Düsseldorf pilot project tests bio-based filler in retreaded tires

A pilot project titled “Düsseldorf rollt sauber” is testing the use of bio-based fillers in retreaded tires. As part of the initiative, eight retreaded tires featuring HEMPLIZIT®, a material developed by Solid Plant from hemp shives, have been installed on an AWISTA waste collection vehicle in Düsseldorf.

The project aims to evaluate how replacing 15 percent of traditional fillers with plant-based materials affects performance under real-world conditions, such as frequent braking and varying road surfaces. The collaboration involves RIGDON, Solid Plant, AWISTA, DEKRA, and the AZuR network.

Separately, at the NRW Waste Prevention Conference in Düsseldorf, the AZuR network highlighted the importance of tire retreading as a resource management strategy. Experts emphasized that a tire with a worn tread is not necessarily waste if the carcass remains undamaged. Certified disposal specialists play a critical role in sorting and identifying suitable carcasses for retreading to promote a circular economy.