How rCB enables sustainable tyre production - The tyre keynote at Recovered Carbon Black Europe
Recovered Carbon Black Europe Conference 2025:
At the Recovered Carbon Black Europe Conference 2025, ENSO's CTO, Dr Helmut Kreuser, will present a case study for rCB in the development for net zero tyre factories. This will be the first tyre keynote at rCB Europe from a tyre company that is focusing on tyre sustainability from day 1. The rCB Europe audience will see first hand rCB application results and learn about the role of rCB in sustainable tyre production.
The Company:
ENSO Tyres is a London-based EV-only tyre specialist founded by Gunnlaugur "G" Erlendsson. In March 2022, ENSO became the first tyre company to attain B-Corp certification. It was a finalist for The Earthshot Prize in 2023. ENSO develops tyre engineered specifically for electric vehicles, aiming to reduce tyre-wear particulate emissions and to extend driving range. In independent trials for Transport for London, ENSO tyres reportedly produced up to 35% lower particulate emissions and provided up to 10% more range versus conventional tyres. By 2025, LEVC approved ENSO's TX1B as a replacement tyre for its electrified London taxi fleets.
Tyre Production:
ENSO positions itself as a sustainability innovator: It commits to carbon-neutral manufacturing, the use of renewable energy and lower reliance on fossil-based raw materials. ENSO designs its tyres in the UK but currently outsources manufacturing via toll production at IRIS Tyres in Sétif, Algeria. The ENSO-branded tyres carry IRIS's DOT code 033. Looking ahead, ENSO has announced plans for US$500 million, carbon-neutral EV tyre factory in the United States. The facility is expected to produce 5 million tyres per year by 2027 and scale to 20 million annually, employing up to 2,400 people, using 100% renewable energy, and built with carbon-neutral raw and building materials (no offsets). Potential U.S. locations under consideration include Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Georgia.
recovered Carbon Black:
On the raw materials front, ENSO has entered a partnership with Wastefront, with plans to supply recovered Carbon Black (rCB) starting in 2025. ENSO and Wastefront also carry out joint R&D to optimise how rCB is used as a partial substitute for virgin carbon black in EV tyre compounds.
We're really looking forward to your keynote presentation at the Recovered Carbon Black Europe conference in Barcelona this year, can you share with us some key points you'll be covering in your talk?
On the one side I will report about a rCB study we did in a PCR sidewall compound. The testing was carried out in the labs of Avon Protection. It is important to understand that rCB is an important element in green tire compound. But, is needs additional measures on raw material side. And of course a clean manufacturing process. All these aspects will be highlighted.
The Enso net zero tire factory sounds like a big step forward. Where will the factory be located and what have the challenges been?
The factory will be based in the US. Currently we are in the site selection process.
You mention a study looking at the utilisation of rCB in sidewall compounds can you give us a few more details?
I evaluate the investigated rCB as a suitable for tire sidewall applications. For good reasons I preselected a rCB producer taking special care for the feed stock. What is in my opinion key for high performance materials.
What are you looking forward to the most at the conference?
To share the view that only an integrated approach can be the basis for future clean tire manufacturing. And of course sharing thoughts with people thinking in the same direction.
