Since 2020, AZuR has been committed across Europe to a sustainable tyre circular economy. Used tyres should be reused or recycled as close to 100 per cent as possible in order to avoid waste, reduce CO₂ emissions, conserve natural resources and protect people and the environment.
More than 80 AZuR partners from industry, SMEs, trade and academia cover all sectors of the tyre circular economy—from sustainable new tyre manufacturing and certified end-of-life tyre collection to repair, regrooving and retreading, as well as mechanical and chemical recycling of tyre materials.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration, new approaches and solutions are being developed for an ecologically and economically viable tyre circular system. Universities within the AZuR network play a particularly important role by providing valuable input through scientifically sound studies and research to help close material loops.
In November 2025, the Allianz Zukunft Reifen received the special “Cooperation” award at the NRW Resource Efficiency Prize presented by the Efficiency Agency NRW. In September 2025, AZuR was recognised with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2025. AZuR network coordinator Christina Guth received the Recircle Award 2025 in the category “Women’s Award for the Tyre Retreading Sector”. In November 2023, AZuR received the European Transport Award for Sustainability 2024 for its study on the positive environmental impact of retreading.
The AZuR success model is gaining global recognition and can—and should—be transferred to other industries and waste streams. More information: https://azur-netzwerk.de
