Tyre De-vulcanization Concept Gains WRAP Commercialisation Support

Tyre recycler Rubber-Regen LLP has become the first company to sign up for support through the Recycling Commercialisation Centre, the facility established by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to support and accelerate the growth and development of early stage technologies in the recycling sector.

Commenting on the contract, Steve Creed, director of Business Growth at WRAP, says: “Rubber-Regen has developed a novel de-vulcanization technology that could make a huge and positive impact on the recycling and reuse of old rubber tyres, but they need help to develop it commercially. The Recycling Commercialisation Centre will offer them all the assistance they need to bring this technology to market.”

Currently it is estimated that 40 million, 250 million and 290 million tyres reach the end of their life cycle annually in the UK, EU and US respectively and very little recycled rubber is used in new tyre manufacture. Rubber-Regen was selected to receive support through WRAP’s Recycling Commercialisation Centre on the basis that it has the potential to overcome the existing limitations in rubber recycling and to facilitate significant reuse of used rubber in new tyres.

De-vulcanization is process in which connecting sulphur bands are broken down and the chemical composition of rubber is returned to its original chemical state, allowing it to be reused. The aim is for this rubber to be used to replace worn away rubber grips on the tyres of lorries, tractors and equipment from construction sites and even airplanes in a retreading process.

Tony Hough, CEO of Rubber-Regen, explains: “Significant reuse of end-of-life tyres in the production of new tyres is our goal. Although the technology to achieve this is in its infancy, we are delighted to have the support of the Recycling Commercialisation Centre and we look forward to working with them to develop our intellectual property and realise its full potential.”

Under the contract, the Centre will assist Rubber-Regen by:
– providing resources for technical testing and business planning;
– augmenting the existing management team;
– providing access to funds and investors; and
– developing and exploiting product markets.

The Recycling Commercialisation Centre is operated by Imperial Innovations Ltd, a subsidiary of Imperial College London and one of the UK’s leading business development and technology transfer companies. It forms part of the integrated support for recyclers available through WRAP’s Business Support team and was conceived specifically to provide the support for embryonic recycling businesses that are at too early a stage to receive other support.