Contec raises largest Clean Tech investment in Europe
Our funding round now reaches EUR 15 million — one of 2023’s largest Clean Tech investments in Europe.
The largest Polish manufacturer of steel roofing and facades – Pruszyński – has contributed an additional EUR 5 million to the funds already provided by VINCI and the Warsaw Equity Group. These two entities had initially invested EUR 10 million in Contec back in March 2023.
The investment will be used to triple the capacity of Contec’s current facility in Szczecin, Poland, and to position the company for the construction of several new commercial plants across Europe. This will support Contec’s mission to accelerate the transformation of the manufacturing industry toward carbon neutrality.
For many years, we have been supporting the efforts of the manufacturing sector to promote environmental sustainability and circularity. Contec’s circular products significantly reduce the carbon footprint by more than five times compared to traditional fossil fuel-based raw materials. That’s why there is a great deal of interest in Recovered Carbon Black for the tire, manufactured rubber goods, plastics, and pigment industries. – Krzysztof Wróblewski, CEO of Contec.
Thank you to our investors and the entire team for making this milestone possible!
To read the full press release, please download it as a PDF .
For media inquiries, please reach out to Anna Goławska <a.golawska@contec.tech>.
Contec wins award for investment efficiency
We’re so proud and delighted to announce that we have won the award for ‘investment efficiency.’
Waste Management and Recycling Cluster thank you for recognizing Contec’s efforts in development and growth.
We’re happy that an independent organization has noticed our activities. It’s a clear message from the Cluster’s experts that our work is necessary.
Moreover, it serves as motivation for us to do more and not slow down.
Waste Management and Recycling Cluster
Waste Management and Recycling Cluster (KGOIR), National Key Cluster (Klaster Gospodarki Odpadowej i Recyklingu) is a modern, innovative organization of significant importance to the Polish economy and high international competitiveness, with an established position in the country and in Europe. It belongs to the elite group of 19 Polish national key clusters certified by the Ministry of Development and Technology of the Republic of Poland, described as the most effective instruments of development policy at the national and regional level. KGOIR brings together entrepreneurs from the broadly defined area of green economy, oriented towards the closed cycle economy, dealing with, among others, waste management, recycling, recovery, creating technologies and equipment, offering pro-environmental solutions and services, as well as key Polish scientific units operating in the field of research and development and waste and packaging industry.
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Common properties of tire pyrolysis oil
Tire pyrolysis oil is the most abundant product from recycling end-of-life tires with pyrolysis.
As a circular product, its properties allow it to be used as an eco-friendly alternative to several industrial manufacturing commodities. This article will conduct a tire pyrolysis oil analysis, review the properties, and shed more light on this valuable product.
What is Tire Pyrolysis Oil?
Tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) is the liquid fraction produced by the pyrolysis of end-of-life tires (ELTs). According to Martinez 2023, TPO can make up between 40 and 50 per cent by weight of the pyrolytic products depending on the process and temperature.
TPO is a thick, viscous dark brown or black liquid that can be semi-solid in cooler temperatures. It’s a complex mixture of hydrocarbon families with varying carbon numbers of C5 – C50. These consist of 49.54 per cent aliphatic compounds and 16.65 per cent aromatic compounds, like xylene, etc. The hydrocarbons have a wide range of boiling points from 70 ºC to 450 ºC (Pilusa 2013).
TPO composition will depend on tire types, pyrolysis technology, and conditions. However, the average TPO composition (Pilusa et al., 2013) is as follows:
- Carbon: 83 per cent by weight
- Hydrogen: 6.6 per cent by weight
- Oxygen: 8.6 per cent by weight
- Nitrogen: 0.3 per cent by weight
- Sulphur: 1 per cent by weight
The various components of TPO will influence the oil’s physical and chemical properties and behaviour (Jammel 2018).
Let’s look at some of these properties more closely.
What are the properties of tire pyrolysis oil?
Other tire pyrolysis oil analyses have found that it has critical properties and characteristics similar to some fossil fuels, allowing it to be used as an eco-friendly alternative.
However, TPO does have disadvantages, such as a higher sulphur content and a lower flash point than fossil fuels. To determine whether TPO is an appropriate alternative feedstock instead of fossil-based petroleum products for producing chemicals or use as fuel, its viscosity, flash point, calorific values, and corrosivity must be analysed.
