There has been much talk of late about the importance of the circular economy, but for large industries, finding a properly joined up, sustainable approach to their product lifecycles can be challenging. In the case of US-based Trinseo, a plastics, latex and synthetic rubber manufacturer, it is addressing this issue via a commercial collaboration, including an equity investment, with Swiss company Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS).
The agreement will see the two companies collaborate on research and development, pooling their combined technology and expertise to help global tire manufacturers develop more sustainable tire formulations. The two companies share a long-term goal of developing new value-creating systems for the manufacture of tires that reduce environmental footprint and create a sustainable outlet for end-of-life tires.
“This collaboration is extremely important for developing real circular solutions for the tire and technical rubber goods industries. As a leading supplier of synthetic rubber to the tire industry, we are committed to helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals and believe that the most successful way to do this is through collaboration across the value chain. The partnership with TRS will provide us with high-quality recycled tire feedstock to serve customers globally,” explained Francesca Reverberi, Vice President, engineered materials and synthetic rubber, Trinseo.
Staffan Ahlgren, chief executive officer, TRS, added, “TRS has already been working closely with Trinseo for several years and we are excited to enter the next phase of our collaboration. TRS has developed proprietary technologies to process end-of-life tires and deliver output products with higher circular economical value. The partnership with Trinseo is confirmation of the great strides we’ve made since the company was founded seven years ago.”
