How Continental Is Turning Eco-Dreams into Tarmac-Scorching Reality

Here we are in 2024, and Continental, the grandmaster of tyre wizardry, is not just dabbling in futuristic concepts but is actually putting them into the rubber that meets the road. Yes, those brainiacs in Hanover have decided that sustainability isn’t just a fancy word for press releases, it’s something you can actually drive on.

Remember the good old days when tyres were just, well, tyres? Circular, black, made of rubber. End of story. Fast forward to today, and Continental is turning this narrative on its head, or should I say tread, by using materials that sound like they’ve been nicked from a sci-fi novel: silica from rice husk ash, carbon black from retired tyres, and polyester from recycled PET. PET, by the way, not to be confused with your cat, Fluffy.

Continental’s sustainable tyre journey started with the Conti GreenConcept tyre. Back in 2021, this was as futuristic as a tyre could get without floating in the air. Fast forward a few light years, and voila, we have the UltraContact NXT – the most sustainable series tyre to date, with up to 65% sustainable materials. It’s like the tyre equivalent of a veggie burger, but it doesn’t fall apart when you bite into it.

Jorge Almeida, the Head of Sustainability, says, “Sustainable innovations belong on the road and not in a showroom.” Well, Jorge, we couldn’t agree more. We like our eco-friendly innovations where we can see them, under our cars, and not just in a fancy display.

Let’s talk about PET bottles. Once destined to be landfill celebrities, these bottles are now being reincarnated as polyester yarn for tyres. It’s like a rags-to-riches story, but for plastic. Depending on the tyre size, you could be rolling on nine to fifteen PET bottles. That’s one way to reduce your plastic footprint, quite literally.

But don’t think Continental is sacrificing performance at the altar of sustainability. Oh no, these tyres still pack a punch in terms of safety and energy efficiency. The UltraContact NXT, launched in 2023, has already bagged the top EU tyre label rating. It’s like the straight-A student who also captains the football team and volunteers at the animal shelter.

Continental isn’t just stopping at tyres. Their latest technology, Conti CityPlus, promises to make our cars more efficient in stop-and-go traffic, reducing CO2 emissions for those old-school petrol engines and increasing the range for electric vehicles. It’s like putting your car on an energy diet, but without cutting down on performance.

By 2030, Continental aims to use over 40% renewable and recycled materials in its tyres. That’s like going from eating meat every day to being a weekday vegetarian. And by 2050, they’re aiming for 100% sustainable materials. That’s full vegan, and not just on Mondays.

In a nutshell, Continental is not just talking the eco-talk, they’re driving the eco-walk. With every new tyre innovation, they’re showing that sustainability and performance can coexist, like yin and yang, fish and chips, or thunder and lightning. It’s a rubber revolution, and Continental is leading the charge, one sustainable tyre at a time. So, next time you’re out tyre shopping, remember, it’s not just about the grip, it’s about the green too.

The post How Continental Is Turning Eco-Dreams into Tarmac-Scorching Reality first appeared on Fuelled.