A Conscious Step in Making Technologies Sustainable
Today, sustainability has become a critical topic of discussion across industries. The trend denotes that people’s preferences are shifting towards adopting sustainable practices as they understand the numerous benefits of sustainable development and its impact on social, environmental, and economic factors.
Companies across industries are aiming to reduce their carbon footprint by promoting sustainable practices.
The concept of sustainability holds significant importance for Continental. Over the years, the company has introduced various sustainability initiatives. These initiatives center around prioritizing the environment and promoting a significant change in approach at the appropriate time for maximum advantage.
Continental looks at sustainability from an all-encompassing perspective, right from designing sustainable products and technologies, to respecting the law, conserving resources, climate protection, and fulfilling responsibilities towards employees and the wider society. The company has adopted a strategy that will have an impact over both, the short as well as long term.
Here are some of the promising sustainable products that Continental has introduced in the last few years:
1. Green Calipers reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions
Continental recently introduced the new lightweight Green Caliper. The Green Caliper offers high braking performance with less weight which significantly reduces residual braking torque.
As a result, Carbon Dioxide emissions of up to 2g/km can be saved for combustion vehicles. Green Calipers also have the potential to improve the range offered by Electric Vehicles.
These brakes with their optimum heat dissipation properties make them an ideal choice especially for the front axle of various models.
Currently, Continental is focussed on tailoring the brake design to meet the demands of Electric Vehicles and the company continues to work on this to further enhance this technology.
2. Continental is the first company to launch a tire with maximum sustainable materials
The design of tires and the interaction of various materials that go into making them are complex. But the material experts and the tire engineers at Continental have been working together to bring about a revolution in this industry.
By 2050, all tires produced by the company are to be made of sustainable material.
These tires are to be made from waste products from agriculture such as ash from rice husks, rubber from dandelions, recycled rubber or PET bottles.
Recently, the company has launched the UltraContact NXT. The tire uses up to 65 percent renewable, recycled and mass balance certified materials, along with a high share of sustainable materials, thus providing maximum safety and performance.
Continental also embraces the flowering weed as a key component to the future of tires. The company collaborated with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Julius Kuehn-Institute, and EKUSA, and has produced tires made from 100 percent dandelion natural rubber as a polymer.
3. Upholstery material from leftover coffee grounds
Continental is actively promoting and contributing to the growth of sustainability in the cruise industry with its upholstery material, skai VyP Coffee.
The engineers at Continental’s surface solutions team have developed a method to utilize the leftovers from coffee to use as a sustainable raw material.
The grounds prepared during the preparation of coffee are processed and incorporated into the new material. This approach can significantly reduce waste and avoid the emission of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Other recycled and natural components are also added to the mix during the production process.
As a result, more than 65 percent of traditional chemical raw materials typically utilized in the production of skai VyP Coffee are substituted with natural and recycled materials.
The upholstery fabric incorporates laif technology to enhance breathability and provide excellent seating comfort, particularly in settings where individuals tend to spend more time, such as hotels, cafes, restaurants, or offices. Its notable features include an authentic appearance and a soft texture.
4. First company to launch production of recycled polyester yarn
Continental is the first tire manufacturer to immediately launch volume production of recycled polyester yarn which is obtained from PET plastic bottles in a new process.
In 2021, Continental unveiled the inhouse ContiRe.Tex technology for the first time.
It uses polyester yarn, which is obtained from used PET bottles without any intermediate chemical steps and not recycled in any other way. This makes the technology much more efficient than other standard methods for processing PET bottles into high-performance polyester yarns.
5. ContiHome — providing a glimpse of the future of living
Continental has also achieved something that construction and furniture suppliers have long dreamed of. The company has equipped an entire house with its own materials from inside and out.
The mobile home showcases the diverse options and products that they offer.
ContiHome was developed from the ground up with the company’s competence in the construction and furniture industries and their knowledge of surface. Continental conceived, designed, and built the complete show house itself.
The result of all of this is a smart and mobile tiny house that reflects current trends and provides a glimpse of the future of living, making the entire portfolio of products tangible at trade fairs and events.
6. Sustainable rubber soles: the right alternative to fast fashion
With people becoming aware of sustainability and the harmful effects of fast fashion, most of them are looking for alternatives. Thus, more people are saying yes to sustainable t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers.
Last year, Continental collaborated with a Munich-based shoe manufacturer to produce sustainable rubber soles for sneakers.
The material experts at Continental developed a rubber mix that was not just stylish but also sustainable.
The rubber compound for the sole of the Monaco Ducks sneaker is made from 90 percent sustainable raw materials which will lead to a 50 percent decrease in carbon footprint compared to the original recipe.
It has become crucial for individuals to prioritize sustainability in all aspects. By embracing sustainable practices, one can create a more harmonious and resilient world for future generations.
Continental is committed to sustainability and is actively collaborating across industries to build a sustainable future that ensures the well-being of both, the planet, and its inhabitants.
Additionally, Continental has been contributing and producing technology for Electric Vehicles.
Please refer to the following links to check how Continental has been contributing:
