The End of Crumb Rubber Infill is Imminent

by Ewan Scott
3 May 2023

Crumb Rubber: On the 26th April, the European REACH Committee voted for the proposals to restrict microplastics introduced intentionally to many products.

This follows the ECHA RAC findings that uncontrolled microplastics released into the environment pose a risk to health.

Unless some high powered response can be raised by the recycling and artificial turf sectors, this signals the beginning of the end for many crumb rubber uses, the most prominent of which is crumb rubber infill.

It is estimated that over 20 years, the proposed restriction would prevent the release in the environment of about half a million tonnes of microplastics, at an estimated total cost up to €19 billion. The proposal will now be subject to a 3-month scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council before it can be adopted by the Commission.
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The exact outome of such a ban is unclear, but it will absolutely be disruptive for the recycling sector. 
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Read the full article from Tyre and Rubber Recyling