Norwegian recycler secures planning permission for £100m ELT pyrolysis plant in UK

London – UK-based electric vehicle tire manufacturer ENSO has signed an agreement with Norwegian waste tire pyrolysis company Wastefront AS for the supply of recycled carbon black (rCB) by 2024.

Backed by energy giant Vitol, Wastefront has secured planning permission to build a £100 million (€120 million) tire recycling plant at the Port of Sunderland and is set to start construction on the facility in second quarter of the year.

As part of the agreement, the recycler will provide ENSO with "a recycling outlet" for its used tires, said the London-based tire maker in a statement 7 March.

The two companies have also set up a technical collaboration initiative between their respective R&D teams to develop more sustainable solutions for EV tire manufacturing.

The collaboration will focus on accelerating the use of rCB as a substitute for virgin carbon black; developing rCB’s properties to increase EV tire performance; increasing the percentage of recycled materials in tires, and reducing the content of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in tires.

“This partnership is a great example of how we are closing the loop of circularity,” said Wastefront CEO, Vianney Vales.

“No longer do we have the luxury of making a product and forgetting about it the moment it leaves the factory,” he added.

Also commenting, ENSO CEO, Gunnlaugur Eriendsson said the environmental impact of tires is significant, particularly when it comes to EVs.

“ENSO’s mission is to work in harmony with nature to make better EV tires, delivering more range and less tire pollution, based on the circular economy,” he added.