German tyre maker Continental says it has concluded a long-term purchase agreement with Pyrum Innovations, a specialist in the thermolysis technology of end-of-life tyres, for carbon black (rCB) recovered from end-of-life tyres.
Continental intends to use rCB in the series production of passenger car tyres in the future. The two companies are thus intensifying their cooperation. The premium tyre manufacturer adds it had already signed a development agreement with Pyrum Innovations in 2022. Since then both companies share the common goal to further optimise 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 colour, is between 15 and 20%, depending on the model.
By using rCB, Continental is one step closer to its goal of using more than 40% 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.
Continental has previously concluded a development agreement with Pyrum Innovations in 2022.
“The expansion of our cooperation with Continental is a very important step for us,” says Pascal Klein, CEO Pyrum Innovations.
He adds: “To ensure that Continental can also use our recovered carbon black in the series production of passenger tyres in the future, we are continuously working on its further development as part of a development partnership. Together, we have already succeeded in ensuring that all newly produced forklift tyres at the Continental tyre plant in Korbach, Hesse, contain our sustainable carbon black.”