Partnership with Pyrum, BASF, and Synthos aims to convert end-of-life tyres into certified raw materials for manufacturing new high-performance tyres.
Pirelli has unveiled a new Tyre-to-Tyre circular economy initiative in Europe that aims to transform end-of-life tyres into high-quality raw materials for producing new tyres. The project brings together technology partners Pyrum, BASF, and Synthos to establish a fully traceable recycling value chain that reduces waste and increases the use of recycled materials in tyre manufacturing.
The programme will collect discarded tyres, production scrap, and manufacturing waste from Pirelli’s operations in Germany. These materials will be processed using advanced pyrolysis technology, recovering valuable resources such as recovered carbon black (rCB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) that can be reintroduced into the production of premium tyres.
Under the collaboration, Pyrum will convert used tyres into secondary raw materials through its recycling process. BASF will refine the recovered tyre pyrolysis oil into chemical feedstocks, while Synthos will manufacture ISCC PLUS-certified synthetic rubber using these recycled inputs. The resulting materials will be supplied back to Pirelli for incorporation into new tyre production, supporting a more sustainable manufacturing process without compromising performance or quality.
The initiative represents another step in Pirelli’s broader sustainability strategy, which focuses on increasing the share of recycled and bio-based materials across its product portfolio. By creating a closed-loop recycling ecosystem, the company aims to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, lower carbon emissions, and promote resource efficiency throughout the tyre value chain.
While the project is initially centred on Germany, it is expected to serve as a model for expanding tyre-to-tyre recycling across additional markets in the future, supporting the global transition towards a circular economy in the rubber and tyre industry.