Infiniteria inks waste-tire deal in France, Enviro dispute continues

Paris – French waste tire management group Aliapur has signed an MoU with Infiniteria Europe concerning an agreement for the supply of end-of-life tires (ELTs) to two future recycling plants planned by Infiniteria in France.

The MoU establishes a framework for “a secure, reliable and sustainable long-term supply chain and provides an important foundation for the continued development of both projects,” said Infiniteria 15 Oct.

Shortlisted sites are currently being assessed with ongoing environmental impact studies, the waste tire pyrolysis company added.

With the MoU, Infiniteria moves closer to the realisation of its two planned plants in France, said Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, CEO of Infiniteria Europe.

The French plants “will form an important part of our broader ambition to build Europe's leading business in circular tire recycling,” she added.

Infiniteria was established in 2023 as a JV majority owned by French equity fund Antin Infrastructure Partners – with Michelin as commercial partner and Swedish tire pyrolysis company Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) as technology partner.

The initial focus of the JV was the establishment of a waste tire pyrolysis plant in Uddevalla, Sweden: a project Infiniteria says is ‘currently under-construction plant and progressing.’

In February, however, Enviro announced that Infiniteria was pursuing a €54-million lawsuit against it: over alleged failures to meet the terms of the JV agreement.

Among subsequent developments, Infiniteria said in May that Enviro had submitted an environmental permit application and moved to secure property for a “fully-owned full-scale Nordic pyrolysis plant.”

Enviro's plan, it stated, would be “in breach of Infiniteria's rights,” Infiniteria insisting that it “retains exclusive rights to use Enviro's patented technology in Europe, including the Nordic region.”

Furthermore, Infiniteria threatened legal action against any party that “uses, implements, or otherwise benefits from Enviro's patented technology in Europe in breach of Infiniteria's exclusive rights.”

See also: Enviro terminating Infiniteria joint venture agreements  (ERJ report) / Enviro in dispute with waste tire pyrolysis JV Infiniteria  (ERJ report)