Continental Set To Develop Tyres Sourced From Rubber, Plastic, And AG Waste

Global tyres manufacturer Continental is developing a strategy to make tyres entirely of sustainable, recycled materials by 2050.

Instead of simply grinding up old tires to make new ones will not suffice, the plan calls for sourcing materials from recycled plastic bottles, dandelions, and rice husks. Natural rubber, in the form of latex, is sourced from specific trees and will continue to be a key ingredient in the production of tyres in the future.

Continental's Head of Sustainability, Claus Petschick, highlighted Continental is on the path to becoming the most progressive manufacturer in the tyre industry in terms of sustainability.

In the meantime, other plant-based resources such as dandelions (a source of rubber) will supplement it. Silica is also used in tyre manufacturing where it affects everything from grip to rolling resistance.

Next, plant-based oils, which are frequently derived from quartz sand, can be used as a silica supplement. Rice husks left over from rice production are a good source of silica and are a more energy-efficient manufacturing solution, told Continental.

Meanwhile, continental can use plastic bottles to make a polyester yarn used in tyre casings. Depending on the size of the bottle, 9 to 15 bottles could be recycled for one tyre.

Continental claims that, like rice husks, using recycled bottles is a more energy-efficient way of capturing the polyester required for manufacturing where the tyre company is already using this process for some tyre casings.

Continuing with the process, here is when recycling old tyres, which separates rubber, steel, and cords in a "highly sophisticated process," happens.

The tyre company asserts that all of these efforts should result in tyres made entirely of recycled or sustainably sourced materials where they estimate that such materials already account for 15 to 20% of modern tyres.

"By 2050, we hope to have used 100 percent sustainable materials in our tyre products. Our ability to innovate allows us to break new and more sustainable ground. This includes everything from the manufacture and sourcing of our materials to the reuse and recycling of our tyres," he said.