Sustainable Valorisation of End-of-Life Tyres Through Pyrolysis-Derived Recovered Carbon Black in Polymer Composites

More than one billion end-of-life tyres (EOLTs) are produced worldwide every year, and this is continuously increasing and has become an issue in sustainable development. This review discusses recent developments in the management of EOLTs and focuses on pyrolysis, which produces valuable tyre-derived products (TDPs) like steel, gas, oil, and char. This review focuses on recovered carbon black (rCB), a refined char with great potential as a sustainable alternative to commercial carbon black (CB). The review introduces a novel classification system for CB, virgin carbon black (vCB), recovered carbon black (rCB), and sustainable carbon black (sCB) to guide the transition toward environmentally friendly materials. It also examines how rCB enhances polymer properties for addressing price volatility and reducing carbon footprint. Additionally, a SWOT analysis evaluates the strengths (cost-effectiveness, reduced environmental impact), weaknesses (quality consistency), opportunities (emerging markets, circular economy integration), and threats (competition from virgin materials) of using rCB as a polymer reinforcement. By positioning rCB as a key material, this review outlines pathways for addressing the EOLT crisis and advancing a circular economy.