Retreading important for conserving rubber resources, says Chinese association

Speaking with Chinese new site China Economic Net, Zhu Jun, head of the China Tyre Retreading, Repairing & Recycling Association, has highlighted the waste created by China’s low rate of retreading. Zhu Jun stated that, according to statistics at hand, in 2009 more than 230 million waste and end of life tyres were generated in China; of this only 13 million – some five per cent – were considered retreadable.

In recent years, China has become a major consumer of natural rubber and tyre production accounts for some 70 per cent of this demand. “Accelerating the development of tyre retreading is an important way for China to make up scarce rubber resources, as well as an important method of realising that waste and old tyre comprehensive utilization improves rubber resource utilization efficiencies,” he said.

Noting that multiple retreading of a quality casing is common in many parts of the world, Zhu Jun stated “waste and old tyres are still precious resources.” He also pointed out that the wear life of retreads can be as high as 120 to 130 per cent of a same-specification new tyre, yet only a quarter the energy and materials are required in the production process.

“If we can improve the retreading quantity of tyres effectively and make further use of the waste tyres that cannot be retreaded through rubber resource harmless processing, it will actively relieve China’s shortage of rubber resources, drive the development of relevant industries and promote energy saving and emission reduction,” Zhu Jun continued. “It is also the requirement of developing circular economy.”

China is currently the world’s number one tyre maker, and Zhu Jun is concerned that if nothing changes the number of end of life and waste tyres generated each year will continue to climb. Yet in order to alter this negative trend and raise China’s retreading rates to something approaching Western levels, Zhu Jun believes several conditions must first be fulfilled.

To start with, he says the quality of new tyres manufactured in China, and the casing used in particular, must improve. He also opines that consumers must be better informed in tyre maintenance and care. Many vehicles in China, he explains, are overloaded, driven to fast and are on the road for extended periods of times – factors that can lead to casing overheating and tyre wear. Vehicle operators must learn to stop “using tyres to waste,” he stated. Also considered essential is to accelerate the development of tyre recycling infrastructure and networks and to implement required standards and qualifications within the sector.