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Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said Tyrewise marked a significant step toward addressing the long-standing problem of tyre dumping
“Every year, New Zealand imports around 6.5 million tyres. Of these, only about 40 percent are recycled, reprocessed or exported,” she said.
NZ Environment Minister Penny Simmonds
“The remainder often end up in landfills, stockpiles, or are illegally dumped. This not only wastes a valuable resource, but it also places a heavy burden on local communities and councils who are usually left to handle the cleanup.”
Simmonds said that would change under the new scheme.
The Tyrewise scheme was funded by a tyre stewardship fee which was built into the cost of newly imported tyres from 1 March 2024. It replaced the old system of ad-hoc disposal fees that many tyre retailers used to charge, Simmonds said.
“The tyre stewardship fee is similar to the disposal charges that New Zealanders were already paying, but with a crucial difference – part of the revenue will now be invested into local infrastructure and into research for new sustainable uses for end-of-life tyres.”
The Tyrewise scheme, co-designed with the industry, was a significant step toward a waste system that protected the environment, Simmonds said.
“By collaborating with industry, New Zealand’s Tyrewise is a significant step toward a waste system that protects the environment.”
Fornnax Technology continues expanding its global footprint, recently finalising recycling machinery installations in Eastern Europe
The Ahmedabad based recycling machinery producer has now supplied a range of primary shredders to the three Eastern European countries of Serbia, Poland and Bulgaria. The Indian company has been making efforts to penetrate these markets from quite some time.
Explaining the significance of entering these markets, Jignesh Kundaria, Manging Director, Fornnax Technology Pvt Ltd revealed during an interaction at the TRRAI Conclave 2024 recently, “Eastern European companies installing our recycling lines are mostly using European lines, but now in a major breakthrough for us the installation of our machinery in these markets indicates our recycling lines started to gain traction in these hi-end markets.” Fornnax Technology participated and exhibited at the recently concluded a day-long conclave on 24th August at Jaipur (Rajasthan) organized by Tyre & Rubber Recyclers Association of India (TRRAI)
The Dual-Shaft SR-150 Shredder has applications in recycling of passenger and truck tyre waste utilised for size reduction with output sizes varying from 50 mm to 60 mm.
Tyre shred is regarded as good alternative fuel in cement kilns. Using TDF in cement kilns reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides NOx and costs since less urea is required. In addition, emissions of particulate matter are lower.
The Indian machinery producer despatched a custom designed primary shredder SR-200 to a Bulgarian recycler in the end of July 2024. The line carries out the primary shredding of mining tyres which produce strips of sizes varying from 60 mm to 80 mm. The downsized shreds go to next line for further processing.
“Installing line in the Bulgarian site is going to be a major breakthrough for us as the company had been using European lines prior to ordering the SR-200 primary shredder from Fornnax.” The line despatched last month is scheduled to be functional by September.
In yet another major breakthrough in Eastern Europe, Fornnax Technology despatched its flagship high-capacity primary shredderSR200-HD to a Polish recycling site. The line is being applied to recycling passenger, truck and agriculture tyres, having single pass capacity of 25 tons per hour and second pass capacity of 14 tons per hour.
The SR-200 HD has already been dispatched and expected to be installed and functional by the end of September.
In Podcast 66, Tyre and Rubber Recycling’s Ewan Scott talks with GDT’s CEO Trevor Bayley to discover where the project is as the company prepares to build its capacity.
Aliapur the leading French EPR scheme, elects a new President biennially
Véronique Giraud, CEO of Continental Tires France has been President ofALIAPUR, France’s leading collection service for ELT, since August 1, 2024.
Working at Continental since 1999, Véronique Giraud has held senior positions including, most recently, Managing Director of Continental Tires China before being appointed Managing Director of Continental Tires France July 1, 2024.
