Intro:

Europe’s largest independent tyre retreader, Vaculug, has submitted a proposal to the UK Cabinet Office urging that retreaded tyres be mandated in public sector fleets. Their submission argues that this policy shift could reduce costs, cut emissions, and bolster UK manufacturing and employment. 

Key Arguments & Proposal Details

In its submission to the UK government’s Public Procurement: Growing British Industry, Jobs and Skills consultation, Vaculug proposes requiring public fleets to specify retreaded tyres where “suitable duty cycles exist.” 

Vaculug highlights several benefits:

• Cost Savings: Retreaded tyres can cost up to 50% less than new equivalents, and over a tyre’s life, deliver 30–50% lower cost per mile. 
• Resource & Carbon Efficiency: The retreading process consumes ~70% less raw material, reduces energy use by ~68%, and avoids roughly 115 kg CO₂ per tyre. 
• Industrial & Employment Upside: The UK retreading sector currently contributes ~£230 million to the economy and supports over 5,500 skilled jobs. A stable public market would strengthen this base. 

Vaculug also points to precedents: many European countries and U.S. jurisdictions already require or strongly encourage the use of retreads in public fleets.

According to a report by TyrePress, Vaculug has submitted a proposal to the UK Cabinet Office consultation, “Public Procurement: Growing British Industry, Jobs, and Skills,” calling for retreaded tyres to be mandated in public sector fleets. The company argues that such a policy would cut costs, create jobs, and support national sustainability objectives.

Vaculug highlights that retreads use 70% less raw material than new tyres, reduce energy consumption by 68%, and prevent around 115 kg of CO₂ emissions per tyre. Each retread also saves about 68 kg of landfill waste. Beyond environmental benefits, the practice could save the public sector millions of pounds annually, with retreads costing up to 50% less and delivering 30–50% lower lifetime costs per mile.

The company notes that the UK tyre retreading sector already contributes an estimated £230 million to the economy and supports over 5,500 skilled jobs. However, while European countries such as France, Germany, and Italy, as well as the US federal and state governments, mandate the use of retreads in public fleets, the UK relies on voluntary measures. Retread penetration in UK public fleets is currently only 10–30%, compared with over 70% in similar European fleets.

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 realignment 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 requires amendments 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.”

Founded in 1950 and based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Vaculug is Europe’s largest independent tyre retreader and was the first tyre company in Europe to achieve B Corp certification.

Read the full article at TyrePress.

Learn more:

• Tire Pyrolysis Project
• Pyrolysis Oil Fuel Credits
• Tyre Pyrolysis Guide
• Plastic Pyrolysis Solutions
• Tire Pyrolysis Plant Setup
• Tyre Retreading & Remanufacturing

Elevate Retreading into UK Public Procurement Strategy with Klean

Policy Design. Market Alignment. One Partner That Turns Mandates Into Projects.

Vaculug’s call to mandate retreads presents a pivotal moment for circular tyre policy in the UK. Klean Industries is equipped to support your strategy from regulatory submissions to fleet integration:

Klean’s Strategic Support in Retread Mandate Deployment:

✅ Policy & Regulatory Submission Assistance
✅ Technical Validation of Retreaded Tyre Performance
✅ Procurement Framework Design & Risk Modeling
✅ Supply Chain Readiness & Scale Modeling
✅ Advisory from Policy to Implementation

With Klean’s domain expertise in circular systems and tyre value chains, you can ensure that retread mandates translate into stable, high-impact projects.

Ready to help shape UK public procurement with retreads?

Talk to a Klean Industries Circular Mobility & Policy Expert » GO.