Abstract
Sustainability in the automotive sector and appropriate end-of-life (EOL) management options for car tyres are important and constitute global issues. There is currently an oversupply of EOL tyres and the potential of circular economy (CE) tyres and for bio-based (BB) tyres warrants further investigation. Likewise, BB and CE tyres might be an interesting approach to improve the overall sustainability of the tyre life cycle. Research on drivers for the acceptance of CE and BB tyres is currently missing. In 1989, a socio-economy model was created to understand the acceptance of various products. This model is still popular in many areas but does not address sustainability questions of the 21st century appropriately. This article aims to provide a better understanding of the factors which drive acceptance of sustainable tyres. It presents an acceptance model and related influence factors in three areas: variables related to the consumers, perceived product characteristics and stimulating moderator variables. The third aspect refers in particular to labels and certification influencing consumer views on existing product characteristics. This article ends by discussing how availability of such labels could be promoted through eco-labelling of tyres and related standardization, addressing the industry and policy makers to make the automotive sector more sustainable.
Highlights
IntroductionIn 2017, the Earthbound report issued an article on the web titled “What can the world do with 1.5 billion waste tyres?” In addition to the burden of this existing waste, around 17 million tonnes of used tyres have to be managed globally on an annual basis [1]
To provide deeper insight in the acceptance of sustainable tyres, we analysed current acceptance models regarding their suitability for specifying the characteristics of sustainable products
We defined the user acceptance of a sustainable product as the proven willingness of a user group to use this product for the tasks for which it was produced
Summary
In 2017, the Earthbound report issued an article on the web titled “What can the world do with 1.5 billion waste tyres?” In addition to the burden of this existing waste, around 17 million tonnes of used tyres have to be managed globally on an annual basis [1]. There is a need for action towards the creation of a circular tyre economy (CE): an economic system in which “the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible; waste and resource use are minimized, and resources are kept within the economy when a product has reached the end of its life, to be used again and again to create further value” [3]. A specific issue in this context is the management of end-of-life tyres. End-of-life (EOL) tyres may offer the potential to create new markets if appropriate value-adding recycling technologies are identified. Appropriate knowledge to stimulate the demand for these tyres is needed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
