Schwalbe expands tire recycling system to Austria and Europe

Schwalbe is expanding its tire recycling system beyond Germany, launching pilot projects in Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The company aims to have the full take-back and recycling system operational in all four countries by 2027.

In Austria, a pilot program with selected retailers is currently underway to test processes before the official operational launch in 2027. Once implemented, cyclists will be able to return used tires of all brands to participating specialized retailers.

Developed in collaboration with TH Köln and Pyrum Innovations AG, the system has already processed over 2.6 million used bicycle tires through more than 2,000 retailers in Germany since its 2022 launch. The process recovers valuable raw materials, such as pyrolysis oil and recovered Carbon Black (rCB), for reuse in production. The rCB produced through this method generates approximately 73% fewer greenhouse gas emissions per ton compared to fossil-based industrial carbon black.