With the global emphasis on sustainable development, the tire recycling industry is undergoing a structural transformation. Europe, with its strict environmental protection regulations and technological innovations, has become a benchmark in global tire recycling. In 2023, the recycling rate of waste tires in Europe reached 95%, far exceeding the global average level (68%). This article focuses on the European market, analyzes its policy framework, technological breakthroughs, and business model innovations, and combines the dynamics of emerging markets such as China and Southeast Asia to explore the future direction of the global tire recycling industry.
1. Policy-driven in Europe: From "Pollution Control" to "Resource Circulation"
Europe's leadership in the tire recycling field stems from its sound policy system. The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan clearly requires that by 2030, all tires must contain at least 30% recycled materials, and waste tires are included in the "zero waste" management target. Specific measures include:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System
Tire manufacturers are forced to bear the recycling costs. Countries such as Germany and France achieve full life cycle management through the "recycling fund".
- Upgrading of Technical Standards
The EU's new regulations in 2025 require the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in recycled rubber to be reduced to below 1mg/kg, promoting enterprises to adopt clean production processes.
- Regional Collaborative Network
The Nordic countries, through the "Scandinavian Tire Recycling Alliance", integrate the recycling resources of the five Nordic countries and establish a transnational recycling industry chain.
- Data Support
Statistics from the European Tire Recycling Association (ETRA) show that the output value of tire recycling in Europe reached 4.5 billion euros in 2023, among which pyrolysis technology accounted for 38%, and the application of rubber powder accounted for 27%.
2. Technological Innovation: Europe Leads the Path of High-value Recycling
European enterprises have continuously made breakthroughs in tire recycling technology, promoting the industry's shift from "low-value-added recycling" to "high-value recycling":
- Scaling up of Pyrolysis Technology
The continuous pyrolysis process developed by the Dutch company Pyreg has an annual processing capacity of 50,000 tons per set of equipment. The products include fuel oil (45%), carbon black (35%), and steel wire (15%), and the cost is 20% lower than that of traditional processes.
- Substitution of Bio-based Rubber
The German company Evonik uses microbial fermentation technology to convert the carbon black in tires into bio-based materials, which are used in the production of high-end automotive tires, and the product performance is improved by 15%.
- Upgrading of Digital Sorting
The Italian machinery company Bacci launched an AI visual sorting system, which can identify the material and pollutants of tires. The sorting accuracy rate reaches 99.2%, and the efficiency is increased by 3 times.
- Case
Michelin, in cooperation with the French company Thales Group, established the world's first "carbon neutral tire factory" in Spain. The proportion of recycled rubber in the raw materials reaches 45%, and the entire recycling process is tracked through blockchain technology.
3. Global Market Differentiation: The Collaborative Development of the European Model and Emerging Markets
- European Market
Demand Characteristics: Mainly driven by environmental protection compliance, the proportion of high-value-added products (such as aviation fuel and high-end carbon black) has increased to 25%.
Challenges: High labor costs (accounting for 35% of operating costs), and small and medium-sized enterprises face the pressure of technological upgrading.
- China and Southeast Asian Markets
Demand Characteristics: Driven by cost advantages, recycled rubber is still the mainstream (accounting for more than 70%), but the growth rate of pyrolysis technology application reaches 18% per year.
Opportunities: Relying on the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese enterprises have laid out recycling industrial parks in Southeast Asia. For example, GEM's tire pyrolysis project in Indonesia has an annual processing capacity of 100,000 tons.
- African Market
Current situation: The recycling rate is less than 30%, and illegal incineration is common. However, countries such as Morocco and South Africa are learning from the European EPR model to establish a national recycling system.
4. Future Trends and Challenges
- Improvement of Mechanical Crushing Technology
In the experimental design of the classification structure of the vertical mechanical impact ultrafine crusher, both improved structures effectively avoided large particles from entering the finished material. Among them, the classification efficiency and accuracy of improved structure two are superior to the other two structures, while improved structure one, although obtaining finer products through classification, has relatively lower classification efficiency.
- The Development and Application of Pyrolysis Technology
Pyrolysis recycling technology is considered one of the most promising treatment methods in the field of waste tire recycling. By heating and decomposing tire components at high temperatures, valuable by-products such as carbon black, natural gas, and petroleum can be produced. In the future, pyrolysis technology will become more mature and efficient, and the stability and processing capacity of equipment will be further improved, while reducing costs and improving economic benefits.
- Innovation in Sorting Technology
In order to improve recycling efficiency and product quality, sorting technology will continue to innovate and improve. By utilizing advanced sensor technology and automated control systems, it is possible to more accurately identify and sort waste tires of different types, specifications, and qualities, achieving optimized resource allocation and efficient utilization.
