Overview

Recircle is a pioneering UK company transforming the rubber industry. The organization leverages expertise in rubber technology, polymer science, engineering, and biotechnology to rethink rubber production, use, and reuse. Their mission centers on creating a circular economy for rubber that reduces industry waste and emissions through biotechnology and innovative recycling technologies.

Solutions

Their breakthrough solutions target two critical areas:

  • Green Rubber: Technologies to reduce and recycle tyre manufacturing waste.
  • Biotechnology: Enzymatic processes that convert end-of-life tyres into virgin-identical feedstocks for reuse in new products.

The Challenge

Millions of tyres reach end-of-life annually, creating significant environmental challenges. While rubber recycling technologies exist, recovering high-value materials for manufacturing remains difficult.

Recircle developed an innovative enzymatic recycling process to break down end-of-life tyres into reusable monomers and oligomers. Several technical and economic challenges required addressing:

  • Enzyme production at scale: Identifying microbial strains capable of producing target enzymes via fermentation
  • Rubber breakdown efficiency: Breaking down rubber crumbs into reusable molecular building blocks
  • Product separation: Efficiently separating various oligomers post-breakdown
  • Process viability: Understanding economic implications of scaling through detailed assessments

The Innovation Accelerator Partnership

Recircle partnered with CPI through CEAMS to overcome barriers and advance toward commercial viability.

Key Areas of Support

1. Strain Development & Fermentation Trials
– CPI supported identification of a microbial strain for enzyme production
– Successfully demonstrated proof-of-concept in 1L and 5L fermenters

2. Optimising Product Separation
– Designed and executed a Design of Experiments (DoE) to evaluate separation methods
– Provided insights for improving yield and purity

3. Techno-Economic and Viability Analysis
– Delivered Economic Viability Assessment (EVA) and Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) documents
– Enabled assessment of multiple commercialisation routes without significant engineering investment

The Outcome

The CEAMS collaboration helped Recircle achieve several important milestones:

  • Validated enzyme-based recycling as a scalable pathway for processing rubber waste
  • Identified key process bottlenecks and potential strategies for overcoming them
  • Gained clarity on economic feasibility of commercial-scale implementation
  • Informed strategic decisions around process development and investment
  • Accelerated the journey towards a circular economy solution for end-of-life tyres

Through access to specialist expertise, facilities and assessment tools, Recircle strengthened foundations for scaling its technology and bringing sustainable rubber recycling closer to commercial reality.

Looking Ahead

Recircle is well-positioned to scale its technology and lead the charge toward a circular rubber economy. With data-backed insights and validated processes, the company advances toward a sustainable and economically sound solution for rubber waste.