Michelin has partnered with Swedish specialist Enviro to industrialise cutting-edge tyre recycling techniques.
Enviro has developed techniques that use high temperatures to recover valuable raw materials such as carbon black, pyrolysis oil, gas and steel – with minimised energy consumption. Michelin will use its expertise to enable industrial-scale production.
The patented technology breaks down organic compounds, allowing the extraction of new products not contained in the original material.
The partnership will open fresh possibilities for the estimated one billion tyres a year that reach the end of their lives.
The partnership will involve:
- A Development Agreement to deploy Enviro’s pyrolysis technology on a larger scale
- Michelin’s stake of 20 per cent of Enviro’s capital, amounting to 32,526,262 SEK (around 3 million €), or the equivalent of 116,165,223 shares, makes Michelin the largest shareholder. If approved by shareholders, the Michelin Group will have a representative on the board.
- Building a new factory to industrialise the technology. The location of the plant will be confirmed at a later date.
- A joint supply agreement between Michelin and Enviro.
Enviro’s cutting-edge pyrolysis technology will be complemented by Michelin’s expertise in plant construction, research and development and production.
“The partnership we have just signed with Enviro fits perfectly with Michelin’s ‘All Sustainable’ vision,” says Sonia Artinian-Fredou, business director for high technology materials at Michelin Service and Solutions. “After the acquisition of Lehigh Technologies in 2017, a specialist in high-tech micro-powders derived from recycled tyres, this is further proof of Michelin’s long-term commitment to recycling and sustainable mobility.”
Discussions are ongoing between the two companies with the objective to conclude a final agreement by mid-2020.
