Borealis, Covestro, Neste to convert scrap tires into car parts

Helsinki – Neste, Borealis and Covestro have announced a joint project to enable the recycling of end-of-life tires (ELTs) into “high-quality” plastics for automotive applications.

With the aim of “driving circularity in polymer value-chains and the automotive industry,” the partnership will chemically recycle ELT materials into base chemicals, the companies announced 11 June.

A particular focus is to use the chemically recycled feedstock to produce “high purity” polycarbonates for automotive applications such as headlamps and radiator grilles.

Under the collaboration, Neste is to turn ‘liquefied’ ELTs into raw materials for polymers and chemicals manufacture. Borealis will then process these raw materials into phenol and acetone, which Covestro will use to make polycarbonates.

According to the partners, first products based on the collaboration are already available “as each party has manufactured the first batch of their respective contribution to the project.”

The share of recycled content is attributed via the mass balancing approach all the way to the final products using ISCC Plus certification, the statement pointed out.

The project partners said they might also consider polyurethanes as a possible end-product, which could also find its way into parts of the interior of a car.

The companies went on to highlight the potential to scale-up the programme to meet future EU regulations, such as the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation.

“Circularity requires cooperation, and this cooperation with our partners Neste and Borealis is testament to the possibilities at our disposal,” said Guido Naberfeld, senior VP, head of sales and market development mobility, Covestro.

According to the press statement, the collaboration will be presented during the PIAE in Mannheim, Germany on 19-20 June.

Image: From left to right: Jeroen Verhoeven (Neste), Thomas Van De Velde (Borealis), Guido Naberfeld (Covestro) / Source: Covestro