Verifiable Sustainability: Continental Provides Proof of Fleet Efficiency

Hanover, November 02, 2023. Continental is presenting its fleet customers with an effective portfolio of solutions for making fleet operations efficient and sustainable. Fleet operators can choose from a modular range of solutions thanks to the Lowest Overall Driving Costs (LODC) comprehensive consultancy approach including ContiLifeCycle and ContiConnect digital tire management. The premium tire maker is now also providing operators with a certificate as proof of how they are helping to drive sustainability. “Taking as a basis the ContiRe tires fitted to the vehicles, we are able to calculate the material and carbon savings achieved during the course of production and retreading,” explains Siljana Lietz, Head of ContiLifeCycle at Continental Tires Germany. A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) showed that the carbon emissions of retreads are up to around 50 percent lower compared to similar new tires. Plus, recycled and renewable materials account for as much as 85 percent of a retreaded tire. “We devised the certificate at the request of our customers, whose day-to-day business increasingly calls for evidence of their efforts to improve sustainability and look after our planet’s resources.” The whole sustainability issue and climate-neutral transport are constantly gaining in importance in the logistics sector – a trend driven not least by tightly defined statutory requirements.

Tire retreading is an efficient way of helping to increase a fleet’s sustainability. This method can save up to 55 kilograms of waste. ContiLifeCycle is the name given to Continental’s holistic approach that seeks to create a circular economy. “Retreading extends the tire’s lifetime – and therefore its mileage for the fleet – by as much as 99 percent by giving it another life,” explains tire expert Lietz. “This has the effect of lowering both costs per mile and total costs for our customers.”

ContiLifeCycle: retreading saves resources

Retreads are an effective means of reducing environmental impact by saving raw materials, water and energy during production. A tire consists of a casing and a length of tread. Even if its tread has worn down, the casing will usually still be perfectly intact. Retreading involves removing the remaining tread rubber from the tire and reusing the casing for a second and even a third tire life. Two different processes are used: cold and hot retreading. “We are generally able to reuse around 70 percent of the original tire,” continues Lietz. “That saves raw materials, water and energy.” Retreaded tires are safe and very durable – and also far cheaper than new tires because the casing can be reused. “Fleets can reduce their tire costs by as much as 40 percent with our ContiRe retreaded tires and ContiTread solutions.”