At Genan, we believe recycling must live up to more than good intentions. If recycled materials are to make a real difference, they must meet strict quality, safety and environmental standards – and be fully traceable.
Standards
From day one, quality has driven Genan’s development. We don’t just aim to recycle – we aim to produce high-quality raw materials that can replace virgin alternatives. That’s why we work closely with customers to tailor solutions to their needs while ensuring full compliance with industry standards.
Quality
We test and record samples from every daily production run. These measurements cover all key product properties and are safely stored, ensuring full traceability. If a customer ever has questions about a specific delivery, we can provide complete documentation.
Genan is certified under the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and undergoes regular external audits to ensure continued compliance.
Certifications
All six Genan production facilities are certified according to the following globally recognised ISO standards:
Health
All Genan rubber products are made exclusively from end-of-life tyres (ELT). Nothing else.
Each Genan plant processes tyres approved for the local market:
Even though we cannot track each individual tyre, we know that all tyres recycled by Genan met the legal standards in force when placed on the market. This guarantees that our granulates and rubber powders are based on well-documented, market-approved feedstock.
Safety
Recycled rubber is often used in environments where people come into direct contact with it – especially in artificial turf. Understandably, this has sparked public interest and media attention, particularly regarding the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their potential health effects.
Over 70 scientific studies worldwide have investigated this topic. Their conclusion is consistent: There is no scientifically justified risk from using ELT-derived rubber granulate in these settings.
Regulations
PAHs – short for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – are a group of chemicals that occur naturally in coal, crude oil and petrol. In tyre manufacturing, they are used as plasticisers. Eight specific PAHs have been identified as potentially harmful at high concentrations.
To reduce exposure, the EU REACH regulation introduced a legal limit in 2010: A maximum of 10 mg/kg for the total content of these eight PAHs in all new tyres placed on the European market, regardless of whether they were produced in the EU or imported.
This raised questions about the PAH content in tyres that had already been produced – and that would eventually become waste. Since end-of-life tyres include many manufactured before 2010, a full phase-out would take years.
Taking this into account, the ECHA Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) recommended a more realistic limit of 20 mg/kg for PAHs in recycled rubber from ELTs. This limit was adopted by the European Parliament on 20 July 2021.
At Genan, we support this evidence-based approach and believe that good eco-design is sustainable by definition – and that means thinking long term. The PAH content in our ELT rubber is well below the 20 mg/kg limit, reflecting that approach in practice.
At Genan, we give used tyres a new life, creating unique and sustainable products – only imagination sets the limit! Have an idea or a request? Let’s make it happen.
