Chile’s retreading industry could enter a new phase following two announcements at Foro REP 2026, held in Santiago from 21 to 23 October. At the opening session on 21 October, Chile’s Minister of the Environment, Francisca Toledo, announced plans to establish a dedicated Retreading Working Group and begin a formal review of the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations for tyres.
Retreading Working Group to Address Chile’s EPR Framework
Both initiatives are expected to begin in November 2026, potentially during the third week of the month, depending on administrative procedures.
The announcements come as Chile marks ten years since introducing its EPR legislation and begins evaluating the practical results of its implementation.
According to the Ministry, the proposed Retreading Working Group will bring together key stakeholders to address market demand, supply conditions, and the practical integration of retreading into Chile’s EPR system.
The Chilean Retreaders Association (ARNEC) welcomed the initiative as an important opportunity to advance proposals developed through several years of industry advocacy and public-private cooperation.
Founded in 2012, ARNEC represents 11 member companies operating 15 certified retreading plants, accounting for approximately 60–65% of Chile’s domestic retreading market.
Eight member companies retread truck and bus tyres (Category A), while three operate in the off-the-road (OTR) segment (Category B).
The association has promoted technical standards, environmental agreements, innovation, and international cooperation.
However, the industry continues to face considerable challenges, particularly increasing competition from low-priced imported new tyres and difficulties in ensuring that retreading activities are adequately recognised within the EPR framework.
Chile’s Retreading Market Under Pressure
During Foro REP 2026, ARNEC presented figures illustrating the challenges facing the domestic market.
According to data from Chile’s National Tyre Industry Chamber (CINC), approximately 316,000 tyres were retreaded in 2012, compared with 812,000 new tyres, representing a retreading index of 39%.
By 2025, the estimated number of retreaded tyres had fallen to approximately 118,000, while new tyre volumes reached around 1.24 million.
The corresponding retreading index declined to approximately 10%.
These figures highlight the growing difficulties Chilean retreaders face in a market increasingly dominated by new tyre sales, including lower-priced imported products.
For ARNEC, reversing this trend will require more than environmental regulation alone. It will also demand stronger incentives, improved tyre maintenance practices, and greater awareness among fleet operators of the economic and environmental benefits of retreading.
Reviewing Chile’s EPR Regulations
The second announcement concerned the forthcoming review of Supreme Decree No. 8/2019, which establishes collection and recovery targets for tyres under Chile’s EPR legislation.
The Ministry confirmed that the formal review process will begin in November.
ARNEC expects to participate in the Extended Operational Committee (COA), where stakeholders can contribute technical proposals and recommendations.
One of the association’s priorities will be to seek recognition of repairs to OTR tyres (Category B) towards EPR recovery targets, acknowledging their contribution to extending tyre service life and reducing waste generation.
The Ministry’s presentation also highlighted broader challenges affecting Chile’s tyre management system.
Preliminary figures showed that Category A tyres met national collection and recovery targets in 2025. However, these targets will increase significantly in 2026, with collection requirements rising from 50% to 80% and recovery targets from 35% to 60%.
The Ministry also identified weak demand for rubber granulate and regional collection difficulties as potential obstacles to future compliance.
These findings reinforce the importance of reviewing existing instruments and developing solutions adapted to market conditions.
ARNEC Proposals at Foro REP 2026
On Thursday, 22 October, ARNEC General Manager Daniel Rojas Enos participated in Panel 4, “By-products and Recovery Capacity: The Bottleneck for End-of-Life Tyres”, alongside representatives of Chilean collective tyre management systems.
The discussion was moderated by Claudia Guerrero of the Ministry of the Environment and addressed the challenges associated with end-of-life tyre management, recovery capacity, and the development of sustainable markets.
During his presentation, Rojas highlighted a fundamental principle of Chile’s EPR legislation: the priority product is the tyre itself, not simply the end-of-life tyre.
He argued that greater attention should be given to extending tyre service life before products become waste, particularly through maintenance, repair, and retreading.
ARNEC also presented proposals developed through its participation in the Executive Roundtable for Productivity (MEP) on End-of-Life Tyres during 2025–2026.
One of the principal challenges identified concerns how industrial consumers are treated within the EPR system.
According to ARNEC, many fleet operators are not registered within the relevant reporting arrangements, meaning that retreading volumes are not adequately reflected in official EPR figures.
The association has therefore proposed allowing certified retreading plants to report their activities directly, supported by invoices and verifiable traceability.
Other proposals include:
- Eco-modulation of EPR fees, encouraging tyres with better retreadability characteristics.
- Public procurement incentives, promoting retreaded tyres through government purchasing policies and public support instruments.
- Casing deposit and refund schemes, encouraging the preservation and recovery of suitable tyre casings.
- Fleet education programmes, improving tyre maintenance practices and awareness of retreading opportunities.
- Cooperation with CODELCO and the Ministry of the Environment, aimed at encouraging retreading among freight and passenger transport contractors operating at mining sites, where restrictions currently affect the use of retreaded tyres.
ARNEC hopes the new Retreading Working Group will provide a forum to discuss and advance these measures.
“We Need to Retread the EPR Framework”
Rojas concluded his presentation by summarising the association’s approach to the next stage of Chile’s EPR legislation: “We need to retread the EPR framework.” Using the retreading process as an analogy, he proposed three guiding principles:
Inspect: Evaluate how the EPR system is functioning, identify its difficulties, and recognise opportunities for improvement.
Preserve: Maintain the legislation’s fundamental principles, the progress already achieved, and the commitment to a circular economy.
Renew: Strengthen education, improve regulatory instruments, and encourage the maximum utilisation of tyres throughout their service life.
The message reflects ARNEC‘s belief that the EPR system should not focus exclusively on managing tyres after they become waste, but also encourage activities that prevent waste generation in the first place.
Looking Ahead
For Chile’s retreading industry, November could mark the beginning of a significant new phase.
The proposed Retreading Working Group and the review of Supreme Decree No. 8/2019 offer opportunities to strengthen cooperation between government authorities, tyre producers, collective management systems, fleet operators, and retreading companies.
ARNEC intends to contribute its technical experience and the recommendations developed through the MEP process to both initiatives.
The association believes that a more effective circular economy strategy must recognise the role of retreading and repair in extending tyre service life, preserving valuable resources, and reducing waste generation.
The challenge now is to turn these announcements into practical measures that support the long-term future of Chile’s retreading industry.
