Bandag has officially been recognised as a Circular Economy Collaborator by Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA). The Bandag process is valuable in driving sustainable outcomes for used tyres, by extending their life, and contributing to TSA's vision of a circular economy for end-of-life tyres and tyre recovery in Australia.

Bandag's retreaded tyres not only reduce the need for raw materials by extending the life of the tyre, but also use valuable material from end-of-life tyres and rubber waste to create the new treads. The Circular Economy Collaborator program was launched in April last year to recognise organisations that actively use the valuable resources from Australia's end-of-life tyres in new value-added products, boosting new and emerging markets, creating new jobs, and expanding opportunities in Australia for the increased local consumption of tyre-derived products.

Bandag is Bridgestone's tread manufacturing and retread business for truck tyres, and recently celebrated 60 years of local pre-cured tread (PCT) manufacturing. As the sole producer of PCT in Australia, Bandag provides Australian, New Zealand and international retread factories a locally produced solution to re-use worn truck tyres. This strengthens Australia's circular economy of tyres by significantly reducing end-of-life tyre outputs of our domestic truck and bus sectors and increases our ability to promote an Australian-made and manufactured circular tyre product. The export of locally manufactured PCT also supports the international circularity of tyres.

TSA Chief Executive Officer Lina Goodman said: "Tyre Stewardship Australia is proud to acknowledge Bandag as a Circular Economy Collaborator, through advanced manufacturing, Bandag recaptures the value from used tyres, increasing their working life again and again. The retread process Bandag provides here in Australia truly epitomizes the essence of a circular economy."

The Bandag retread process uses significantly less rubber, oil, and energy than the production of a new tyre, making it a more sustainable choice for fleet operators. Not only is a Bandag retread comprised of 75 per cent recycled materials through the re-use of old casings, but wherever possible, throughout the production of both the tread and the retreading process, waste materials are also collected and recycled back into the manufacturing process or re-used in the manufacturing of other tyre derived products such as rubber flooring.

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Heath Barclay, says the TSA's certification is further validation of the benefits of Bandag retreads.

"Bandag's certification as a Circular Economy Collaborator is another demonstration of how Bandag supports a more sustainable industry and highlights the significant positive impact of locally made retreads," Mr Barclay said.

"Our Bandag retreads offer both economic and social value to our customers, and the recognition as a Circular Economy Collaborator is a demonstration of the positive contribution that this product makes towards a circular economy."

TSA's Circular Economy Collaborator program champions those organisations who are undertaking activities that contribute to a circular economy – activities which keeps tyre-derived products and materials circulating in the economy for as long as possible, reducing our reliance on raw materials.

According to General Manager of Retread Business at Bridgestone, Greg Nielsen, Bandag's product cycle embodies this practice.

"A well-maintained, quality tyre casing has the ability to be retreaded using the Bandag process multiple times due to our high-quality control and state of the art equipment. In addition to this, we are passionate about ensuring that our entire business is as sustainable as possible through the management of waste and use of on-site generated renewable energy and water harvesting. This recognition from the TSA supports years of effort and gives us multiple reasons to be proud," Mr Nielsen said.

"We're honoured that Bandag's practices are now being recognised more and more for our contribution towards a circular economy and sustainable society."

As part of the company's global mid-long term business strategy, Bridgestone is undergoing an evolution towards a sustainable solutions company, placing its Bridgestone E8 Commitment at the core of its operations. Bandag is a key example of how the company realises a more sustainable industry through the Bridgestone E8 Commitment values of energy, efficiency, economy, and extension.

Organisations can apply now to become a TSA Circular Economy Collaborator in one of three categories (Manufacturer / End User / Researcher) via an online application form available on the TSA website: https://www.tyrestewardship.org.au/tsa-circular-economy-collaborator/

About TSA

• TSA was established in 2014 to implement the national Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme (TPSS), an ACCC-authorised industry framework to reduce the environmental, health and safety impacts of the 56 million Equivalent Passenger Units (EPUs) which reach their end of life in Australia each year.
• TSA's vision is of a circular economy for end-of-life (EOL) tyres which contributes to a sustainable society.
• It works to drive sustainable outcomes for EOL tyres in Australia, by:
• accrediting participants – now 1,700 tyre manufacturers, retailers, collectors and recyclers who are committed to sustainable practices
• working with voluntary levy contributors to invest in market development initiatives including
• Research and development
• Commercialisation of new productive uses for EOL tyres driving the transformation of a waste product into a useful commodity, creating new industries and jobs while reducing the environmental harm caused by the illegal dumping of old tyres
• TSA Foreign End Market verification platform - the only global platform aimed at verifying that Australian-generated end-of-life-tyres are not causing environmental or social harm at their final destination.
• TSA Circular Collaborator platform which supports products manufactured in Australia using tyre-derived material.
• As of 2022, we have committed over $9 million to projects creating real-world outcomes and solutions for Australia's end-of-life tyres including roads, research, civil engineering, manufacturing, mining and rail.
• For more information: www.tyrestewardship.org.au
• Media contact for TSA: Tolga Huseyin, 0499 270 038, tolga.huseyin@tyrestewardship.org.au

About Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand
Bridgestone is a global leader in tyres and rubber, and is building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility.

In Australasia, Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand. offers a range of services and solutions to all segments of the Australian market to deliver social value and customer value. Bridgestone's extensive range of quality tyres is complemented by the provision of mechanical and fleet services through the company's nationwide retail network of Bridgestone Select, Bridgestone Service Centres and Bridgestone Tyre Centres, mobile service provider Lube Mobile, and the manufacturing and sale of quality retreads through Bandag Pty Limited.

Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tyres and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

• Media Contact for Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand:
  Tom Worsley, 061 488 665 592, TWorsley@bridgestone.com.au
• Media contact for TSA: 
  Tolga Huseyin, 0499 270 038, tolga.huseyin@tyrestewardship.org.au