As part of the site expansion of Pyrum Innovations AG at the main plant in Dillingen/Saar, commissioning and optimisation work on TAD 2 and 3 are progressing according to plan
Most recently, the third commissioning run of TAD 3 was successfully completed after three weeks of continuous 24/7 operation. The reactor ran stably at over 70 per cent of the planned nominal output, with the focus on the process stability required by customers. Due to the positive optimisation progress, Pyrum is planning to carry out a performance test on TAD 2 in the coming weeks. The reactor is to be run up to 100 per cent of the planned nominal output for the first time. The data will then be evaluated and optimised before the duration of the commissioning runs at full throughput is successively increased and TAD 3 is then also tested at 100 per cent of the planned nominal output.
Commissioning of the two reactors is now sufficiently advanced that no further significant problems are to be expected and the first tests can therefore be carried out at the maximum nominal output.
Pascal Klein, CEO of Pyrum Innovations AG says; “Both systems are running so well that we are now focussing on the 100 per cent performance test of TAD 2 and TAD 3. We are very satisfied and proud of our entire team, which is doing an exceptional job. We have learnt a lot over the last eight months, so that we can look to the future with confidence and better plan and therefore shorten future start-ups. At this point, it is important to mention once again that during commissioning of this kind, all system components are gradually pushed to their limits before they run at 100 per cent together. This ensures the safety of our employees and our systems. It is not unusual for short periods of smoke, vapour and odours to occur. The incidents that have occurred in this context so far, which can usually occur during the commissioning of an industrial plant, have all been harmless and have proven the correct functioning of our safety systems.”
Trederra has an exclusive supply agreement with Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS) of Switzerland supporting the production of Trederra™ footwear outsoles made from end-of-life tyres
TRS will supply Trederrawith CT-50 rubber powder which is manufactured using the patented TRSWater Pulse® technology, a proprietary and highly specialised water-jet system that pulverizes tire tread into fine powder. This powder is derived from 100 per cent end-of-life tyres diverted from landfills and is free from steel and synthetic fibres.
Trederra LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MatMarket LLC, utilises an Asian-based manufacturing supply chain process to incorporate the rubber powder into its Trederra™ rubber compound for work and performance footwear outsoles.
Trederra™ rubber compounds are used to produce a masterbatch of 67 per cent recycled content that enhances durability without compromising performance or comfort. Integrating directly into an exisiting supply chain, Trederra™ rubber compounds can be used to create outsoles with over 40 per cemnt recycled content without sacrificing performance and meeting Restricted Substance List (RSL) requirements.
“The partnership between Trederra andTRS will open a new path for sustainability in the footwear industry,” said Tony Marino, President and CEO of Trederra. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with a company that places sustainability and innovation at the forefront of its mission within the rubber industry. This partnership will allow us to provide a scalable and affordable outsole solution that is accessible to a multitude of brands.”
TRS COO Sonia Megert
“Our partnership with Trederra represents a significant step forward in demonstrating the potential of sustainable materials in mainstream industries,” said Sonia Megert, COO of Tyre Recycling Solutions. “By combining our innovative recycling technologies with Trederra’s commitment to quality and innovation, we’re able to create a product that not only diverts waste from landfills but also meets the high performance standards of the footwear market. We are proud to collaborate on this initiative that underscores the importance of circular economy practices in today’s global market”.
This partnership is an example of how the tyre recycling sector needs to work with new partners to find new markets for recycled tyre materials. In the longer term, with the best will in the world, the tyre industry is unlikely to be able to reuse much more than 50 per cent of the end-of-life tyre materials. It is therefore imperative that alternate uses for the materials are found and here, TRS has shown that such partnerships are attainable. This extends TRS’s market and helps build a stronger future for the Swiss company.
The Mitsubishi Chemical Group has launched studies to perform chemical recycling of end-of-life tyres by utilising the coke ovens at its Kagawa Plant
The MCG Group aims to begin marketing sustainable carbon black made from ELTs by March 2026.
Mitsubishi’s Kagawa Coke Ovens
Along with the accelerating trend in the tyre industry toward using sustainable raw materials, there is a growing need to use recycled carbon black, one of the main raw materials and a rubber reinforcing agent used in tyres.
By leveraging the MCG Group’s supply chain, it is able to feed crushed ELTs as raw material into its coke ovens and produce carbon black again from the tar.
