What Ecopneus does

Ecopneus s.c.p.a. is a non-profit consortium (società consortile per azioni senza scopo di lucro) that operates as the principal Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) entity for End-of-Life Tyres (Pneumatici Fuori Uso, or PFU) in Italy, formally approved by the Ministry of Environment in 2011 under Art. 228 of Legislative Decree 152/2006. The company coordinates a nationwide network that collects PFU from more than 20,300 generation points — tire retailers, workshops, and service stations — through the proprietary I-SMART digital platform, which manages pickup requests, waste documentation (FIR/RENTRI), and real-time traceability. Processed volumes reached 199,408 tonnes in 2025 (124% of legal target) and have exceeded 2.8 million tonnes cumulatively since inception.

The core operational technology is ambient-temperature mechanical shredding and separation of end-of-life tires into rubber granules, powder, steel, and textile fibers, with the resulting rubber certified as End-of-Waste (Gomma Vulcanizzata Granulare, GVG) under DM 78/2020. Downstream, Ecopneus co-develops certified applications with industrial partners: Tyrefield and XPadel Tyrefield modular sports surfaces (FIBA- and FITP-approved, with SP Plast and Casali Sport), Ruconbar acoustic barriers, D.s.m.U. Ecofriendly motorcycle safety devices (with ANAS), and modified asphalts for road infrastructure. Material recovery reached 51% in 2025, surpassing energy recovery for the first time, with 81% of GVG output absorbed by the Italian market — primarily sports surfaces (71%), construction insulation (24.6%), and modified asphalts.

Ecopneus is funded entirely by a mandatory environmental contribution (Contributo Ambientale) collected by tire manufacturers and importers on every new tire sold in Italy, with rates set under DM 182/2019 across 15 weight-based tiers ranging from €1.00 to €266.60. The consortium operates on a cost-recovery basis, channeling funds to qualified collection companies, transport operators, and processing plants selected via electronic tenders. In 2023, this generated €44.4M in economic value (€40.5M paid to supply chain) and €69.7M in import-substitution savings for Italy in 2025. Governance is by member companies (tire producers and importers), with Giuseppina Carnimeo as Director General and Alessandro Marchisio as President.

Name

Ecopneus

Legal name

Ecopneus s.c.p.a.

Website

https://ecopneus.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ecopneus is Italy's principal non-profit EPR consortium for end-of-life tire (PFU) management, collecting and recycling over 199,000 tonnes annually through a nationwide network, an I-SMART digital platform, and certified downstream applications in infrastructure, sports, and safety.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tire Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), All Other Rubber Product Manufacturing (326299)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Tire Recycling & Processing (Shredding, TDF, Pyrolysis Feedstock) (IMANAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tire Recycling, Disposal & Sustainability Services (TLAKADAI), Rubber Recycling (Crumb Rubber, Devulcanization) (IMANAMAE), Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations (EUAIANAC)

Keywords

• Tire recycling services
• End-of-life tire management
• Recycled rubber materials
• Circular economy consortium
• Producer responsibility compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Environmental Contribution (Contributo Ambientale): A mandatory contribution included in the price of new tires, paid by consumers at purchase. The amount varies based on tire weight (15 categories from P1 to G15), ranging from €1.00 to €266.60. This finances the entire PFU management system including free collection, transport, treatment, and recovery operations. The system is non-profit: contributions are calculated to cover real operating costs.
2. Material Recovery and Sales: Recovery of materials from PFU processing (rubber granules, powder, steel, textiles) which are sold as secondary raw materials. In 2025, 81% of Gomma Vulcanizzata Granulare (GVG) was absorbed by the Italian market, primarily for sports surfaces (71%), construction insulation (24.6%), and modified asphalts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Ecopneus is a non-profit consortium that operates Italy's principal end-of-life tire (PFU - Pneumatici Fuori Uso) management system. The consortium coordinates nationwide collection of used tires from tire retailers and workshops, transports them to processing plants for mechanical shredding, and recovers rubber granules (GVG), steel, and textile fibers as secondary raw materials. Recovered materials are sold for use in modified asphalts, modular sports surfaces, acoustic barriers, construction insulation, and energy recovery applications, all under Extended Producer Responsibility principles mandated by Italian law.

