Bandag – Bridgestone’s tread manufacturing and retread business for truck tires – has officially been recognized as a Circular Economy Collaborator by Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA). The Bandag process is valuable in driving sustainable outcomes for used tires, by extending their life, and contributing to TSA’s vision of a circular economy for end-of-life tires and tire recovery in Australia.

Bandag’s retreaded tires not only reduce the need for raw materials by extending the life of the tire, but also use valuable material from end-of-life tires and rubber waste to create the new treads. The Circular Economy Collaborator program was launched in April last year to recognize organisations that actively use the valuable resources from Australia’s end-of-life tires in new value-added products, boosting new and emerging markets, creating new jobs, and expanding opportunities in Australia for the increased local consumption of tire-derived products.

Bandag recently celebrated 60 years of local pre-cured tread (PCT) manufacturing. As the sole producer of PCT in Australia, Bandag provides Australian, New Zealand and international retread factories a locally produced solution to re-use worn truck tires. This strengthens Australia’s circular economy of tires by significantly reducing end-of-life tire outputs of our domestic truck and bus sectors and increases our ability to promote an Australian-made and manufactured circular tire product. The export of locally manufactured PCT also supports the international circularity of tires.

TSA Chief Executive Officer Lina Goodman said: “Tire Stewardship Australia is proud to acknowledge Bandag as a Circular Economy Collaborator, through advanced manufacturing, Bandag recaptures the value from used tires, increasing their working life again and again. The retread process Bandag provides here in Australia truly epitomizes the essence of a circular economy.”

The Bandag retread process uses significantly less rubber, oil, and energy than the production of a new tire, making it a more sustainable choice for fleet operators. Not only is a Bandag retread comprised of 75% recycled materials through the re-use of old casings, but wherever possible, throughout the production of both the tread and the retreading process, waste materials are also collected and recycled back into the manufacturing process or re-used in the manufacturing of other tire derived products such as rubber flooring.

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, says the TSA’s certification is further validation of the benefits of Bandag retreads.

“Bandag’s certification as a Circular Economy Collaborator is another demonstration of how Bandag supports a more sustainable industry and highlights the significant positive impact of locally made retreads,” Mr Barclay said.

“Our Bandag retreads offer both economic and social value to our customers, and the recognition as a Circular Economy Collaborator is a demonstration of the positive contribution that this product makes towards a circular economy.”

TSA’s Circular Economy Collaborator program champions those organisations who are undertaking activities that contribute to a circular economy – activities which keeps tire-derived products and materials circulating in the economy for as long as possible, reducing our reliance on raw materials.

According to General Manager of Retread Business at Bridgestone, Greg Nielsen, Bandag’s product cycle embodies this practice.

“A well-maintained, quality tire casing has the ability to be retreaded using the Bandag process multiple times due to our high-quality control and state of the art equipment. In addition to this, we are passionate about ensuring that our entire business is as sustainable as possible through the management of waste and use of on-site generated renewable energy and water harvesting. This recognition from the TSA supports years of effort and gives us multiple reasons to be proud,” Mr Nielsen said.

“We’re honoured that Bandag’s practices are now being recognized more and more for our contribution towards a circular economy and sustainable society.” As part of the company’s global mid-long term business strategy, Bridgestone is undergoing an evolution towards a sustainable solutions company, placing its Bridgestone E8 Commitment at the core of its operations. Bandag is a key example of how the company realises a more sustainable industry through the Bridgestone E8 Commitment values of energy, efficiency, economy, and extension.