Michelin-Led BlackCycle Project to Shake Up ELT Recycling

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Leading tyre manufacturer Michelin will lead an innovative project to manufacture new tyres from end-of-life tyres (ELTs). The ‘BlackCycle Project’ aims to promote a massive circular economy of tyres by creating, developing, and optimising a full value chain from ELT feedstock. The newly created tyres will be sold commercially in European and global markets.

The project, officially funded by the European Union, was launched during early-September this year. Led by Michelin, the project is also supported by 7 industrial partners, 5 Research & Technological Organizations (RTOs). The consortium will focus on developing specific solutions to produce sustainable raw materials for tyres.

The overall budget of the project is Euro 16 million. Out of this EU will fund Euro 12 million, which comes to approximately 75% of the total project cost. Around 35% of the project funding will be allocated to SMEs, 15% to RTOs and 34% will be towards personnel costs.

The project will cover five European countries- France, Spain, Germany, Greece and Switzerland.

As per estimates, 1.6 billion new tyres are sold worldwide every year. This essentially means that an equal number of end-of-life tyres are generated every year. The treatment processes for ELTs are not circular. Moreover, over 50% of the ELTs from European countries are exported to other countries.

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