Research & Resources
Access comprehensive studies, analysis, and real-world data about recycled rubber surfaces.
Access comprehensive studies, analysis, and real-world data about recycled rubber surfaces.
Comprehensive data demonstrates that recycled rubber delivers documented environmental, economic, and community benefits while maintaining the highest standards for safety.
Recycled rubber offers communities the ability to create safer, more sustainable, and highly accessible public recreation spaces. By repurposing over 220 million tires annually, these innovative surfaces have redefined how we design and experience our community spaces.
Recycled rubber has transformed the American sports and recreation landscape, dramatically increasing access to high quality facilities and providing safe, durable surfaces for parks, playgrounds, and playing fields nationwide.
Analysis: “no significant health risks to players, coaches, referees and spectators from on-field or off-field exposure” to crumb rubber infill based on the assessment method and available data.
Key finding: "Chemical exposures from tire crumb rubber are likely limited and similar between natural grass and synthetic turf fields"
Conclusion: "Very low level of concern" for players and workers
Key finding: "Risk to health is virtually negligible"
“The Department of Health recommends people who enjoy playing soccer continue to play regardless of the type of field surface,” lead investigator Cathy Wasserman, a Washington state epidemiologist for non-infectious diseases, said.
At a time when high-quality recreation is at a premium, a moratorium on turf risks standing in the way of safe and accessible opportunities for play.
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The reality is that when rain is in the forecast, the question on parents’ minds isn’t just “Will it stop in time?” but “Will my kid have a good day or a bad day?”
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A new study from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) adds to the growing consensus on recycled rubber.
A new study from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) examining the potential health risks of synthetic turf fields for athletes, referees, coaches, and spectators found no significant risk from exposure on or off the field to crumb rubber infill.
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Campaign will provide access to definitive studies and the latest information on recycled rubber surfaces, especially as leaders consider how to provide members of the community with safe, sustainable, and all-season recreation spaces.
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New Zealand announced a national tire recycling program. Under the new "Tyrewise" scheme, tire shops can have their tires collected for free and individuals can recycle up to five tires per day at public collection sites.
University College of Cork announced a new research plan to investigate best practices for recycling tires throughout Ireland. Researchers will weigh the benefits and costs of recycling, pyrolysis, devulcanization, and gasification. The project comes as Ireland seeks a more optimal strategy for its end-of-life tires: Ireland collected 63,000 tons of tires in 2022.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) has begun producing carbon black from recycled tires. MCG creates carbon black by crushing tires in its coke ovens, and the company reports that the recycled carbon black is comparable to new carbon black. MCG plans to bring its recycled carbon black to market in 2026.
Waukegan Park District, a suburb outside of Chicago, is planning to renovate Roosevelt Park into the city's first almost fully inclusive recreational facility, replacing wood chips in the playground with Poured-In-Place surfaces made from recycled rubber to enhance accessibility for children with disabilities. The renovation, estimated to cost $1.5 million, aims to create a fully accessible playground while making much of the 12.7-acre park as inclusive as possible.
The Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF) has been awarded $3.8 million by the US Environmental Protection Agency to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the tire recycling industry. The grant is part of a broader $160 million initiative under the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at reducing climate pollution from construction materials. The EPDs will detail the environmental impacts of recycled tire products and support the use of ground tire rubber in asphalt, improving pavement life and fuel efficiency.
The Global Sustainable Tire Materials market is projected to grow from $34.9 million in 2023 to $46.38 million by 2032. This growth is driven by increasing demand for eco-friendly tire components, including recycled rubber and bio-based materials, amid stringent carbon emission regulations and circular economy strategies.
How Tire is Recycled in the Factory? Leading Rubber Recycling Factory