1. Viscosity
Viscosity refers to how easily oil can flow. The viscosity of oil changes with temperature and pressure: oil becomes thinner as the temperature rises and its viscosity decreases. At 40oC, TPO from ELTs has medium viscosity and is 10 centistokes (cSt) at 40oC, whereas fossil–based diesel, which TPO could replace, has a viscosity of 2.58 cSt at 40oC (cSt) (Pilusa 2013).
2. Density
Viscosity is connected to density, which is the relation of the weight of a substance with its volume.
At higher temperatures, oil’s density decreases. TPO from ELTs has a high energy density of 920 kg/m3@15oC. In comparison, petrol and diesel have a density of 740 and 822 kg/m3@15oC, respectively (Pilusa 2013).
3. Calorific value
The calorific value indicates the energy or heat a substance produces when completely burnt.
A high calorific value indicates a substance will be suitable as a fuel. TPO’s Gross Calorific Value is 41-44 MJ/Kg, that is, burning one kilo of it produces 41-44 megajoules of energy. In comparison, the Gross Calorific Value of diesel and petrol are 43.8 and 46.0 MJ/kg, respectively, according to Pilusa.
4. Flash point
TPO, like other fossil fuels, produces vapours.
The flashpoint of oil is the temperature at which its vapour will burn when a small flame is applied. When there is little vapour and more air, there is no combustion. When the mix of air and vapour is correct, even a small spark can cause it to burn. The pressure created from burning has produced violent explosions that can destroy storage tanks and lead to oil spills and major fires. TPO has a low flashpoint below 65°C, which is one of its disadvantages (Pilusa 2013).
5. Corrosivity
Like other crude oils, TPO is corrosive due to contaminants, like a high content of oxygen and acids.
Corrosivity in oils can affect metal pipes and storage tanks. Raw TPO can be very corrosive to metals like steel and other alloys with low chromium content. Containers at 50°C develop cracks when TPO is stored for a few hundred hours (Keiser 2011).
Why is recovered Tire Pyrolysis Oil important?
Industries are looking to increase the use of secondary products in their manufacturing processes to improve circularity. TPO is a circular and sustainable product whose range of potential applications positions it as a valuable secondary raw material.
The high carbon content of TPO makes it an interesting raw material for producing high-value carbon products. TPO is also called bunker oil or black liquor because of its composition and properties that are similar to petroleum products. It could be used in place of diesel for internal combustion engines, after distillation and removing undesirable chemicals like sulphur and nitrogen using existing refinery facilities.
Moreover, heavy aromatic compounds make TPO suitable for producing carbon black (CB) by replacing fossil fuel feedstocks, which make up 60 per cent of the manufacturing costs of CB (Martinez et al., 2023). Xylene in TPO also has several applications in the chemical industry.
It’s possible to increase the value TPO can bring to industries by introducing standards and regulations for the tire pyrolysis industry. Creating demand will also stabilise supply and prices to reduce raw material bottlenecks.
Conventional ELT recycled products like rubber crumbs have reached market saturation. TPO’s high value and wide range of applications in the circular economy can also make pyrolysis upcycling of ELTs profitable, more sustainable, and attractive globally. Though ELT recycling is high in the EU, it is very low in several regions worldwide.
Environmental reasons
The environmental benefits of TPO are another reason to consider using it instead of conventional fuels and feedstocks.
Pyrolysis, a thermo-chemical process, is the most environmentally friendly method of recycling ELTs. The process produces little or no pollutants, has a low carbon footprint, and can be made operationally safe. TPO’s carbon footprint as fuel is competitive compared to biofuels (Martinez et al., 2023).
Contec’s TPO
Contec’s protected and innovative tire pyrolysis process has integrated design and engineering features to make the process safe for its staff and the environment.
The company has measured its process’s carbon emissions, and ConPyro, Contec’s TPO, has a low carbon footprint of only 399.75 kg CO2e/1t.
Contec has designed and operates one of Europe’s few tire pyrolysis plants to solve the ELT problem and produce circular products for tire manufacturing, plastics, and other industries. Promoting tire pyrolysis oil uses helps to support the circular economy and sustainability goals. Find out more about Contec’s circular TPO, ConPyro.
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Common uses for tire pyrolysis oil
Recovered tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) is a high-value secondary product from the pyrolysis process.
The market for it will expand by a CAGR of 2.9 between 2021 to 2031. It has enormous potential as a circular, renewable feedstock and fuel for several industries. TPO can be a viable alternative to fossil-based products and help manufacturers meet their carbon and circularity goals.
