BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Schwalbe’s tyre recycling programme has reached a significant milestone.
Since the introduction of the holistic and, to date, unique recycling system, one million bicycle tyres have been collected, recycled and returned to the cycle of reclaimed material going back into new products.
In tangible terms, this means that they are used to manufacture new tyres. The circle is closed.
Schwalbe presented the tyre recycling programme at Eurobike in 2022, developed together with Pyrums Innovations AG and the Technical University of Cologne.
Numerous specialist retailers across Germany have subsequently been connected to the system.
To date, it is possible to hand in old bike tyres at more than 1,800 participating retailers.
Depending on the store, a small fee is charged.
Schwalbe already uses recycled carbon black (rCB) in 70% of its product range – including the Pick Up, Green Marathon, Tacky Chan, G-One RX and Pro One models.
Only tyres with the Addix Ultra Soft rubber compound and Active Line tyres do not yet use rCB.
Schwalbe says this is not yet possible without compromising on quality.
The rCB is a direct by-product from the Schwalbe recycling system and replaces carbon black that is 100% fossil fuel based.
In this way, 80% CO2 equivalent is saved.
The rCB comes directly from Pyrum Innovations AG, the company where the actual recycling process takes place in Saarland.
End consumers do not directly notice the use of rCB, as neither the design and performance nor the price of the tyres change as a result.
Nevertheless, the circular economy and therefore the environment benefit from the purchase decision.
The Schwalbe Recycling System had already recycled 940,000 tyres by the end of April, with the German brand currently working on expanding the recycling process to other countries.
