On 17 September 2025 in Warwickshire, Vaculug managing director Jorge Crespo set out a case for tyre remanufacturing to be a core pillar of the UK circular economy. Addressing the Tyre Recovery Association’s conference, he argued that policy must distinguish between recycling and remanufacturing, since retreading extends casing life, saves raw materials and energy, and sustains skilled factory jobs across the country.
Remanufacturing, in the form of retreading, extends the usable life of truck and OTR casings. Vaculug says this keeps millions of tyres out of waste streams while preserving materials and energy in the UK manufacturing base. The call aligns with broader sector debates about export rules and domestic processing capacity raised around the TRA’s 2025 events. See analysis of reforms sought at the TRA Conference for context.
Speakers urged ministers to align circular-economy ambitions with enforceable rules. The TRA has warned that without tighter controls on exports and exemptions, legitimate UK processors face headwinds.
Vaculug has separately argued for retread tyres in public-sector procurement to cut costs and emissions while backing British jobs.
“The circular economy is not a distant goal; it’s a practice we live every day at Vaculug. We have the existing technological expertise and capability here in the UK to turn a used tyre casing into a new, safe and cost-effective product. This saves significant resources and reduces our reliance on imports,” said Jorge Crespo, managing director, following his address.
“To truly move forward, the government must create a policy environment that fully supports and incentivises this invaluable work. This should involve improving standards of new tyres, introducing retread tyres as a criteria in public procurement, addressing the challenge of single use imported tyres and looking at the challenge of high energy costs.
“We are ready to be a key partner on this road to reform, but we need the right framework to scale our efforts and deliver on the UK’s green agenda.”
Vaculug marked its 75th anniversary this year and is based in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The company, Europe’s largest independent retreader and is certified as a B Corporation.
Tagged with: tyre remanufacturing, retread tyres, circular economy, TRA conference, UK waste tyres, public procurement, ELT policy, B Corp certification, recycling vs remanufacturing, manufacturing jobs, energy costs, Vaculug
Disclaimer: This content may include forward-looking statements. Views expressed are not verified or endorsed by Tyre News Media.
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