From environmental hotspots to strategic action: a life cycle assessment of solid tyre manufacturing in Sri Lanka under EU sustainability pressures

This study evaluates the cradle-to-gate environmental performance of solid tyre production in Sri Lanka, focusing on raw material extraction and manufacturing stages. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards using the SimaPro Faculty version. The ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method was employed to quantify 18 environmental impact categories. Primary data were collected from a leading Sri Lankan solid tyre manufacturing facility and supplemented with secondary data from Ecoinvent V3.11. This study is the first to assess the environmental impacts of solid tyre production in Sri Lanka. The total global warming potential was 160.94 kg CO₂-eq per solid tyre produced. The study finds that key raw materials such as carbon black, SBR, crumb rubber, and chemical additives, along with energy-intensive processes, drive most impacts. The findings suggest replacing high-impact materials with cleaner or bio-based ones and shifting to renewable energy like solar can greatly reduce environmental impacts. These changes are environmentally and strategically beneficial, helping Sri Lanka maintain access to markets like the EU and strengthening its position as a sustainable tyre producer.