design, recycling processes, and alternative materials, and identify opportunities to develop higher-value uses for waste tyres and tyre-derived materials in construction, manufacturing, and other commercial applications.

As part of the evidence base, the inquiry will assess the effectiveness of existing circular economy models and consider priority areas for research and development to support more sustainable practices. The Committee will consider the role of commercially viable product stewardship schemes, including whether these should be made mandatory. It will seek to identify infrastructure gaps in collection, processing and recycling facilities. Environmental, community, and health and safety concerns associated with tyre waste and recycling operations are also included in the terms of reference.

Contributions to the inquiry will not be published automatically. Each submission will be processed by the Secretariat and considered by the Committee before authorisation for publication. Guidance on preparing submissions is available via the Parliament’s usual channels.

Tyre Stewardship Australia has welcomed the announcement. In a public statement, the organisation applauded Rob Mitchell MP for recognising the challenges in delivering circular outcomes for end-of-life tyres, describing the inquiry as an important step toward unlocking an estimated A$70 million in domestic market opportunities through a strengthened circular economy for tyres. TSA linked the timing to the recent Round Trip Summit in Melbourne, which brought together more than 200 industry participants to discuss proven technologies and infrastructure pathways. The event highlighted the need to redirect end-of-life tyres back into the Australian economy to reduce reliance on offshore markets and to create local value.

TSA added that a comprehensive approach to the full tyre lifecycle, from design through to recycling and market development, aligns with international best practice. According to the organisation, such an approach supports the management of chemicals of concern, promotes reuse and retreading, and prepares the industry for higher-order circular outcomes.

For retreaders and recyclers, the inquiry provides a platform to present evidence on policy settings, technology readiness and market development needs. Stakeholders across the supply chain are now invited to contribute detailed submissions that can inform practical measures to expand domestic demand for tyre-derived products and to strengthen the resilience of Australia’s tyre circular economy.