Conti boosts recycled bottle use in tires, targets 100% sustainable PET by 2030

Hanover, Germany – Continental AG is increasing the proportion of recycled materials in its tires as more plants are converted to use polyester fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The group has now increased the recycled content of many of its tire lines by an average of 3%, said Continental 28 Nov.

Depending on the tire size, up to 15 PET bottles are used per tire through Continental’s ContiRe.Tex technology.

The process spins recycled bottles directly into polyester yarn with intermediate chemical steps while maintaining the strength of conventional polyester yarns, said Continental Tires' head of sustainability, Jorge Almeida.

The technology has been used on a small scale since 2022 at the tire plants in Lousado, Portugal, and Otrokovice, Czech Republic.

Continental has now extended the technology to tire plants in Korbach, Germany, and Sarreguemines, France, which have recently started using recycled PET bottles in series production.

The switch is part of Continental’s sustainability strategy which eyes more than 40% renewable and recycled materials in tires by 2030.

Specifically, the German tire maker is working on various technologies to convert to 100% sustainable PETs in tires by the end of the decade.

In addition to recycled PET bottles, the German manufacturer is also investing in technologies such as the use of bio-based or chemically recycled PET.