Conti, Pyrum ink long-term rCB supply agreement

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG has signed a long-term purchase agreement with Pyrum Innovations for the supply of recovered carbon black (rCB) from end-of-life tires (ELTs).

The agreement builds on a previous partnership launched in 2022, through which the companies have been working to optimise and expand the recycling of ELTs via the pyrolysis process.

Continental intends to use the “particularly high-quality” rCB for the series production of passenger car tires in the future, the companies announced 30 July.

The Hanover-based tire maker said the carbon black content of its passenger car tires is between 15% and 20%, depending on the model.

Continental did not clarify to what extent the rCB would replace virgin carbon black –as part of its goal of achieving 40% sustainable-material content in all tires by 2030.

Continental currently mass produces 65% sustainable-material content tires, which contain recycled rubber, steel and PET recyclate, as well as renewable materials from wood and rice waste.

To increase the circularity of products “we need to move from an ‘end-of-life’ to an ‘end-of-use’ tire concept,” said Jorge Almeida, head of sustainability, Continental Tires.

With Pyrum, added Almeida, “we are developing highly efficient processes to recycle as many components and materials as possible from an ELT back into our production cycle."

Pyrum is currently in the final stages of completing an expansion project at its flagship plant in Dillingen, Germany, while also building a new plant in the nearby town of Perl-Besch.

The two plants will have a combined capacity to process 40 kilotonnes per annum of ELTs by the end of 2025, according to the recycler.

As well as the new purchase deal, Continental has agreed to make an advance payment for future rCB deliveries, Pyrum said in a separate statement.

Pyrum and Continental have been “continuously working” on the further development of rCB as part of their existing partnership, said Pyrum CEO Pascal Klein.

“Together, we have already succeeded in ensuring that all newly produced forklift tires at the Continental tire plant in Korbach, Hesse, contain our sustainable carbon black," he added.