Since TPO is a relatively new product, there’s still some discussion about which conventional feedstocks and fuels the recovered tire oil can replace. However, there are many possible tire pyrolysis oil uses for this sustainable alternative. In this article, you will learn the common application and properties of TPO.
What is recovered tire pyrolysis oil?
Recovered TPO is a product of recycling end-of-life tires (ELTs) through pyrolysis. At Contec, the results from the pyrolysis process are: 40 per cent recovered tire oil, 33 per cent recovered Carbon Black, 15 per cent recovered steel, and 12 per cent recovered gas.
Tire material is manufactured to be strong and durable, and recycling ELTs is challenging. Pyrolysis manages to upcycle the materials in ELTs through a thermochemical process. Using this method, tire crumbs, produced by shredding tires, are heated at 550°C in an oxygen-free atmosphere. The complex polymers in old tires are decomposed in a series of thermal and chemical processes to give simpler compounds in the form of oils, char (Carbon Black), and gas.
Contec is one of the few companies operating a tire pyrolysis pilot plant in Europe that produces recovered TPO in Szczecin, Poland. We’ve improved the decades-old pyrolysis process through protected innovations and novel engineering to recycle 100 per cent of the ELTs received.
The high-quality recovered tire oil produced by Contec is rich in aromatic compounds, over 50 per cent, unlike most other crude fossil fuels. Since ELTs are made of natural rubber, the oil is also bio-based.
What are the properties of tire pyrolysis oil?
TPO is a heavy, dark fluid made of a blend of many hydrocarbon families with a high sulphur, nitrogen, and oxygen content.
Recovered TPO is mainly composed of hydrocarbons, including aliphatic, aromatic, and monoterpene compounds. The aliphatic compounds are dodecane and tridecane. The light aromatic compounds are single-ring benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, polyaromatics are naphthalene, and monoterpenes are limonene, according to Jammel 2018.
The composition and specifications of TPO, which determine the properties of recovered TPO, can vary based on the pyrolysis process and conditions, so standardisation is necessary to find industrial applications.
Analyses of recovered TPO and comparisons have shown that its composition and properties are similar to petrol and diesel.
Where is tire pyrolysis oil used?
Recovered TPO can be a circular and eco-friendly alternative to fossil-based petroleum products if its properties and composition are similar to conventional oils.
The main potential of tire pyrolysis oil uses that have been explored are fuel for engines, heating and power generation, and feedstock for producing Carbon Black and other chemicals.
Let’s look at where TPO is used in manufacturing:
1. Tire pyrolysis oil as a New Fuel
According to Han 2023, recovered TPO has a high energy content, but its sulphur content of 1 per cent by weight is more than commercial diesel, which has less than 0.05 per cent by weight of sulphur.
TPO’s low flash point makes it less safe. Therefore, it must undergo treatment and desulphurisation before use as a fuel. After treatment, TPO (44 MJ/kg) has an energy or calorific value close to commercial diesel (45 MJ/kg). Its other properties like viscosity, density, and flashpoint also become similar to diesel after treatment.
Therefore, treated recovered TPO can be blended with diesel and used as a fossil-fuel substitute for motor vehicles, diesel burners, generators, engineering machinery, etc.
TPO is derived partially from the natural rubber used to make tires. It can be considered a biogas and renewable energy source in compliance with the 2009/28/EC European directive. The TPO produced from pyrolysis also has a competitive carbon footprint compared to other first-generation biofuels.
2. Tire pyrolysis oil for Heating
Due to the recovered TPO’s high calorific value of 41-44 MJ/kg and the similarity of its properties to diesel, it can be used as a direct substitute for diesel as a heat source, using the same machinery and pipes, in industrial settings. TPO can be used for heating purposes in industries such as boiler heating, cement, steel, glass factories, etc.
3. Tire pyrolysis oil for Power Generation
Again, TPO’s high gross calorific value makes it an ideal option as a renewable biogas fuel for generating power and cutting carbon emissions. It can replace coal or natural gas, which are expensive.
TPO has the same energy/calorific value as fossil fuel oils, 25-50 per cent more than coal, and 100-200 per cent more than wood.
Most countries around the world import fossil fuels for power generation and heating. All countries use vehicles and discard ELTs, but recycling is poor in many countries. These nations could use ELTs as feedstock to produce economical TPO and cut back on fossil fuel importation.
