Recycled rubber from end-of-life tyres is revolutionising our roads, making them safer, quieter and more sustainable.

Every day, millions of Italians get behind the wheel and drive along kilometres of asphalt without giving it much thought. We brake at traffic lights, take a roundabout, cross a viaduct. But what if those roads were quieter, safer, more durable — and more sustainable too? The good news is that this is already happening. And often, without us even noticing.

In Italy, more than nine hundred kilometres of roads have been built using modified asphalts containing recycled rubber crumb from end-of-life tyres (ELTs) — the equivalent of a journey from Milan to Brussels. A figure set to grow, thanks to a technology that improves the driving experience, reduces noise pollution and extends the lifespan of road surfaces. And, above all, it represents a concrete example of circular economy applied to everyday life. Even products like tyres — the result of a complex manufacturing process involving a mix of materials — can thus be transformed into useful resources for the very road infrastructure on which they have travelled.

Every year in Italy, millions of tyres reach the end of their useful life. They become ELTs and, if properly recycled, turn into a valuable resource. Thanks to an elaborate collection and processing system — using a now well-established technology, tested both in Italy and abroad — it is possible to transform them into granules and rubber crumb that find a second life in a variety of fields: sport, construction, urban furniture and, of course, our roads.

The minimum environmental criteria (Criteri ambientali minimi — Cam) for road infrastructure, which came into force at the end of 2024, have given further impetus to the use of rubber crumb in asphalts, as public administrations are required to prioritise sustainable materials in tenders for new infrastructure. The goal? More sustainable, longer-lasting and more efficient infrastructure.

Asphalts modified with recycled rubber are not simply "eco-friendly asphalts". They are technologically advanced solutions that deliver tangible benefits. Adding rubber crumb to bituminous mixtures improves grip — thereby increasing road safety — reduces rolling noise (and thus noise pollution) and extends the useful life of the road surface. In other words: more comfortable roads for drivers, more liveable neighbourhoods for residents, less frequent roadworks and therefore lower costs, less disruption and fewer emissions associated with construction activities and traffic.

This is a solution already adopted in countries such as the United States, Austria, Spain and Portugal, as well as in many Italian regions. The most virtuous are Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige. In Emilia, for example, the Variante Canali in Reggio Emilia demonstrated extraordinary longevity, remaining in perfect condition six years after laying despite a reduced road surface thickness. In the south, in the province of Potenza, the Rubberap programme tested high-performance asphalts laid within urban and industrial areas.

Rubber from ELTs does not end up in asphalt alone. Its properties also make it suitable for sports surfaces (basketball, athletics, padel), anti-shock matting for gyms, playground flooring, weather-resistant urban furniture, acoustic insulation panels and anti-slip coatings for industrial and commercial environments.

There is even an application in animal welfare: special "cow shoes" that reduce the risk of lameness in cattle, improving comfort and productivity on farms. This supply chain is not just about materials — it improves the spaces we inhabit every day. Safer playing fields, quieter schools and offices, more welcoming public spaces. This is the concrete definition of circular economy: better performance and social benefits arising from design choices oriented towards recycling.

Behind every kilometre of "quiet" road or every recycled-rubber sports surface lies a supply chain that demands responsibility, expertise and investment. It is a system involving institutions, companies, specialist operators and consortia, each with a specific role in ensuring that end-of-life tyres are collected, tracked and transformed into new resources. The system is funded by an environmental contribution paid at the point of purchase of each new tyre: in practice, every time we buy a new tyre, the environmental contribution paid covers its end-of-life management at no additional cost to citizens or public administrations. In Italy, one of the main players in this system is Ecopneus, a non-profit company established by the leading tyre manufacturers, which is responsible for guaranteeing the collection, traceability and recovery of ELTs across the country.

In 2024 alone, Ecopneus recovered more than 168,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres, preventing them from being abandoned in the environment and instead transforming them into new resources. To put this into perspective, the rubber collected in a single year would be enough to cover hundreds of thousands of basketball courts or Olympic-sized swimming pools. Part of the ELTs is converted into rubber granules, steel and reusable textile fibres for new products, while another portion is used as an energy source in cement plants, replacing fossil fuels. The result is twofold: lower atmospheric emissions and greater resource management efficiency. In 2024, thanks to this system, more than 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent were avoided and enough energy was saved to heat over 10 million square metres of buildings.

If driving on modified asphalts is something we "do without knowing it", then the next step is to turn this unawareness into widespread culture. We need administrations that apply the Cam in public procurement, designers who understand the technical specifications, companies that invest in quality processes, and citizens informed about the environmental and social benefits of recycling. Spreading a culture of recycling and promoting the use of sustainable materials is an integral part of Ecopneus's mission; in 2024 the company reached over 7.6 million users through its communication activities. A commitment that also takes shape through events offering debate and in-depth analysis for industry professionals and curious citizens alike.

For those wishing to discover first-hand the potential of recycled rubber and the future of road infrastructure, the next opportunity is at Ecomondo, the benchmark trade fair for the ecological transition. Ecopneus will be present at stand 201 in Pavilion B1, where visitors will be able to see and touch the innovative applications of this material. The company will also host a round table dedicated to the theme of new road infrastructure, entitled "Strade sicure, durature e sostenibili: la traccia che vogliamo lasciare nel futuro" ("Safe, durable and sustainable roads: the mark we want to leave on the future"): an opportunity to explore how the circular economy must become a reality that accompanies us every time we start our engine. The event takes place at the Ecopneus stand on Thursday 6 November from 10:30 to 12:30.