Bicycle tyre specialist Schwalbe says it has started a pilot project for a recycling system for used bicycle tyres, working together with the Technical University of Cologne, University of Applied Sciences, and recycling specialist Pyrum Innovations, creating what it says is a “holistic recycling process” to recycle used tyres from all brands.
The project partners are carrying out the research within the framework of a Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), in German referred to as ZIM and supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), to develop a sustainable recycling system for used bicycle tyres. The aim is to no longer incinerate tyres or send them to landfill, but to preserve the raw materials for recycling within a closed-loop economy system.
German firm Schwalbe is planning to use the valuable secondary raw materials generated during the recycling process of old tyres for the production of new products. Simultaneously, the family enterprise is in the process of establishing an extensive infrastructure to support the recycling loop.
Schwalbe says that the new technique was created by Pyrum Innovations, which is said to have the only tyre-pyrolysis plant in the world that operates year-round.
Pyrum Innovations has created a two-step process for the recycling with the tyres first being shredded to create rubber granules, textile fibre and steel. Next the rubber granules are taken to a pyrolysis oven where they are heated at 700°C without oxygen. This step creates a gas that is used to power the pyrolysis plant making it fully self-sufficient. The pyrolysis coke is then worked on to create recycled carbon black (rCB) for future tyres. The remaining oil can be used to create textile fibres.
Schwalbe says it is satisfied with the result of the quality of the recycled materials. It adds, “Recycled materials are not always of the same quality as their original materials. However, this is a must for the success of the project to produce new bicycle tyres from used ones. This is something that is being worked on and researched very hard. The tyre on the bicycle is a safety-relevant component. Especially with the significantly higher load demands on bicycle tyres today, Schwalbe quality and performance must be the same.
Schwalbe adds it has been a leader in sustainability and recycling for many years, producing 100% recyclable bicycle tubes. In 2015, a recovery system was initiated where used tubes are collected from bicycle dealers for recycling. The recycled material is reused during the production of new tubes without any loss of quality.
For a closed-loop product life cycle and concerted recycling process design, Schwalbe won the German Sustainability Award 2021 in the category ‘Pioneers’. The pilot project ties in with these efforts by developing a sustainable recycling system that is also suitable for used bicycle tyres.