4. Tire pyrolysis oil for Carbon Black Production
Currently, 90 to 95 per cent of virgin Carbon Black (vCB) is produced using fossil fuel-based feedstocks, rich in aromatic compounds. TPO can be a sustainable and circular feedstock that reduces reliance on fossil fuels for manufacturing vCB of medium to low-reinforcing vCBs.
The presence of high sulphur content is also not a problem and doesn’t influence the yield or the product characteristics. Producing vCB is also scalable, and using TPO as feedstock for some grades can contribute to a circular economy.
5. Tire pyrolysis oil for High-Value Chemical Production
After distillation, TPO yields three fractions, including naphtha, from which it’s possible to extract high-value components like benzene, limonene, toluene, xylene, and phenolic compounds.
According to Han 2023, these compounds are individually valuable for producing industrial commodities:
- Limonene is used to manufacture aromatic agents and solvents.
- Benzene is needed to make dyes, drugs, pesticides, and surfactants.
- Xylene derivatives are used in the fibre industry and for producing polyester fibres.
What are the advantages of using recovered tire pyrolysis oil?
TPO has substantial economic and environmental benefits, largely because tire pyrolysis oil uses can be a substitute instead of virgin fossil fuels in many industries.
Some of the main benefits are:
1. TPO production is more economical than fossil fuels
As fossil fuels become scarce, extraction requires more resources and costs. In contrast, TPO is produced using abundant and economical tire waste as feedstock. Manufacturers in the European Union must pay for their waste management, and any landfilled material can be expensive.
Shredding waste tires and using them as feedstock to produce TPO lowers manufacturers’ costs and provides them with valuable, circular raw materials.
2. TPO from ELTs is more economical than fossil fuels
South Asian countries are opting to use recovered TPO, as natural gas is more expensive, and they’re seeking to reduce dependence on coal for power generation. Similarly, African countries cannot meet the demand for fuel for industries through conventional fuels and find using recovered TPO is more economically viable than increasing the import of fossil fuels.
3. TPO is more attractive than other biofuels
Interest in recovered TPO is increasing to keep up with the boost in demand for renewable energy sources. Recovered TPO can be used in existing fossil fuel facilities, making it an easy substitute. Moreover, it has more energy than ethanol and is more stable and easily transported than biodiesel.
4. TPO reduces land use changes and emissions from mining
Replacing virgin raw materials with circular secondary tire oil will reduce the associated pollution and environmental costs of exploration, mining, and processing. Less mining also protects pristine biodiversity-rich forests from being cut down to mine more fossil fuels.
5. TPO can be produced in decentralised and small operations
When tire recycling facilities aredistributed throughout a country, they can prevent long-distance transportation of fossil-based raw materials. The shorter transport distance will also reduce the carbon footprint and pollution associated with transporting ‘new’ fossil fuels. Local production of TPO can reduce dependence on imports of fossil fuels, providing assured and uninterrupted feedstocks and fuel supplies to industries.
6. TPO reduces carbon footprint
TPO has a lower carbon footprint than fossil fuels. Choosing TPO as the raw material for manufacturing will lower the carbon footprint of processes and products and can improve air quality through reduced pollution.
Increasing TPO applications with Contec
As industries become more circular, the opportunities that recovered TPO offers the tire, vCB, chemical, and manufacturing sectors are great. Equally, if not of greater interest, is the possibility of using TPO to generate power and run vehicles, two of the most polluting sectors with significant carbon footprints. Contec seeks to increase tire oil applications by providing a reliable source of high-quality tire oil for these industries. Find out more about Contec’s sustainable TPO.
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Understanding tire pyrolysis and the process
Tire recycling is not new.
Currently, the standard method for tire recycling is rubber granulation. However, rubber granulate applications aren’t environmentally friendly or circular and don’t recycle 100 per cent of the materials in waste tires.
Tire pyrolysis, an alternative method of tire recycling, offers the automotive industry circularity and the possibility of reusing materials beyond recycling.
What is tire pyrolysis?
Tire pyrolysis is a form of chemcycling where ground tire waste undergoes thermochemical decomposition at high temperatures in an inert oxygen-free atmosphere to yield recovered Carbon Black (rCB), recovered steel, pyrolytic oil, and pyrolytic gas.
Without oxygen, the polymers in tire wastes don’t burn. The heat catalyses chemical reactions to break down the vulcanising bonds in the rubber granulates. Since 85 per cent of tire components are petroleum- or polymer-based, pyrolytic oil and gas are two major products generated.
All pyrolytic products from tires have circular uses.
- The rCB is a valuable alternative material that can be used to manufacture new tires instead of medium-grade virgin Carbon Black (vCB) produced from fossil fuels.
