Continental, which has increased the use of recycled PET, steel and environmentally friendly COKOON technology in tire production, aims to increase the proportion of renewable and recycled materials used in its tires to at least 40 percent within five years. Continental recently announced that it uses synthetic rubber obtained from waste oil in tire production, and with these developments, it is redefining the raw material used in tires.
Continental is literally reinventing the tire by increasing the use of renewable and recycled materials in tire production day by day. Making a statement on the subject, Continental Tire Material Development and Industrialization President Dr. “We are not reinventing the wheel, but we are redesigning the tire with more sustainable materials and more environmentally compatible production processes,” said Matthias Haufe. Matthias Haufe; “We focus not only on rubber, but also on the materials that shape the rubber and make the tire safe. Polyester yarn obtained from recycled steel and PET bottles is an important step for sustainable tire production. Every alternative material brings us one step closer to this goal,” he concluded.
Strictly adhering to circular economy principles, Continental encourages its suppliers to develop and offer sustainable materials. In line with its sustainable production goal, the global tire manufacturer has incorporated recycled steel, polyester yarn obtained from PET bottles and chemical-free bonding technology COKOON into its production processes. The company, which used an average of 26 percent of renewable and recycled materials in its tires last year, is also transforming its supply chain to increase this rate to 40 percent in a short time.
Comtinental transforms PET bottles into high-performance polyester threads thanks to the ContiRe.Tex technology developed together with the textile manufacturer OTIZ. This SGS-approved method produces 28 percent less CO₂ emissions compared to fossil-based alternatives. This material is already used in models such as the UltraContact NXT, which has been deemed worthy of many awards.
COKOON technology, developed in cooperation with Kordsa, enables the bonding of textile reinforcement materials and rubber in tires while eliminating the use of harmful chemicals such as resorcinol and formaldehyde. In order to promote sustainable transformation in the industry, Continental offers this technology as open source. With this approach, Continental paves the way for environmentally friendly innovation not only in its own production chain but in the entire tire industry.
Automobile Magazine – English
