Continental increases the Recycling Share in its Tyres

Continental has concluded a long-term purchase agreement with Pyrum Innovations, a specialist in the thermolysis technology of end-of-life tyres, for particularly high-quality carbon black (rCB) recovered from end-of-life tyres. Continental intends to use recovered carbon black in the series production of passenger car tyres in the future. The two companies are thus intensifying their cooperation. The premium tyre manufacturer had already signed a development agreement with Pyrum Innovations in 2022. Since then both companies share the common goal to further optimize and expand the recycling of end-of-life tyres through pyrolysis.

Carbon black is an important raw material both for tyre production and for the manufacture of other industrial rubber products. The use of carbon black in rubber compounds increases the stability, strength and durability of tyres. Carbon black recovered from end-of-life tyres helps reduce the use of fossil raw materials and CO₂ emissions. In a passenger car tyre from Continental, the soot content, giving the tyre its black color, is between 15 and 20 percent, depending on the model. By using recycled carbon black, Continental is one step closer to its goal of using more than 40 percent renewable and recycled materials in its tyres by 2030.

“Recycled raw materials are becoming increasingly important in our tyre production. To further increase the circularity of our products, we need to think differently. We need to move from an “end-of-life” to an “end-of-use” tyre concept. This means that the end of a tyre’s intended use phase must become 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 tyre back into our production cycle,” says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability Continental Tires.

Continental tyres already contain recycled materials such as recycled rubber from mechanically processed end-of-life tyres, recycled steel and recycled polyester from PET bottles, which otherwise often end up in incinerators or landfills.

Tyre recycling requires advanced technologies and processes to efficiently separate, clean and recycle materials without compromising the safety and quality of the recycled tyres or recycled materials. Safety is Continental’s top priority.

Source: Continental/