- The recovered steel can be used again in tire manufacturing.
- The high-quality pyrolysis oil can be used as vehicle fuel or to produce fine-grade vCB for tire manufacturing.
- The pyrolytic gas can run a facility plant and reduce the carbon footprint of all the pyrolytic products produced there.
Tire pyrolysis adapts the well-known process to specifically recycle end-of-life tires (ELTs) since each feedstock needs a different temperature and treatment time.
Three main types of pyrolysis exist — slow, fast, and flash.
Each uses different temperature ranges, heating rates, and residence times to give various products. The distinction between the types is not clear-cut. Furthermore, reactors can be batch or continuous types and use various kinds of beds.
Tire pyrolysis is the most environmentally friendly and safe method to dispose of tires. It produces few poisonous pollutants and has a low carbon footprint compared to other methods — landfilling, incineration for energy, open burning, or rubber granulate civil engineering applications.
Figure 1: Systems boundaries, Buadit et al. 2020. (Image credits: Life Cycle Assessment of Material Recovery from Pyrolysis Process of End-of-Life Tires in Thailand)
How does pyrolysis work?
The products, yield, and quality will all be different depending on the pyrolysis reactor. However, all pyrolysis methods share basic processes, which can be grouped into three steps.
Figure 1 explains the various steps involved in the basic pyrolysis process.
Phase 1: Feedstock Preparation
The processes before actual pyrolysis are crucial and influence the quality of the pyrolytic products. The ELTs are shredded to separate steel and fabric from the rubber components.
Mechanical primary and secondary shredders cut the rubber down to produce 10-50 mm rubber granulates stored in silos.
Shredding tires leads to better quality products than entire tires, as they can be heated faster and more evenly. The separated steel can be recycled. Our process at Contec involves sourcing and using the best quality feedstock during this phase.
Phase 2: Pyrolysis Process
Before the rubber granules are fed into the pyrolysis reactor, the chamber undergoes inertisation to protect the process and staff from combustion.
The oxygen content of air is reduced from 21 per cent by volume to less than 13 per cent by pumping in nitrogen, an inert gas. Not all pyrolysis processes use this step, and by not opting for this step, they risk explosions. Inertisation is crucial to the safety of the process.
Next, the rubber granulates are fed into the reactor and heated to temperatures between 400 and 700°C. Some pyrolysis methods use high pressure and catalysts to aid this process.
The heat leads to various decomposition and volatilization reactions like cracking, dehydration, isomerization, aromatization, dehydrogenation, and condensation. The solid tire waste is converted to volatile gases, steel, and char.
Phase 3: Post-Processing
After passing through the condenser, most of the gas liquefies into pyrolytic oil rich in aromatic compounds, and the un-condensed gas is used as fuel to run the pyrolysis process, which is energy intensive.
The char comes out mixed with finer steel bits and inorganic salts. The solids go under a magnetic separator to remove all traces of steel, which is recyclable. The char is refined and powdered to produce rCB, then pelletised to meet market demand.
Is the process safe?
The traditional pyrolysis process, despite its benefits, has some risks and is prone to explosions and fire. Historically, the equipment can be damaged, and people have been injured and even killed due to explosions in pyrolysis plants.
Problems can occur because the gases produced from tire decomposition are combustible. If excess oxygen gets into the system because of a mishap or flaw and comes in contact with the gases at high temperatures, the gas can ignite and cause an explosion.
Explosions are a result of a lack of inertisation and proper process control. Therefore, modern tire pyrolysis processes have introduced many security measures to eliminate or diminish the chances of such explosions.
Contec has incorporated stringent safety measures while planning and constructing its protected tire pyrolysis plant to ensure the process is safe for its people, the neighbourhood, and the environment:
- Contec uses an expensive inertisation process, even though it isn’t legally required.
- Contec avoids gas pressure buildup by taking the following precautions:
- Cleaning pipes even when the plant is in process.
- Using two sensors to check pressure each second so that personnel can take steps to correct pressure changes.
- Using a relief pipe to divert excess gas.
- Carrying out a thorough inspection of pipes, pressure, and gas odour before the start of any run.
- Contec maintains complete and instant control over the temperature of molten salts, used as a heating medium. These circulate in a different jacket, which makes the system safer. The disposal of molten salts also causes no environmental problems, as their chemical composition is similar to that of fertilisers.
