Gasgoo Munich- Pirelli has teamed up with Pyrum Innovations, Synthos, and BASF to launch a "tire-to-tire" circular economy project in Europe, aiming to unlock the full value chain of end-of-life tire recycling. Sourcing primarily from Germany—spanning retail outlets, motorsport events, and Pirelli's local production facilities—the initiative seeks to transform used tire casings into raw materials for new, high-performance tires through industrial synergy.
Image Credit: BASF
Under the technical roadmap, scrap tires are first sent to Pyrum for pyrolysis. In a high-temperature, oxygen-free environment, the tires are broken down into two intermediate products: recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil. The recovered carbon black undergoes quality upgrades before returning directly to Pirelli’s European plants to partially replace virgin carbon black, while the pyrolysis oil is supplied to BASF. There, it is mixed with fossil-based feedstock to produce basic chemicals such as butadiene and styrene.
Using a mass balance approach, the attributes of these recycled materials are assigned to the ISCC PLUS-certified Ccycled® product line. Synthos then processes them into synthetic rubber that meets high-performance tire standards, before delivering the final product back to Pirelli for new tire manufacturing. The entire supply chain is integrated into the ISCC PLUS certification system to ensure material traceability.
From an industry perspective, this collaboration goes beyond simple waste recovery; it represents an attempt to establish a specialized industrial ecosystem. The four firms divide responsibilities across pyrolysis, chemical refining, synthetic rubber manufacturing, and tire molding—forming a closed loop.
Europe produces a vast amount of scrap tires annually, yet market acceptance of pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black has long been constrained by quality fluctuations. By employing a mass balance approach and introducing certification, the project may offer a viable path to increase the penetration of recycled materials in the premium tire segment.
Partners describe the project as the most comprehensive implementation of this model in Europe to date. Its actual impact still awaits verification through mass production, but it signals a clear shift: as environmental regulations tighten and carbon footprint scrutiny grows, the tire industry is transitioning from linear consumption to a multi-stage circular model.
