Tire recycler Scandinavian Enviro eyes 30 plants by 2030 

Stockholm – Tire pyrolysis company Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) has laid out a 10-year ambitious expansion plans, which include the construction of 30 waste tire recovery plants by 2030.

As part of the plan, unveiled during a 15 Oct capital markets presentation, the recycler aim to invest SEK9 billion (€900 million) over the next decade to create a total recycling capacity of more than 900 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of end-of-life tires (ELTs).

Enviro expects the facilities to generate total sales of SEK 7 billion and earnings (EBITDA) of more than SEK 4.5 billion in 2030, said CEO Thomas Soerensson.

The plants, he noted, will not include the Enviro-licensed factory currently under construction by Michelin in Mejillones, Chile, or 'any other potential plants established by tire maker during the period.'

In the short-term, the CEO said that Enviro was building up processes to enable the installation of multiple modularised units to raise recovery capacity of sites to up to 120ktpa of ELTs. 

Furthermore, the recycler said it was on track with plans to invest SEK400 million in its first ‘proprietary full-scale’ plant in Uddevalla, Sweden, with an initial annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes. 

Set for completion in the fourth quarter of 2023, the factory is expected to increase processing capacity to 60,000 tonnes per year in the long run. 

“The dialogue with the relevant authorities is proceeding well,” said Soerensson, adding that he expected to submit an application for an environmental permit for the Uddevalla unit in November.

Enviro is currently operating a pilot plant in Åsensbruk, Mellerud, with the nameplate capacity of 15ktpa of waste tires.

The plant, Soerensson told ERJ, is currently not running at that rate but serves as a centre for technology development, improvement and validation as well as material testing and development.

Also presenting at the virtual event, Enviro chairman Alf Blomqvist said Enviro aims to become a ‘leading player’ in the recovered carbon black segment, expecting to achieve a market share of between 15% and 30% in the long-term.

According to the official, there are more than a billion ELTs generated globally every year and the number is expected to grow by between 4% and 5% per year.