Continental and Pyrum Innovations have signed a development agreement for the optimization and expansion of end-of-life tire recycling through pyrolysis.
Beginning in March 2022, Reifen-Entsorgungsgesellschaft, a subsidiary of Continental, will begin to supply end-of-life tires to Pyrum. In the long term, the partnership hopes to establish a circular economy concept for the recycling of end-of-life tires.
“In Pyrum we have found a partner who has developed a particularly efficient pyrolysis process,” said Dr Andreas Topp, head of materials and process development and industrialization at Continental Tires. “Together, we want to further develop the processes for the pyrolysis of end-of-life tires. Our goal is to recover valuable materials and high-performance raw materials on an industrial scale in the future, among other things for Continental’s tire production.”
“Our business model is already fully sustainable,” commented Pascal Klein, CEO of Pyrum Innovations. “Together with Continental, we now want to go the next step toward a sustainable tire industry.”
By recovering carbon black from end-of-life tires, raw fossil materials can be saved and CO2 emissions reduced.
“End-of-life tires are a raw material for Continental in the wrong place. We believe that circular economy is the model of the future,” explained Claus Petschick, head of sustainability, Continental Tires. “Modern, highly efficient pyrolysis processes are very important to us in this regard. As part of our ambitious sustainability strategy, we will increase the use of sustainable materials in our tire products to 100% by 2050 at the latest, to which recycled materials will make a significant contribution. As part of a closed-loop system, tires will in future become the starting material for new tires.”
