Calls for Britain to mandate retread tyres in public fleet procurement

Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent tyre retreader, is calling on the British Government to mandate requiring public sector fleets to use retreaded tyres.

Vaculug says this policy change would deliver “substantial economic and environmental benefits while bolstering the UK’s domestic manufacturing sector”.

The company has submitted a formal response to the Cabinet Office consultation, Public Procurement: Growing British Industry, Jobs, and Skills.

Vaculug says its submission highlights that retreaded tyres offer a significant opportunity for government fleets to cut costs and meet sustainability targets.

Retread tyres are manufactured to the same safety standards as new ones.

The submission argues that mandating retreads would potentially save the public sector millions annually, as retreaded tyres can cost up to 50 per cent less than a comparable new tyres.

It also argues that the policy would create a stable, long-term market for the sector and reduce reliance on imported goods. The UK’s tyre retreading industry contributes an estimated £230 million to the economy and supports over 5,500 skilled jobs.

Vaculug further points to retreading as a highly sustainable practice. The process uses 70 per cent less raw material than manufacturing a new tyre, with a single retread saving around 68kg of landfill waste. It also reduces energy consumption by 68 per cent and prevents an estimated 115kg of CO2 from entering the atmosphere per tyre.

Jorge Crespo, UK managing director of Vaculug, said: “Mandating retreaded tyres in public procurement is a win-win-win for the economy, the environment and the UK’s industrial base. Britain is behind the international curve on this one.

“It isn’t just a cost-cutting measure; this would be a strategic policy re-alignment to match the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, support thousands of skilled jobs in British manufacturing and position this government as a leader in sustainable public procurement. It is a cost-free policy change that simply requires amends to the procurement paperwork.

“The evidence is clear and the international precedent is well-established. Now is the time for the UK to make the change.”