Tire pyrolysis at Contec
Contec has improved upon older tire pyrolysis processes in collaboration with the Warsaw University of Technology and has been involved from the planning stage in setting up the pilot plant in Szczecin, Poland.
The protected Contec tire pyrolysis process uniquely uses molten salts as a heat transfer medium.
Molten salts, historically used to store solar energy, have recently been incorporated into tire pyrolysis. Contec heats the molten salts and pumps them into a jacket where they circulate and remain in a loop around the reactor holding the ELTs’ rubber granulates. An auger inside the reactor rotates to ensure that each rubber particle is evenly heated for the optimum duration so that the rCB is consistently high quality. In addition, staff checks rCB quality every 1-3 hours, so 90 per cent of the product meets stringent quality criteria.
Contec also introduced engineering elements and security steps to ensure that staff has complete control over the molten heating process and that strict safety requirements are met. Less than 15 per cent of all stops in the plant have been non-scheduled stops due to equipment failure. Moreover, molten salts need less energy to maintain their temperature than other methods and can be reused, making the entire tire pyrolysis process more efficient, economical, and eco-friendly.
In addition, the inertisation process ensures that explosion risks are minimised.
The Contec process has ensured that our rCB’s carbon footprint is 80 per cent less than conventional vCB and that our products are circular. Thus, we manage the growing ELTs disposal problem to provide circular rCB, steel, and fuel, to tire manufacturers and the automotive industry to help them become more sustainable and attain their climate-neutral goals.
Get in touch to learn more about our sustainable solutions.
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Contec wins biggest growth award
The commission appreciated our team’s outstanding work, and we managed to more than triple our revenues in 2022. It’s always satisfying to be recognised for hard work and dedication, and this award is a testament to our team’s success.
The recognition from the commission has not only boosted our team’s morale but has also increased our motivation to develop.
We’re confident that with our team’s dedication and hard work, we will continue to exceed expectations and achieve even greater success in the future.
Krzysztof Wróblewski, CEO Contec S.A.
We would like to congratulate the other winners (VIGO Ventures, Piwik PRO, Polskie Konsorcjum Gospodarcze S.A.) and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
About WEG Awards
The WEG AWARDS 2023 is an awards gala where we nominate WEG portfolio companies in 5 categories:
1. Management Team of the Year
2. Biggest Growth
3. Innovation of the year
4. Globalization
5. Courage in business
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Carbon footprint and your business
Nowadays, a company’s carbon footprint is more essential than ever. That’s why we’ve prepared a few interesting facts about it.
1. Bhutan became a carbon-negative country
This is possible because there are many “carbon sinks.” More than 70% of Bhutan is covered in trees, which means they absorb more carbon dioxide than they emit. The country absorbs 7 million tons of carbon dioxide annually and only produces around 2 million tons.
Furthermore, Bhutan uses more renewable hydroelectric power generated from its rivers, rather than energy from environmentally harmful fossil fuels. Additionally, the fact that Bhutan is a non-industrialized and less crowded nation is not insignificant.
2. There are 3 scopes of emissions CO2
- Scope 1: direct emission (resulting from a set of ongoing activities).
- Scope 2: indirect emission – owned (resulting from the company’s consumption of heat, electricity, etc.)
- Scope 3: indirect emission – not owned (not produced by the company itself, linked to suppliers’ activities).
- Scope 3: Is becoming increasingly important, and many companies started to focus on it.
3. There are various methods for measuring a carbon footprint
When it comes to businesses, two of the most popular methods are UNE-ISO 14064 and GHG Protocol. However, there are many free calculators available for calculating an individual’s carbon footprint.
4. Using Recover Carbon Black helps to achieve a smaller carbon footprint in tire manufacturing
Using Recovered Carbon Black reduces CO2 emissions by over 80 per cent for each ton of Carbon Black produced. Annual global CO2 emission would be reduced by roughly 2,7 million tonnes, if Recovered Carbon Black replaced only 10% of Virgin Carbon Black production.
Learn more about Contec’s recovered Carbon Black.
5. There are many other ways to reduce a company’s carbon footprint
Some of the most popular methods include:
- Reducing single-use plastics
- Using a renewable electricity
- Developing new products that follow a circular economy approach
- Collaborating with “sustainable” suppliers.
- Shortening supply chains
However, the first, and most crucial step is to measure your company’s footprint. It’s a good decision toward sustainability. For more information about this topic, subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter to receive industry-related information about the circular economy in manufacturing.
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Thrilled to join Tire Technology Expo 2023!
