The Schwalbe tube recycling program is now also starting in Switzerland. The old bicycle tubes are collected from bicycle dealers and recycled using a devulcanization process specially developed by Schwalbe. The material can then be used in the production of new inner tubes without any loss of quality. Since the start of the program in 2015, around six million inner tubes have already been recycled in this way.

The process is coordinated and handled in Switzerland by Zibatra Logistik AG. The company is already an established name in the Swiss bicycle industry and handles comprehensive logistics tasks for several major players. Participation in the program is free of charge for all bicycle dealers. The process: First, old bicycle inner tubes - regardless of brand - are collected. After successful registration via the Schwalbe homepage, the specialist retailer can then print out the free shipping label and attach it to the inner tube package. Tubes filled with sealing milk are excluded from recycling. This milk leaks and soaks the transport cartons.

According to Schwalbe, the energy balance of the recycling process, including all transportation routes, is extremely positive, with energy savings of 80 percent compared to the production of the same amount of new butyl. Schwalbe tube recycling was awarded the Eurobike Green Award 2015, the Green Concept Award 2020 and the German Sustainability Award 2021. General information about recycling at Schwalbe can be found at here.