Black carbon is a somewhat paradoxical problem for the tire industry. It is one of the most important pollutants in the air and is released every day by car tires and the burning of fossil fuels. However, it is also an important component of tire rubber that must be produced industrially to meet the needs of manufacturers. As you can see, this is not the healthiest process for the Earth and, with its report, Smithers hopes to put tire companies on a better path.
After all, limiting or even eliminating carbon emissions has been a mainstay of virtually every company in recent years. According to the report, using recycled carbon black could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air by more than 85%. So why aren't we doing it already?
Supply chain problems are to blame
The biggest limitation right now is simply the lack of supply of recycled carbon black. At this time, only 1% of the material used in the manufacture of tires is derived from recycling. In addition, only 20 of the 900 companies that produce carbon black for the tire industry worldwide offer recycled products.
Of course, both tire manufacturers and carbon black manufacturers are committed to switching to recycling in the future, but I'm surprised it's not already more common. The benefits of this material, even beyond carbon emissions, are numerous. In particular, its use is part of the business model of several tire manufacturers who say they want to limit their dependence on the hydrocarbon industry. So it's a story to follow...
The importance of reconsidering everything
In addition to the tire industry, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a goal for all of society, and in recent years, the transportation sector has often been singled out. While it is true that the internal combustion of gasoline-powered engines is one of the most significant sources of carbon, it is not the only one! Tires account for nearly 10% of the emissions released in the manufacture of a traditional vehicle. For an electric vehicle, it's almost a quarter of the emissions!
It's hard to believe that such a simple change could have such a drastic impact on our world, but according to the Smithers report, it could indeed be the case! In any case, stay tuned to our blog. I'm sure this is not the last you'll hear about this technology!
