The pandemic situation has affected many manufacturing industries in all markets. However, sustainability of environment remains on top priority and hence the tyre manufacturers such as Continental tyres are doing all they can to stand for the environmental sustainability.
Continental tyres group has been focusing on sustainability and improving the credentials. Under the guidance and leadership of Claus Petschick as a part of its vision 2030 program, they have considered sustainability activities and projects in a newly created department.
Petschick has worked at continental holding various positions. The 58-year old construction engineer has been responsible for the global quality assurance and has taken in charge as the Vice president, quality management for over 10 years. Earlier he worked in R&D and product development for the original equipment business for over 30 years. In 2007, the tyre plant in Hanover-Stöcken required his management skills and hence he became a part of the management.
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Christian Kötz, member of the executive board of continental mentions about the creation of sustainability organization under the guidance of Claus Petschick. He says that the company has been consolidating research projects and its global activities. They have been committed to expand the sustainable business models and innovative services along the value chain.
The strategy that the company considers is based on four different aspects such as the climate change mitigation, circular economies, clean mobility and sustainable supply chains. The focus of the industry is to make tyres of the future which is efficient in energy saving and environmentally friendly in terms of production and the ability to recycle. The company is systematically investing in development of new technologies, alternative materials and environmentally suitable production process.
In 2013, Continental built the unique ContiLifeCycle plant in Germany at a place called Hanover for the purpose of extending the product and service life through retreading. Specially designed machine fleets with retreading systems that set new standards were utilized for tyre recycling purpose.
One of the concerns for the Continental group was to halt the importing of natural rubber and to produce it close to the tyre plant in order to reduce co2 emission while transporting and prevent deforestation.
In making this sustainable environment a dream come true, The Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME) along with the Taraxagum project of the company will be using dandelion plants in providing natural rubber, which can be used for producing car, motorcycle and commercial vehicle tyres. However, it is under trial and yet to be used in producing car and motorcycle tyres.
