Sustainability 21. September 2026
Supply Chain Stability Through Regional Redistribution of Recycled Elastomers
Recycling thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) has long faced a practical challenge. Cheap and stable oil made virgin materials the easy default: engineered, consistent and readily available. Recycled grades often struggled to offer the same. Properties varied between batches, supply was fragmented, and recycled materials could carry a price premium. Many converters wanted recycled content, but consistency, economics and performance rarely aligned.
TPE waste streams are particularly affected. Volumes are dispersed and often too small for conventional recycling models, leaving a significant share incinerated or landfilled. Many elastomer applications also still rely on thermoset rubber, which cannot be conventionally remelted and recycled, further complicating the equation.
Recent disruptions to global oil supply chains have highlighted the dependence of the virgin-first model on stable inputs. Combined with tightening regulation, this has moved the recycled-content discussion beyond sustainability targets towards industrial resilience and the role recycling can play in stabilising European industry.
At Fakuma 2026, Bjørn Thorsen will present its experience in redistributing TPE materials. The key challenge is not recycling capacity, but connecting waste handling, recycling, compounding expertise and distribution. Bjørn Thorsen sources production scrap, which is shredded, sorted and compounded through a European partner network before being brought to market as Opti-Pren™ TPV and Opti-Thane™ TPU grades at virgin-equivalent pricing rather than a green premium. Data from recycled production demonstrates their batch-to-batch consistency against virgin references.
The takeaway: circularity becomes practical when recycled grades are as easy to use and buy as virgin materials. While Bjørn Thorsen’s current solutions primarily use PIR feedstock, future circularity depends on securing PCR waste streams by building take-back partnerships across the value chain.
TPE waste streams are particularly affected. Volumes are dispersed and often too small for conventional recycling models, leaving a significant share incinerated or landfilled. Many elastomer applications also still rely on thermoset rubber, which cannot be conventionally remelted and recycled, further complicating the equation.
Recent disruptions to global oil supply chains have highlighted the dependence of the virgin-first model on stable inputs. Combined with tightening regulation, this has moved the recycled-content discussion beyond sustainability targets towards industrial resilience and the role recycling can play in stabilising European industry.
At Fakuma 2026, Bjørn Thorsen will present its experience in redistributing TPE materials. The key challenge is not recycling capacity, but connecting waste handling, recycling, compounding expertise and distribution. Bjørn Thorsen sources production scrap, which is shredded, sorted and compounded through a European partner network before being brought to market as Opti-Pren™ TPV and Opti-Thane™ TPU grades at virgin-equivalent pricing rather than a green premium. Data from recycled production demonstrates their batch-to-batch consistency against virgin references.
The takeaway: circularity becomes practical when recycled grades are as easy to use and buy as virgin materials. While Bjørn Thorsen’s current solutions primarily use PIR feedstock, future circularity depends on securing PCR waste streams by building take-back partnerships across the value chain.
Bjørn Thorsen A/S
Contact
Mr. Frederik Grønborg