Norwegian tire firm ReTyre has been on our radar for a number of years, with their distinctive strategy to tire development. First, it was zip-on tires. Now it’s a fully new steady injection-molded development from pre- and post-consumer supplies that create tthe world’s first ‘Carbon Impartial’ bicycle tires.
ReTyre World’s First Carbon-Impartial bicycle tires
Oslo, Norway is residence to reTyre, an organization that has not too long ago shifted to mass-producing sustainable tires in 2022. At this yr’s Eurobike, they’ve introduced the “world’s first carbon-neutral tire”, made from a mixture of recycled and reclaimed supplies mixed with a by-product of restoring aquatic ecosystems – all in an effort to make use of cutting-edge manufacturing know-how to cut back emissions from bicycle tire manufacturing.
ReTyre claims that the tire is crafted from groundbreaking supplies, and the modern idea marks a monumental step in sustainable tire manufacturing.
A Revolution In Tire Manufacturing
Step one is the uncooked supplies that make up the brand new tire – nevertheless it’s a singular development that makes all of it work. As an alternative of a traditional cloth casing wrapped round a mould after which overwrapped with one pure rubber tread at a time, ReTyre repeatedly molds a large spool of flat tire.
The casing feeds by means of a mould, the place a thermoplastic combination with a consistency and durometer someplace between rubber and TPU is injection molded immediately onto the casing. Then the casing rolls a bit additional, and the following set of tread is co-molded on. The result’s as much as 1-1.5m of tread molded at a time, with comparatively clean seams or transitions from one to the following, proper out of the mould.
The tire is then rolled onto a large spool.
Solely later is it lower to size for the specified tire diameter, and the casing and tread are bonded right into a loop to kind a single tire. This technique is alleged to additional cut back emissions from the delivery and distribution course of. So whereas the spool of tire is manufactured in Norway, ReTyre can end tire manufacturing with extra easy tooling within the native market.
Distinctive recycled and reclaimed components
ReTyre’s Carbon-neutral tire incorporates a number of distinctive supplies in its development, every chosen for its capacity to reduce environmental impression:
The ReTyre tread consists of algae harvested from out-of-control blooms that had been damaging the native ecosystem. By eradicating the problematic algae, it halts the eutrophication course of that chokes out native fish, disrupts pure ecosystems, and emits methane into the environment.
That algae is combined with post-consumer recycled plastics to create the tread. Curiously, it appears the algae binder + plastics recipe is extra versatile on what supplies may be added.
Recycled casing & safety, too
Utilized from used physique armor in a closed-loop recycling course of, ReTyre incorporates renewable carbon in recycled para-aramid fibers again into the tire beads and its puncture safety layers. After which the fibers of the casing itself are mentioned to be woven from used fishing nets on the finish of their life. Recycling the nets is alleged to cut back emissions by 49% and vitality use by 15% vs. utilizing virgin nylon supplies.
The Path to Carbon Neutrality
The one who is main the Carbon Impartial Tire Mission at ReTyre is Froiedemann Ohse. He elaborates on the meticulous course of that goes into reaching carbon neutrality. “The product carbon footprint of this tire relies on our third-party verified LCA, together with the end-of-life, which is how we measure all our merchandise. Our manufacturing and transportation processes are optimized to be near zero emissions“.
Ohse continues, “Finish-of-life is decreased to nearly zero as a result of recycling of the tires. The algae used within the tire has a detrimental CO2 equal, balancing any remaining emissions to realize a net-zero impression. On this manner, we’ve got a carbon-neutral product with out utilizing any of the well-known shortcuts, similar to carbon quotas, subsidies, or different non-product associated contributions.”
A World Effort in ReTyre Carbon-Impartial tires
ReTyre collaborates with world suppliers to responsibly supply their supplies. As an illustration, the algae used within the course of is harvested from lakes and oceans worldwide and is supported by the UN Ecosystem Restoration Program.
Distinctive Supplies + Manufacturing Potentialities
Utilizing its 100% sustainable product portfolio, ReTyre can provide manufacturers a variety of sustainable tires with out compromising high quality. By utilizing bio-based and 100% renewable supplies which have by no means been used earlier than, ReTyre considerably reduces emissions and produces absolutely reusable tires. They will even make the rubber or principal casing construction in a variety of colours.
This strategy reduces GHG emissions by as much as 82% in comparison with standard tires. Friedmann Ohse additionally mentioned, “This carbon-neutral tire is at an idea stage and it’s a results of steady innovation that exhibits what our distinctive manufacturing is able to“.
Eurobike’s ReTyre Carbon-Impartial tire lineup debut
Throughout the idea of their groundbreaking carbon-neutral tire idea, ReTyre confirmed the extensive vary of sustainable merchandise doable with this new development at Eurobike. That features a new Metropolis Vary tires designed for the city bicycle owner and Youngsters’s Vary of tires meant for low-cost OEM youngsters’ bikes.