Continental Tires' goal: reduce, reuse, recycle
At the end of 2021, Continental introduced the innovative ContiRe.Tex technology, which uses PET bottles to produce polyester yarn without the need for chemical processing.
"Reduce, reuse, recycle. These factors are key to more sustainable tires. Wherever possible, we use recycled materials while maintaining our highest quality standards," says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires.
ContiRe.Tex technology proven in extreme conditions
As early as 2022, ContiRe.Tex technology demonstrated its quality in extreme conditions
during the second season of the Extreme E racing series, where it was used in the Continental CrossContact Extreme E racing tire. This technology was also featured in the tires first deployed
on support vehicles for the Tour de France in 2022.
Tires with ContiRe.Tex technology can be recognized by the label "Contains Recycled Material" on the sidewall.
Up to 15 PET bottles per tire
Continental has adapted its manufacturing processes to use polyester fabric from recycled PET bottles in several of its plants. This step has increased the share of recycled materials in tires by three percent. Depending on tire size, up to 15 PET bottles can be used in its production.
"Our polyester yarn made from recycled PET bottles is just as strong as conventional polyester yarn. This proves that sustainability, performance, and safety go hand in hand at Continental," explains Jorge Almeida.
Since 2022, ContiRe.Tex technology has been applied in Continental’s plants in Lousado, Portugal, and Otrokovice, Czech Republic. Recently, factories in Korbach, Germany, and Sarreguemines, France, have joined them.
The company has set a goal to increase the proportion of recycled and renewable materials in its tires by more than 40% by 2030.
Future: broader use of recycled plastics
Various types of polyester textiles are used in Continental tire production, adding durability, strength, and flexibility to the tires. In addition to recycled PET, Continental aims to use bio-based PET or chemically recycled PET in the future.
The Continental AG group includes the tire brands Continental, Barum, Semperit, Matador, and General Tire.
Do you have tires that have reached the end of their lifespan? We at TASY will be happy to take care of their
recycling.