According to the MCG Group’s research, this is the first attempt in the world to produce sustainable carbon black from ELTs using coke ovens. (In fact, there were trials at Coalite’s plant in Derbyshire, UK to convert coke ovens to pyrolyse tyres, but the Company collapsed in 2004, before the trials were completed). The sustainable carbon black produced has the same performance as conventional carbon black and can therefore be used again in new tyres and hence contributes to a closed loop recycling of tyres.
In preparation for commercialisation, in July 2024, MCG started demonstration experiments where ELTs are fed into coke ovens. The aim is to sell sustainable carbon blackat an annual rate of several thousand tons in FY2025, and at an annual rate of tens of thousands of tons in FY2030.
By establishing chemical recycling technology for ELTs, the MCG Group seeks to contribute to realizing a circular economy in the automobile and tire industries.
The tyre stewardship fee pays for Registered Transporters to collect tyres that become end-of-life from 1 September from Registered Participants. In theory all tyres will be included in the system.
If fitters have not made arrangements to have stored tyres from before this date collected, you need to do so with your current collector before Sunday.
Registered retailers / fitters and generators will be able to book a collection in theTyrewisesoftware for 1 September onwards
Fitters will be able to set collection jobs to repeat weekly or monthly and the Registered Transporter will make contact to accept bookings.
Registered public collection sites will begin accepting up to five end-of-life tyres at a time from members of the public.
Fitters are reminded that they cannot legally make any sort of charge for disposal of tyres after 1st September.
Tyrewise Tariff alignment technical advisory group kicks off
In response to industry concerns, a technical advisory group of industry members are looking at options to improve the alignment of tariff codes to the tyre stewardship fees.
They will be sharing their specialist knowledge to assess the practicalities and impacts of any policy options and acting as a sounding board for Ministry for the Environment.
Participants in the Tyrewise advisory group include:
Flooring products manufactured by Van Dyck, a sister company to radial truck recycler Mathe Group, have been certified by Global GreenTag
Van Dyck’s Dr. Mehran Zarrebini
Van Dyck’s Chief Executive, Dr. Mehran Zarrebini, states that the KwaZulu-Natal company, which manufactures and distributes rubber pavers and rubber flooring for gyms, fitness zones, playgrounds, and equestrian surfaces, sees GreenTag certification as a game changer. The certification ensures that Van Dyck stays ahead of regulatory requirements, and both meets and exceeds the most stringent environmental standards.
Global GreenTagAfrica Director, Lizette Swanevelder, confirms that the Van Dyck product range submitted for GreenTag assessment included: Self-Adhesive Acoustic Underlay, Plain Acoustic Underlay, Magnetic Flooring System, Acoustic Cradles, Rubber Flooring, Acoustic Wall Tiles, Acoustic Gym Tiles, Ballistic Blocks, Shockpad, Scaffolding Sole Board, and Solar Protection Pad. She said, “The Van Dyck range received a Global GreenTag GBCSA Level B Award after being assessed according to Global GreenTag’s criteria for toxicity, material extraction, social and environmental requirements, durability, end-of-life considerations, and product emissions.
Global GreenTag’s Lizette Swanevelder ( Image: Green Family Guide)
The company provided evidence of materials down to 0.01% of the product, which was risk-assessed and approved by an external toxicologist. The post-consumer recycled content records were verified along with their environmental management system.”
Legal compliance, water permits, and ISO 9001 compliance were also checked by GreenTag. The environmental claims on their website were verified against ISO 14021 requirements. Van Dyck provided evidence of durability through independent laboratory testing for acoustic insulation properties and critical fall height.
The products are mostly homogenous, which makes them easier to recycle in the future. Results from VOC emissions testing were within the requirements for flooring products as stated in the Green Building Council South Africa guidelines.
Although Van Dyck achieved Global GreenTag certification in 2019 and retained it in 2021, it took until 2024 to obtain the next recertification as the application process is extremely stringent. Dr. Zarrebini pointed out that Global GreenTag certification can significantly benefit a company like Van Dyck both immediately and in the long term.
