How steel reinforcement is helping drive a more sustainable future for tires

The sustainability challenge facing the tire industry

Summary

As pressure grows to reduce the environmental footprint of tires, manufacturers are looking beyond individual solutions. Advanced steel reinforcement technologies, high recycled content materials, and circularity initiatives each address different parts of a tire's lifecycle impact.

Together, they show that the fastest path toward sustainable tires lies in combining performance, resource efficiency, and ecosystem collaboration rather than choosing between them.

Each year, approximately a billion end-of-life tires (ELTs) are generated, with 41% ending up in landfills or stockpiles, representing a significant loss of material and energy recovery potential. Their resistance to degradation exacerbates long-term waste issues, further impacting the environment.

Furthermore, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that between 15 and 31% of the estimated 9.5 m tonnes of plastic released into the oceans each year could be primary microplastics, almost two-thirds of which come from the washing of synthetic textiles and the abrasion of tires while driving.

These statistics highlight the urgency of addressing tire sustainability through a holistic approach that considers the entire lifecycle of the tire.

Three pathways toward more sustainable tire reinforcement

Tires are composed of multiple materials, including up to 15% steel cord and 10% to 20% total steel reinforcement when bead wire is included. This makes steel reinforcement an important part of the sustainability equation.

At Bekaert, we believe the future of sustainable tire reinforcement will not be driven by a single breakthrough. Meaningful progress requires multiple innovation pathways that address different parts of a tire’s environmental footprint.

Three complementary approaches stand out:

Improving tire efficiency through advanced reinforcement technologies
Increasing recycled content and transparency across the value chain
Enabling circular material flows through ecosystem collaboration

Together, these pathways can help reduce environmental impact across the entire tire lifecycle.

Doing more with less: reducing impact during the use phase

Lowering the cord diameter enables lighter, more durable tires with reduced rolling resistance, translating into lower emissions and longer lifespan.

Increasing recycled content with transparency and credibility

Maximizing the use of recycled steel reduces the need for raw material extraction, energy consumption and waste treatment requirements.

Moving beyond recycled content: exploring tire-to-tire circularity

Circularity is the next frontier for a more sustainable tire reinforcement: creating material loops in which recovered resources can become feedstock for new reinforcement products.

Sustainability isn't either/or

Sustainability is rarely about a single solution.

High recycled content and advanced reinforcement technologies address different dimensions of a tire’s environmental footprint. High recycled content primarily helps reduce upstream emissions associated with steel production, while Mega Tensile technology contributes downstream benefits through reduced material use, lower rolling resistance and improved tire efficiency.

Rather than competing approaches, these pathways are complementary. The tire industry will need both to continue reducing emissions and improving resource efficiency across the full tire lifecycle.

This is why the conversation should not be about choosing between recycled content and performance. Increasing the use of recycled steel helps reduce the impact of material production, while advanced reinforcement technologies help reduce emissions during the use phase through lighter and more efficient tire designs. Together, they illustrate how multiple innovation pathways can contribute to a more sustainable tire industry.

Looking ahead: sustainability through ecosystem collaboration

Driving meaningful progress in tire sustainability requires looking beyond individual materials, technologies or companies. Real impact is created when innovation is connected across the value chain, from steel production and tire reinforcement to tire manufacturing, recycling and material recovery.

While companies continue to reduce emissions within their own operations, the greatest sustainability gains often come through the products they develop and the ecosystems they help build. This increasingly requires balancing multiple dimensions simultaneously, including performance, cost and sustainability.

Innovations such as Mega Tensile technology, high recycled content steel and ISCC PLUS certified solutions demonstrate that meaningful progress can already be achieved today.

Circularity can take multiple forms. While tire-to-tire circularity represents an important long-term ambition for the industry, valuable materials can already remain in use beyond the tire value chain today.

End-of-life steel recovered from tires can be transformed into Dramix® Loop™ steel fibers for concrete reinforcement, extending the useful life of the material while contributing to more sustainable construction applications. This demonstrates the value of looking beyond a single industry and exploring how circular solutions can create impact across different sectors. You can read more about this approach in our article on second-life steel fibers.

At the same time, collaborative initiatives such as the exploration of tire-to-tire circularity with CITIC Special Steel highlight how the industry is beginning to think beyond individual products and towards truly circular material flows.

The future of sustainable tire reinforcement will not be defined by a single breakthrough. It will be shaped by the industry's ability to combine material innovation, circular thinking and ecosystem collaboration to create long-term value throughout the tire lifecycle.

About the author

Jim Dobson is SVP Technology & Quality at Bekaert Rubber Reinforcement, where he leads the company's global technology, innovation and quality agenda. Working closely with tire manufacturers worldwide, he focuses on developing advanced reinforcement solutions that help address the industry's evolving challenges around performance, sustainability, cost efficiency and future mobility. A strong advocate of customer-driven innovation, Jim is passionate about translating emerging market needs into technologies that create long-term value across the tire ecosystem.