Circular economy in a business eco-system: Integrated sensors and new recycling technology for heavy vehicle tyres

Purpose and goal

The project has investigated how today´s resource-consuming system for heavy vehicle tires can be radically more resource-productive. With LCA measurements, interview studies and workshops with participants from both truck service, customers, collectors, retreaders and recycling companies, we have produced some important results for realizing a circular business ecosystem: * Retreading has great resource saving potential, which is difficult to realize in a fossil-based system * The potential increases significantly with sensor data that ensures the correct tire pressure

Expected results and effects

The project has delivered academic and popular science publications according to plan, and presented results at a number of conferences and seminars. The project has also led to new collaborations between actors in and outside the consortium. During the project, several actors in the tire industry presented circular strategies, and the major industry project WBCSD has been established. The tire industry is on a circular path, and the results of our project can be used by various actors to understand challenges and find solutions for more resource-productive material utilization.

Planned approach and implementation

The project consisted of a number of mutually different parts: Survey of data needs and tests of sensors, measurement of circularity, LCA and toxicity, measurement of electromagnetism, tests of carbon black quality for recycling in tire applications, literature studies and descriptions of the history of vehicle tires and risk of retreaded tires, and measurement of fuel consumption for retreaded tires. Based on these results, as well as further workshops on data needs and data sharing, the project has produced a visionary picture of, and strategies to achieve, more circularity

External links

Projektets hemsida på ri.se.