Schwalbe taps Pyrum rCB for 70% circular tires

Reichshof, Germany – German bicycle tire manufacturer Schwalbe has advanced sustainability goals with the series production of 70% circular tires.

The tire maker is collaborating with end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis company Pyrum to convert its own waste tires to recovered carbon back (rCB) for reuse in tires, said Schwalbe 24 June.

“The rCB is a direct product of the Schwalbe recycling system and replaces 100% fossil-based carbon black,” said the tire maker, noting that the process saves 80% CO?eq.

Pyrum produces the rCB at its waste tire processing facility in Dilingen, Saalrand.

The switch to rCB follows “intensive R&D work,” and will not “compromise the quality and performance of the tires,” said Felix Jahn, head of CSR at Schwalbe.

The reinforcement material will be used across all Schwalbe's tires for road bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes as well as city and cargo bikes.

Schwalbe tires with the ‘Addix Ultra Soft’ rubber compound and ‘Active Line’ tires will not yet use rCB, as it “is not yet possible without compromising on quality.”

The company is continuing “intensive research” to extend the use of rCB to the remaining products.

The tire maker launched the ‘Schwalbe Recycling System’ to collect and recycle its own tires across Germany in July 2022.

The scheme, in collaboration with 1,800 dealers, processed 940,000 tires by the end of April this year.

Schwalbe said it is currently working on expanding the collection and recycling process to other countries.