Continental increases use of recycled materials in tire production

Continental has entered a long-term purchase agreement with Pyrum Innovations to acquire high-quality recovered carbon black (rCB) from end-of-life tires. This agreement intends to integrate rCB into the series production of passenger car tires, further intensifying the collaboration between the two companies.

The two companies have been working together since 2022, focusing on optimizing and expanding tire recycling through pyrolysis.

Recycling carbon black from end-of-life tires helps reduce the use of fossil raw materials and CO2  emissions. Carbon black, which constitutes 15-20% of a passenger car tire’s composition, is essential for enhancing tire stability, strength and durability.

Jorge Almeida, head of sustainability at Continental Tires, highlighted the importance of recycled materials in tire production, emphasizing the need to transition from an “end-of-life” to an “end-of-use” tire concept. This approach views the end of a tire’s intended use phase as the beginning of a new opportunity. “Together with Pyrum, we are developing highly efficient processes to recycle as many components and materials as possible from an end-of-use tire back into our production cycle,” Almeida said.

Continental’s tires already incorporate various recycled materials, including rubber from mechanically processed end-of-life tires, recycled steel and recycled polyester from PET bottles.

Pascal Klein, CEO of Pyrum Innovations, added, “To ensure that Continental can also use our recovered carbon black in the series production of passenger tires in the future, we are continuously working on its further development as part of a development partnership. Together, we have already succeeded in ensuring that all newly produced forklift tires at the Continental tire plant in Korbach, Hesse, contain our sustainable carbon black.”

Continental says its sustainability strategy includes goals to increase the use of sustainable materials in its tires to 100% by 2050. Recycled materials will play a crucial role in this strategy, with end-of-life tires becoming the raw material for new tires in a closed-loop system.