Germany's Continental to work with pyrolysis specialist Pyrum on tire recycling

Germany-based automotive parts manufacturer Continental has entered a partnership with pyrolysis specialist Pyrum Innovations to recover high-quality carbon-black through pyrolysis, the company said in a statement March 14.

Carbon-black is a feedstock used in tire production for tires' stability, strength and durability, typically accounting for 15-20% in a standard passenger car tire according to Continental.

Continental said that the collaboration was to optimize and expand the recycling of end-of-life tires through pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis is a way of chemical recycling for hard-to-recycle waste rubber or plastic into virgin-grade feedstock.

The company said that it would supply end-of-life tires through its subsidiary Reifen-Entsorgungsgesellschaft as early as March 2022. Continental also held a minority stake in Pyrum which was listed in 2021.

"Our goal is to recover valuable materials and high-performance raw materials on an industrial scale in the future, among other things for Continental's tire production," said Andreas Topp, Continental Tires head of materials and process development and industrialization.

Continental aims to use 100% sustainable materials in its tires by 2050, noting recycled materials will make a "significant contribution."

The tire industry is a primary consumer of SBR and carbon-black.