We had a fantastic three days of conference, exhibitions and discussions that were important for the entire tire industry.
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth!
We believe is the next step towards closing the loop and accelerating the transformation of the manufacturing industry toward carbon neutrality.
We look forward to continuing the conversation and working together toward a greener future.
It was a good opportunity to share our vision of a sustainable future in the tire industry. We hope that collaboration is the way to change the field and achieve sustainable goals. See you at the 2024 edition!
Meet our team during!
Being a part of a big event is such a great idea to discuss and meet up with many experts. If you would like to talk with our team, let’s meet during these events
- Polish Circular Forum (6 June, Warsaw)
- European Carbon Black Summit (14-15 June, Frankfurt)
- rCB Conference (7-8 November, Barcelona)
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Sustainable manufacturing industry in 2024
2024 is a defining year for the manufacturing industry.
The push for sustainability has never been stronger, with governments and consumers urging manufacturers to make substantial changes. While discussions surrounding the circular economy have surged in recent years, the reality presents a stark contrast.
The share of secondary materials in the global economy has dropped by 21 per cent over the past five years, declining from 9.1 per cent in 2018 to 7.2 per cent in 2023. Material consumption rates have surged, with over 500 gigatonnes consumed in the same period, constituting 28 per cent of all materials consumed since 1900.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for transformative change within the manufacturing sector. This article explores important sustainable trends reshaping manufacturing in 2024, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Subscribe to the Contec Monthly on our LinkedIn Page and gain relevant insights into circularity and sustainable business models.
1. Reshore to minimise risks
In the past few years, industries have faced supply chain disruption and hikes in fuel and transport prices, exposing the disadvantages of globalisation.
Medina (2022) asserts that Europe and North American companies are leading a new phase of globalisation through reshoring efforts to reindustrialise their economies. Products once manufactured in developing countries will now be produced domestically. While this trend began in the last decade, there will likely be a further increase in reshoring activities in 2024.
According to a 2022 survey by BCI Global and Supply Chain Media, up to 60 per cent of manufacturing companies are contemplating relocating their production activities back to Europe or North America within the next three years.
To support reshoring, circular economy practices will be growingly adopted, both domestically and regionally. As a result, companies will reduce risks associated with delivery time, spoiled products, price fluctuations, and supply bottlenecks by lowering dependence on outsourced materials.
2. Decrease Scope 3 emissions
Most companies have focused on cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions since they control them directly. However, according to Deloitte, up to 70 percent of a manufacturer’s emissions are Scope 3 emissions. These are indirectly released upstream or downstream of the value chain. Scope 3 emissions in manufacturing arise from raw materials extraction, manufacturing, and transportation.
Companies must start curtailing their Scope 3 emissions to achieve net-zero goals. Circular economy manufacturing processes that reuse or recycle materials from end-of-life products will greatly reduce Scope 3 emissions.
The implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)in November 2024 will further drive companies to consider both downstream and upstream impacts on the environment and society. This directive mandates more detailed reporting on sustainability issues, enhancing credibility and encouraging stronger investment in sustainable practices across manufacturing sectors.
Furthermore, circular manufacturing will keep materials within a country, reducing emissions from long-distance transport of end-of-life products and importing raw materials. Currently, only 7.2 per cent of all materials are recycled and circular, so the capacity for change in all industries is immense.
3. Use new technologies to boost productivity and engagement
Clean innovation is necessary to increase manufacturing productivity, create green assets, and improve people’s living standards.
Innovations in clean technology will help countries and regions build robust but shorter supply chains. Although the initial investments for innovation will be high, they’re nothing compared to the investments needed to fix environmental damage and the associated costs from continuing older manufacturing models.
New technologies for handling time-consuming, repetitive work will improve employees’ productivity and creativity and allow them to focus on vital tasks. Technology is already helping companies attract suitable non-local talent through remote work. Faster communication tools enable better team coordination and customer service. Most employees also consider new technology to improve their health and safety.
Ratna and Kaur (2016) suggest that manufacturers should adopt new technologies through training and reward systems.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such technology that holds enormous potential to increase sustainability in manufacturing. With its ability to analyse data, identify patterns, and predict outcomes, AI could revolutionise environmental efforts. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Microsoft, AI applications could contribute $30 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
Despite ethical concerns and scientific skepticism, collaborative efforts among stakeholders can leverage AI’s transformative potential for sustainable development.
4. Move from intent to impact
Many companies have made climate pledges in recent years.
