Welcome ... to recycled rubber mats

• Welcome mats using recycled rubber, as good as new but 10-15 % cheaper to make
• Circular economy player before the notion existed

The Belgian firm Verimpex has been an important player in the circular economy before the concept even existed. For the past 30 years, it has been making and selling rubber welcome mats, under its TireGuard® trademark, made entirely from recycled aircraft tyres.

The tread of an aircraft tyre is around 5 cm thick, but after around 30 landings, the rubber wears down. The tyre is retreaded with a new layer around seven times, so after around 210 landings and/or one million flying hours it is replaced completely. Verimpex takes possession of the used tyres and cuts the tread into strips and the nylon fibres are exposed and removed. What remains of the tyre, such as the sides and the fibrous layer, are recovered by the tyre producer.

Key results

Verimpex was not the first but is currently the only company to apply the production process of stripping aircraft tyres. Its in-house technology means that it is less dependent on suppliers and fluctuating raw material prices, helping to keep costs and prices down (10-15 % cheaper than regular mats).

Despite intensive usage, a doormat can last up to 30 years and Verimpex has explored ways to recycle the materials again by producing so-called 'third-life' mats.