At Continental, we are convinced that sustainable and responsible business practices increase our ability to innovate and the future, thus creating corporate value. Our ambition is clear: by 2050 at the latest, we want to work with our partners to completely close our product and resource cycles – and make circular economy a reality.

For us, sustainability doesn't just start now. For example, we have been active in the retreading of truck and bus tyres for more than 120 years!

In order to conserve resources and reduce costs, Continental planned to purchase a new factory site as early as 1899, where a regenerated factory for the processing of used rubber was to be put into operation. At the same time, a solution was developed for the ever-increasing volume of used tires. In 1903, exactly 120 years ago, the plant was put into operation.

But even before 1903, Continental was already engaged in retreading. First at the Hanover-Vaherenwald plant, later also at other locations in Germany or abroad.

Since it also seemed desirable to us to separate some of the secondary branches of our production from the main plant, we acquired a larger area in the neighboring Seelze [...].

Excerpt from the Annual Report 1899

Tires consist of a carcass and a tread. Even if the tread is worn out, the carcass is usually still completely intact. During retreading, the remaining tread rubber is roughened and replaced, as is the case with hot retreading also the sidewall of the tire. In this way, the carcass is prepared for a second and third tire life. Continental uses state-of-the-art analytical methods, manufacturing methods and recycling technologies in hot and cold retreading. In both methods, only carefully selected and properly tested carcasses are used. As a rule, around 70 percent of the material of the original tire can be reused in both hot and cold retreading.

We work every day to advance innovative technologies and sustainable solutions along the entire value chain – from sourcing sustainable materials to recycling end-of-life tires. For example, we also rely on the pyrolysis of used tires. Our overarching goal is to recover 60 percent of the materials used in tire construction from end-of-life tires by 2050 at the latest.