Textile fibres

It is Genan’s vision that all end-of-life tyres must be recycled in the environmentally and economically most beneficial way. This means that all output from the recycling process should be used for high-value applications – and not just be incinerated.

The main output fractions recovered through Genan’s tyre recycling technology are rubber and steel. Rubber products account for approx. 75% of output from Genan’s factories, whereas steel accounts for approx. 15% of output.

Textile is a residual fraction
In Genan terminology, the textile fraction is a residual fraction, which consists of aramid, nylon, polyester, rayon and approx. 50% rubber. The textile fraction is thus a mix of different materials, accounting for 10% of total output. Genan recycled textile fibres are currently mainly used in connection with energy recovery (incineration). Although the heating value of the material is harnessed, this is still a waste of good but unfortunately not easily recyclable materials.

Product development for innovative solutions
At Genan, intense, ongoing product development is focused on identifying different alternative applications for the textile fibre fraction – in its current, free-flowing form as well as in the shape of compressed textile mats.

Sustainability is the core value at Genan, and we thus aim to ensure that the textile fraction is used for environmentally friendly and economically beneficial purposes. Finding the most climate and environment-friendly applications for the textile fraction is in process with several external partners.

Textile fibres from end-of-life tyres have already proven to have excellent insulation properties compared to e.g. stone wool and mineral wool. Nevertheless, new product applications are still on the drawing board – or in the test phase.