However, achieving the desired impact has not been easy. Companies find it challenging to meet the ambitious targets they have set for themselves despite implementing impressive sustainability strategies. This is partly because many don’t yet address Scope 3 emissions.
To control Scope 3 emissions, the entire value chain, not just a few isolated manufacturers, will have to transition towards a net-zero path and circular economy. Many businesses, however, are wary of change and are still determining how the required money, policy, and innovation will materialise.
Getting entire industries involved in sustainability will require massive funds estimated in the trillions of dollars over the next 30 years, according to a 2022 McKinsley report.
In 2024, we expect more concrete action and impact on meeting climate ambitions as markets and governments work to find and promote tangible solutions.
5. Find new collaborators
Collaboration is essential to moving the manufacturing industry forward.
Solving this century’s most significant challenges will require everyone to prioritise collaborative efforts. Manufacturers will continue collaborating with research universities to find eco-friendly and innovative alternatives to environmentally harmful technologies and resource extraction to maintain productivity, sustainably, and reach climate goals.
Collaborations and partnerships between suppliers and manufacturers across the value chain will also be necessary. Their success will depend on transparency and accountability during technology development, resource use, financing, and recognising limitations.
Moreover, the transition to net zero should be socially just. This will be possible only through cooperation across industries, supported by government policy, to generate new opportunities and minimise uncertainties.
6. Extinguish greenwashing for good
2024 is the year that marks the end of greenwashing in Europe.
The manufacturing industry faces increased scrutiny as Europe takes decisive action against greenwashing through the European Commission’s Green Claims Directive. This directive demands transparency and accuracy in environmental marketing, putting pressure on manufacturers to demonstrate genuine sustainability commitments, with potential penalties of up to 4 per cent of annual revenue for making misleading claims.
In response, manufacturers must adhere to strict criteria, including prohibitions against deceptive marketing tactics. Non-compliance risks fines, sanctions, and product recalls.
Additionally, global standards set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) aim to mitigate greenwashing by providing uniform sustainability and climate standards for companies worldwide starting in 2024.
By adhering to these regulations and standards, manufacturers can foster trust and credibility while ensuring the authenticity of their sustainability efforts.
7. Rethink plastic recycling
A global commitment is leading efforts to rethink plastic pollution and recycling. Plastics pollute the environment throughout their life cycle, creating risks for human and animal health and destabilising the climate.
For these reasons, the international community is working towards a treaty to end plastic pollution in 2024. This treaty, the first legally binding international effort in this area, will impact the entire life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
A transformed plastics economy addresses environmental concerns and brings new economic benefits, opening doors to innovative business opportunities within the manufacturing sector.
Projections indicate that by 2040, implementing a new circular plastics economy could result in an 80 per cent reduction in plastic pollution, translating into up to 32.5 per cent cost savings and environmental benefits.
8. Include circularity in the product design process
Companies realise that decisions made during product development are key to reducing over 80 per cent of all product-related environmental impacts.
Looking ahead, traditional design criteria like cost and performance are no longer sufficient. Manufacturers must now consider the entire life cycle of their products, prioritising aspects such as lifetime extension, reuse, remanufacturing, and high-quality recycling for maximum efficiency.
Critical areas for improvement include the selection of materials and suppliers, which often contribute significantly to a product’s environmental footprint. Integrating sustainability criteria into the design process necessitates smarter choices, favouring suppliers with ambitious decarbonisation plans and materials with lower environmental impacts.
In the EU, the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) leads the efforts in this area. It aims to reshape product design, ensuring that a significant portion of goods on the EU market focus on more environmentally sustainable and circular products by 2030.
Bringing sustainability to the manufacturing industry
In 2024, the challenges of promoting sustainability in the manufacturing industry persist alongside the opportunities for transformation.
The decline in global circularity and soaring consumption rates underscore the urgency for change. It’s time for action.
Krzysztof Wróblewski, Contec’s CEO, echoes this sentiment, emphasising the importance of partnership, leadership, and innovation in driving circularity in the manufacturing industry.
“Advancing the industry is only possible through collaboration and partnerships. When industry leaders bring together people from different ideas, points of view, and life experiences—it stimulates new and creative ideas. Decarbonsing the manufacturing industry is only possible through mutual collaboration on innovation.”
Contec supports the circular economy by advancing use cases in several manufacturing industries, namely tire production, by producing secondary raw materials from recycled end-of-life tires. Learn more about their sustainable products like ConBlack, ConPyro, and ConWire.
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