Product overview

Ecopneus is a non-profit consortium managing the collection and recycling of End-of-Life Tires (PFU - Pneumatici Fuori Uso) in Italy. The company operates a comprehensive system that collects PFU from tire shops, workshops and service stations nationwide, processes them through crushing facilities to separate rubber, steel and textile fibers, and markets the recycled rubber materials under the End of Waste certification as GVG (Gomma Vulcanizzata Granulare). The product portfolio includes: (1) Asfalti con gomma riciclata - modified asphalts for roads using Wet and Dry production methods; (2) Tyrefield and XPadel Tyrefield - modular sports surfaces for basketball 3x3 and padel; (3) Ruconbar - acoustic barriers; (4) D.s.m.U. Ecofriendly - motorcycle safety devices; (5) Granulati e polverino - raw rubber materials for various industrial applications; and (6) I-SMART Platform - digital system for collection management and tracking. These products serve infrastructure, sports, construction, and public administration sectors throughout Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PFU Collection and Recovery Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 131,338 tonnes CO2 equivalent avoided (2025)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIPE - Federazione Italiana PesisticacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting strength sports with recycled rubber sports surfaces. Ecopneus provides Tyrefield surfaces for FIPE events including national championships, powerlifting competitions, and the GiocaFIPE educational project. Partnership promotes sustainable sports infrastructure.
• Legambiente UmbriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint educational initiative 'Progetto Educational Ecopneus' involving thousands of students annually across Italy. Competition winners receive sports facilities made from recycled PFU. Partnership focuses on youth awareness about circular economy and PFU recycling.
• SP PlastcoreTechnology or IntegrationDevelopment partner for Tyrefield modular interlocking sports surface system. SP Plast manufactures the piastre ad incastro (interlocking tiles) that form the Tyrefield surface, approved by FIBA for basketball 3x3.
• Casali SportcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for XPadel Tyrefield padel court surfaces combining recycled PFU rubber with resins. Casali Sport is an Italian leader in sports surfaces, and the XPadel Tyrefield has FITP certification.
• Casei Eco-systemcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for Tyrefield surfaces used in powerlifting and calisthenics areas at RiminiWellness and other events. Supplies specialized rubber surfaces for strength training applications.
• ANAS (Società Anas S.p.A.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on D.s.m.U. Ecofriendly motorcycle safety device - a continuous protection system using PFU rubber compound for installation on existing road barrier posts. Also partners on modified asphalt applications on ANAS road network including A22 Autobrennero and A24.
• CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche / iPOOL spin-offcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnerships for acoustic monitoring and performance measurement of modified asphalts. iPOOL, CNR Pisa spin-off, conducted noise measurements on Via Marecchiese in Rimini project, measuring ~5 dB(A) noise reduction.
• University of Perugia - Department of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on experimental rubber mats for cattle housing and milking areas. Biomechanical tests confirm effectiveness in preventing hoof diseases and improving hygiene in dairy farms.
• Tyres Recycling Sud (TRS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProcessing facility in Balvano (PZ) featured in Legambiente's 'Cantieri della Transizione Ecologica' campaign, recognized for ecological transition activities.
• RINAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-party certification of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study quantifying environmental benefits of PFU recycling operations, including CO2 avoidance and resource savings calculations.
• Comitato Italiano Paralimpico (CIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Paralympic sports camp at Festival dello Sport 2024, with activities on recycled rubber surfaces promoting inclusive sports participation.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• REMA: Norwegian non-profit return scheme for end-of-life tires. Comparable as a producer-funded tire collection and recycling organization with emphasis on material recovery and circular economy outcomes.
• ECOTYRE: Italy's other non-profit consortium for end-of-life tire management under the same national EPR framework. Directly comparable as a competing Italian PFU consortium operating under Art. 228 D.Lgs. 152/2006 with analogous environmental contribution model.
• Recipneu: Spanish non-profit entity focused on valorization of end-of-life tires. Comparable as a tire-recycling consortium with similar downstream application development (crumb rubber, sports surfaces, civil engineering).
• SIGNUS: Spanish integrated management system for end-of-life tires. Operates an EPR model similar to Ecopneus, coordinating collection, treatment, and recovery of PFU across Spain with producer-financed environmental contributions.
• Aliapur: French non-profit EPR consortium managing end-of-life tires. Closely comparable to Ecopneus in structure (non-profit, producer-funded), mandate (tyre collection and recovery targets), and downstream market development approach.
• Valorpneu: Portuguese integrated tire management system operating under EPR principles. Closely comparable to Ecopneus in non-profit consortium structure, producer-funded model, and tire collection/recovery mandate.

Regional players

• TRETY: Norwegian regional tire collection/recycling operator. Comparable business activity (PFU collection and material recovery) but geographically focused on Norway rather than Italy.

Emerging players

• Renee Foundation: European non-profit focused on tire recycling innovation and material recovery R&D. Comparable as a tire circular economy organization developing downstream applications for recycled rubber.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty Tire Recycling: Largest North American tire recycling company, processing end-of-life tires into crumb rubber, rubber mulch, and engineered products. Comparable downstream product portfolio (crumb rubber, sports/safety applications) but operates as a for-profit commercial enterprise.
• Lehigh Technologies: US-based manufacturer of micronized rubber powders from end-of-life tires, serving tire, asphalt, and consumer goods markets. Comparable in crumb rubber manufacturing and downstream application development (modified asphalts, industrial rubber).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Ecopneus
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ecopneus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecopneus-scpa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecopneus_ita
• Xx.com/Ecopneus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecopneus