Continental Boosts Sustainability in Tyre Production with Recycled Materials

Continental Boosts Sustainability in Tyre Production with Recycled Materials

Continental is increasing its use of recycled materials in tyre manufacturing, with more facilities now using polyester fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This initiative has raised the recycled content in several tyre lines by an average of thee percent. Depending on the tyre size, up to 15 PET bottles can be used in a single tyre, conserving valuable resources.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle – this trio is key to more sustainable tyres “, says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle – this trio is key to more sustainable tyres. Wherever possible, we use recycled materials while maintaining our highest quality standards,” says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires. “Our polyester yarn made from recycled PET bottles is just as strong as conventional polyester yarn. This shows that sustainability, performance, and safety go hand in hand at Continental.

The company’s ContiRe.Tex technology, unveiled in late 2021, processes PET bottles that would otherwise go unrecycled. These bottles are spun into high-performance polyester yarn without intermediate chemical treatments, producing materials robust enough to meet the demands of tyre manufacturing.

Since 2022, this technology has been used on a limited scale at Continental’s tyre plants in Lousado, Portugal, and Otrokovice, Czech Republic. Recently, facilities in Korbach, Germany, and Sarreguemines, France, have also adopted recycled PET in series production.

Ambitious sustainability goals

The transition to sustainable materials aligns with Continental’s broader sustainability strategy. The company aims to increase the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in its tyres to over 40% by 2030. By then, all new car and light truck tyres are expected to feature high-performance polyester fibres made entirely from sustainable PET.

At present, an average passenger tyre contains 15–20 percent recycled and renewable materials. By 2050, Continental plans for all its new tyres to be made from 100 percent sustainable materials.

Turning waste into high-quality materials

Continental’s use of recycled PET is part of a broader effort to replace raw materials with sustainable alternatives. Textile fabrics made from recycled polyester enhance the strength, flexibility, and durability of tyres, with performance matching that of materials derived from crude oil.

In addition to recycled PET, Continental is exploring other sustainable materials, including bio-based and chemically recycled PET. Agricultural by-products, such as rice husk ash, rubber from dandelions and recycled rubber, are also being tested for future use.

Maxion Wheels And Daimler Truck To Display Circular Concept Truck At IFAT Munich 2026

Maxion Wheels And Daimler Truck To Display Circular Concept Truck At IFAT Munich 2026

Maxion Wheels, a division of Iochpe-Maxion and a global leader in wheel manufacturing, is playing a key role in bringing Daimler Truck’s vision for more sustainable commercial vehicle manufacturing to life through a collaborative effort on a concept refuse collection truck. This innovative vehicle will be showcased at IFAT Munich, the premier global gathering for the recycling and environmental sector taking place from 4 to 7 May 2026 at Trade Fair Center Messe München. Designed to highlight a commitment to circular materials, resource efficiency and forward-thinking industrial processes, the concept truck serves as a tangible demonstration of how the commercial vehicle sector can embrace environmentally responsible practices.

As the wheel supplier for this project, Maxion Wheels is translating its deep expertise in sustainability into direct action. The company is supplying steel truck wheels engineered through a combination of lightweight construction, optimised design strategies and advanced material science. By incorporating both primary and recycled materials into the manufacturing process, these wheels are specifically developed to help reduce emissions and lower the overall carbon footprint of the vehicle, reinforcing the project’s broader goals of environmental stewardship and industrial innovation.

Hankook Tire Celebrates TGL Season 2 Finale With High-Stakes Championship

Hankook Tire Celebrates TGL Season 2 Finale With High-Stakes Championship

Hankook Tire marked the conclusion of TGL presented by SoFi Season 2 as the league’s inaugural Official Tire Partner and a Founding Partner. The championship event was held on 23–24 March 2026 at Florida’s SoFi Center. Throughout the season, Hankook Tire leveraged the platform to elevate its premium brand presence across roughly 150 countries. This initiative directly reflects Chairman Hyunbum Cho’s vision of uniting mobility and sports through technological innovation, allowing Hankook to deliver a fresh and engaging brand experience to fans worldwide.

The championship itself was a best-of-three clash between two first-time finalists, Jupiter Links GC and Los Angeles Golf Club. In the opening match on 23 March, Los Angeles secured a dramatic one-point comeback win, highlighted by Sahith Theegala’s strategic use of ‘THE HAMMER’ on the 15th hole to claim two crucial points after his team had fallen behind. The following day, Los Angeles continued their momentum. Although Jupiter Links initially surged ahead behind Tiger Woods, the opposition quickly levelled the score and then reeled off four straight points. A pivotal 10th hole saw both teams activate ‘THE HAMMER’ for a maximum three-point swing, with Justin Rose defeating Max Homa to help seal a 9–2 victory and lift the SoFi Cup.

With Los Angeles Golf Club crowned champions, TGL’s Season 2 drew to a dramatic close. Looking ahead to Season 3, the league will expand to seven teams with the addition of Motor City Golf Club based in Detroit, furthering its ambition to build a premier global stage for team golf competition.

Tyrecycle Showcases Closed-Loop Breakthrough As Fenner Conveyors Launches K-MIX Innovation Hub

Tyrecycle Showcases Closed-Loop Breakthrough As Fenner Conveyors Launches K-MIX Innovation Hub

Tyrecycle recently joined Fenner Conveyors in celebrating the opening of the K‑MIX Materials Innovation Hub in Kwinana, Western Australia, marking a significant advancement for sustainable materials innovation nationally.

For Tyrecycle, the event’s focal point was the unveiling of Fenner’s InfinitySeries, the first conveyor belt manufactured using locally sourced recycled material stemming from the pair’s strategic partnership. During the launch, Tyrecycle welcomed mining community members to its East Rockingham facility for guided tours of its recycling operations, demonstrating the processing of old conveyor belts, off‑the‑road (OTR) tyres and passenger tyres into high‑value reusable materials for local supply chains.

This collaboration represents a pioneering closed‑loop ecosystem, transforming end‑of‑life conveyor belts into new, high‑performance products that support mining operations in achieving decarbonisation and circularity objectives. Tyrecycle expressed pride in standing alongside Fenner Conveyors to continue developing sustainable pathways for the mining sector and beyond.

Pirelli Earns Hyundai Motor Group’s ‘Supplier Of The Year’ Award

Pirelli Earns Hyundai Motor Group’s ‘Supplier Of The Year’ Award

Pirelli was named ‘Supplier of the Year’ at the Hyundai Motor Group Global Supplier Day, an accolade recognising its superior product quality, effective supply chain management and strong overall collaboration. This distinction reflects the company’s ability to meet high standards across multiple operational fronts.

Amid industry-wide shifts and persistent supply chain disruptions, Pirelli has ensured production stability for Hyundai through forward-looking supply strategies and a globally integrated factory network. By capitalising on the strategic positioning of its Asian plants, Pirelli has aligned closely with Hyundai’s manufacturing footprint, delivering agile support that strengthens their global partnership. This operational synergy has been key to maintaining continuity and responsiveness.

Deep technical collaboration is evident in their latest vehicle launches. The Genesis GV60 Magma and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N are both fitted with Pirelli’s advanced P Zero tyres, incorporating PNCS and ELECT technologies. Developed in 2019 for electrified vehicles, ELECT has since earned over 800 original equipment approvals, underscoring its role in helping Hyundai models achieve optimal performance in the electric era. This award represents a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership, reaffirming a shared dedication to innovation and excellence.

Mattia Bussacchini, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Pirelli, said, "We are truly honoured to receive this prestigious recognition from Hyundai Motor Group. This award fully affirms the strong collaboration between our teams and reflects Hyundai's high recognition of Pirelli's products and services. We look forward to continuing to deepen our cooperation with Hyundai and exploring new opportunities to drive mutual growth.”