Continental continues to spearhead sustainable solutions in latest venture

Using recycled carbon black at its plant in Korbach, Germany, the company employs a specialised pyrolysis process to repurpose the tyres. To date, 300 CrossContact Extreme E racing tyres have been transformed, marking a monumental leap in integrating sustainable circular economy solutions into real world production. This initiative not only aids in the conservation of virgin raw materials but also significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

Collaborating with Pyrum Innovations, Continental is actively developing processes to optimise and expand end-of-life tyre recycling through pyrolysis. This pioneering endeavour aims to incorporate recovered industrial carbon black, a vital component in tyre construction, into a growing menu of Continental rubber compounds, enhancing the circularity of production.

Pyrum's patented pyrolysis technology enables the extraction and recycling of valuable raw materials from end-of-life tyres, such as oil, gas, and industrial carbon black.

Matthias Haufe, Continental’s Head of Material Development and Industrialisation, said: “By recycling our Extreme E racing tyres, we are not just unveiling the potential of tyre pyrolysis but also making a substantial contribution to enhancing sustainability in the tyre industry.

"The motive is clear - by 2050, we aim to achieve tyre-to-tyre circularity of 60 per cent, diminishing our reliance on fossil raw materials while further mitigating CO2 emissions."

The German tyre manufacturer's commitment to sustainability is further magnified by its exclusive partnership with Extreme E. The CrossContact Extreme E racing tyres, comprised of approximately 43 per cent recycled and renewable raw materials, have been pivotal in all of the X Prix events across three championship seasons.

Nels von Schnakenburg, Technical Manager for Extreme E at Continental, said: "Beyond utilising sustainable materials, we prioritised the recycling of our racing tyres. These tyres will now serve as the foundational material for new tyres within a closed-loop system.”

Continental's dedication to circular economy principles doesn’t stop here. In a previous initiative, tyres from the 2021 Extreme E season were repurposed into rubber paving stones, creating a basketball court in Hanover for local children.

Now, with the tyres from the 2022 season, Continental is harnessing the recycled materials to reinforce its commitment to sustainability by channelling them back into tyre production.

The adoption of recovered carbon black from end-of-life tyres stands as a pivotal move in Continental's sustainability strategy, aligning with the company's continued pursuit of circular business practices.

With a resolute aim to achieve 100 per cent carbon neutrality by 2050, Continental Tyres stands as a beacon of sustainability in the tyre industry.