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It takes commitment to innovate in circularity.
This is the work developed through the latest edition of NextLap Tech Hub, the collaborative open innovation program launched in 2021 to transform end-of-life tyres (ELTs) into new materials, products, and business opportunities.
The edition of NextLap Tech Hub focused on tackling systemic barriers in ELT circularity by connecting innovators, corporates, researchers, and NGOs to co-develop pilots with real market potential.
Applications
Innovators Selected
Innovators Advanced
Pilot Intentions with Industry Partners
Participants at NextLap Summit 2025 Lisbon
People Reached through Knowledge Amplifier Series
Innovators
Partners
Use Cases
Exploring ELT-based catalytic supports for chemical processes.
Bondalti and Plastalyst teamed up to explore the potential of using tyre-derived support materials for catalytic reactions. The solution proposed by the startup leveraged ELT-based materials as a functional carrier for catalysts used in chemical processing, with the ambition of improving reactor efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Testing devulcanized rubber in elastomeric joints for bridges and roads.
This pilot explored how Rubber Conversion’s devulcanized rubber could be integrated into elastomeric joints used in transport infrastructure, such as bridges and roads. The objective was to assess if the startup’s material could match the mechanical and physical performance required for this highly specific application.
Developing sustainable urinal mats with ELT-derived polymers.
Dreamplas collaborated with Bondalti to explore the production of urinal mats using recycled polymer from end-of-life tyres. The goal was to assess the technical feasibility and market fit for a custom-molded, sustainable hygiene product, with industrial-grade durability.
Applying ELT-derived coatings on wood elements for water resistance and antimicrobial protection
UC-Ceres tested its rubber-based coating for wooden elements used in infrastructure, aiming to evaluate its potential for waterproofing and antimicrobial protection. The solution, derived from recycled tyre rubber, was applied to wood panels typically used in traffic signage or minor road infrastructure elements.