Immediate benefits include enhanced market credibility, market differentiation, regulatory compliance, improved supply chain relationships, and increased consumer trust and loyalty. “Obtaining Global GreenTag certification positions Van Dyck as a leader in sustainability, enhancing the company’s reputation among consumers, partners, and stakeholders. In this competitive market, the certification can attract eco-conscious customers and clients looking for sustainable products. Suppliers and business partners may also prefer to work with certified companies, which can lead to stronger, more reliable business relationships.
“Most importantly, modern consumers are increasingly prioritising sustainability. The Global GreenTag certification can build trust and loyalty, leading to increased sales and customer retention,” he says.
By securing and maintaining Global GreenTag certification, Van Dyck can not only enhance its immediate market position but also lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth. Over time, maintaining the Global GreenTag certification can establish Van Dyck as a leader in sustainable product manufacturing within the industry, enhancing its brand image and influence in shaping industry standards and practices.
Dr. Zarrebini also notes that the certification enhances operational efficiencies, as it often involves improving product life cycles, resource efficiency, and waste management practices. “Commitment to sustainability can drive innovation. Van Dyck may invest more in research and development of new, sustainable product materials and processes, staying ahead of market trends and technological advancements. Investors are increasingly considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. A strong sustainability profile, evidenced by Global GreenTag certification, can attract investment and potentially lower the cost of capital,” he adds.
It can also open new global markets, particularly in regions where environmental regulations are stringent, expanding business opportunities globally. Already, a large portion of Van Dyck’s output is exported to the United Kingdom and the Middle East.
Ms Swanevelder explained that Global GreenTag™ also assesses products for all aspects of impact on human health, ethical labour supply, and the environment. It simplifies the selection of environmentally sustainable, healthy, and ethical products for industries like architecture, design, and construction, helping professionals and consumers make informed decisions about preferred green and ethical products.
“Today, more than ever before, we need a deeper understanding of how building design impacts thousands of people, before its construction, during its use, and after deconstruction, to produce solutions that will solve these concerns and prevent further ecological impact on the environment. We all want to live and work in greener buildings, and we need to start by looking more closely at the environmental impact of construction products. Unfortunately, finding out which products are safer and better for the environment is a lot harder than it seems,” she says.
She emphasises that genuine products need genuine recognition. ‘Greenwashing’ has ruled in the ‘eco’ product market, with any brand able to claim to be an environmental saviour with a few ‘natural’ ingredients and some sharp marketing.
“Fake products in green packaging take sales away from genuinely deserving brands. The planet continues to be exploited in the name of inauthentic design, claiming to be ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’. These terms are broad and overused, but more importantly, they create confusion in the market when there is no substantiation of such claims. We created the Global GreenTag set of tools to cut through the greenwash and empower professionals and consumers to confidently choose products that have been made to help support the health of the planet, and assessed using evidence-based, robust, cutting-edge science. GreenTag takes the doubt out of buying, and because buyers know they can trust the label, genuine green products earn the greatest reward of all: trust,” she concludes.
Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) has received MSEK 25.6 in compensation from the joint venture company after achieving a first predefined milestone linked to the construction of the plant in Uddevalla
Half of the compensation consists of cash and the other half of shares in the joint venture company.
The compensation is received after achievement of the first of several predefined milestones linked to the construction of the site in Uddevalla.
As previously communicated, Enviro will continuously receive compensations linked to the achievement of certain predefined milestones. As Enviroalso previously announced, the company will communicate individual transactions linked to these compensations.
The compensations linked to the milestones will consist of half cash and half shares in the joint venture company until a certain share compensation cap is reached. Once the cap is reached, the compensation will continue in cash only.
Enviro’s stake in the joint venture company will fluctuate in pace with the capitalisation process for the joint venture. AsEnviro previously communicated, current ownership in the joint venture will be communicated with the frequency that follows from current accounting requirements, however at least once a year in connection with the year-end report.
Enviro has an option that gives the company the right to buy into the joint venture company for an ownership stake that ultimately corresponds to approximately 30 percent. Envirointends to exercise this option in full.
