The tire manufacturer is launching the first examples of a new production line containing recycling material.
Continental says it is the first tire manufacturer to use recycled polyester yarn, obtained from PET bottles in a specially developed process, in series production. According to the company, shredded bottle material can be used in the process for tire production without any further chemical reaction steps. According to Continental, the recycling material completely replaces virgin material otherwise used in the tire carcass. The process will initially be used on some summer models and one all-season model, is said. Production is said to take place at a plant in Lousado, Portugal. According to the company, around 40 recycled plastic bottles are used in a set of passenger car tires. Continental announced the project last year at the IAA motor show in Munich and first unveiled the ContiRe.Tex technology developed for it in September 2021.