More sustainable tires: a European Project led by DII

The tires we use every day are made from a complex mix of materials: natural and synthetic rubbers, additives, oils, vulcanizing agents, antioxidants. However, not everything that ensures high performance is harmless to the environment or human health. Among the most critical components are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but also phthalates, plasticizers, stabilizers, antioxidants, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and metal particles released during road use.

Today, Europe is entirely dependent on the import of natural rubber – a raw material considered “critical” by the EU. Only 1.5% of tire rubber from end-of-life tires is actually reused to produce new ones. The remaining portion is used for energy recovery or in playgrounds and sports fields – uses that are increasingly scrutinized due to the toxicity of certain emissions. In fact, recent European regulations have significantly limited their use (e.g., EU Regulation 2021/1199).

These challenges are being addressed by NORUBTREET_4_LIFE (NOvel RUBber blends for Tyres with a REduced Environmental impacT, for a better LIFE), a European project worth around €900,000, funded under the Life Horizon Europe program. Launched in July 2024 and coordinated by the University of Trento, the project aims to develop new rubber blends for safer, recyclable tires with a lower environmental impact.

The university team is led by Stefano Gialanella and includes Andrea Dorigato, Luca Fambri, and Giulia Fredi from the Department of Industrial Engineering. Three other European universities are also participating: KTH Sweden, University of Groningen, and the University of Milan.

Concrete Goals and Innovative Technologies

The project’s main goal is to develop a complete recycling process for end-of-life tires, capable of eliminating the PAHs they contain, in order to obtain secondary raw materials for use in the production of new tires — following a cradle-to-cradle approach (closed-loop recycling). The project is based on a new recycling technology recently developed by the University of Groningen, now licensed to the company New Born Rubber BV.

In particular, the focus will be on retreaded tires for heavy vehicles, starting with the tread and aiming to develop an entirely recycled tire. The final goal is ambitious: to reduce the purchase cost of the tire by 25% and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to traditional tires.

If the results are confirmed, the new rubber blends developed within NORUBTREET_4_LIFE could not only improve the environmental footprint of the sector but also offer a real competitive advantage — provided that European regulations adopt and promote updated standards based on the project’s data.