Goodyear plays an important role in managing ELT at our own locations and through advancing the reuse of ELT by promoting the proper recovery and reuse of ELT. However, proper ELT management requires a multi-stakeholder approach because tire replacement often occurs in locations outside of a tire manufacturer’s control and ELT management involves many actors along the value chain.

To do our part, Goodyear:

• Promotes the proper management of ELT in our company-owned retail locations
• Conducts research to explore the development of ELT recovery methods and the use of ELT as a raw material to advance product design
• Continues to investigate recycling opportunities beyond current applications
• Actively collaborates with industry peers through TIP and RTTAs to advance industry-wide ELT management systems
   

The proper recovery and reuse of ELT helps to contribute to a circular economy, where they can be seen as a useful resource. Goodyear is also working to develop ELT as a raw material, promoting a circular process. Goodyear tires may contain recycled materials, such as recycled rubber compounds that may include devulcanized butyl rubber, which has been used by Goodyear for more than 20 years. It comes from used truck tubes and can replace some virgin polymer and carbon black in the liner compound. Other devulcanized rubbers and ground rubbers from ELT can be used in various tire compounds.

A systematic approach to this topic is key. We continue to explore opportunities with partners to advance our expertise and innovation in this area. As a member of the Tire Industry Project (TIP), Goodyear works with other members to advance our work in this space. In 2023, TIP updated the ELT waste hierarchy to reflect evolving tire recycling technologies and ELT markets, highlighting those technologies and markets that have the highest circularity potential. This report will be published in 2024. Additionally, in late 2023, TIP shared its vision of reaching 100 percent ELT recovery by supporting circular economy models.

In addition, tire materials such as steel in bead wire or steel cord may contain recycled content (pre- or post-consumer) where the recycled material may vary. We are exploring additional opportunities to use recycled materials in our tires such as recycled styrene for use in making styrene butadiene rubber. We also continue to investigate traditional recycling processes that provide acceptable properties beyond our current applications and are looking to work with customers to support beneficial reuses of tires.

As we look ahead to 2024, we will further develop our goals and continue to advance our work in the space—exploring collaboration opportunities and developing product roadmaps.