More Recycling, Less Emissions: Continental Focuses on Sustainability in the Aftermarket Business

• World innovation: CONTI NXT Multi V-belts with almost two thirds sustainable materials
• Premiere of the ATE New Original product line for next-generation brake systems: new brake discs and pads for electric vehicles and reduced particulate emissions in the future, sustainably produced brake fluid ATE SecuBrake
• Proportion of recycled, recyclable and renewable raw materials in the spare and wear parts program is growing
• Enno Straten, Head of Automotive Aftermarket: "We support the transition to sustainable mobility with our OEM know-how and present more environmentally friendly products – without sacrificing performance."
   

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the automotive aftermarket, as shown by the first Europe-wide sustainability study recently published by Continental. However, to enable workshops to make solid profits, relevant environmentally friendly products are a must. “Whether it is electromobility, environmentally friendly materials, or sustainably produced spare parts, the issue of sustainability is gaining in importance,” says Enno Straten, Head of the Automotive Aftermarket business segment at Continental. "We support this transition to sustainable mobility with our OEM know-how and present more environmentally friendly products – all without sacrificing performance. These products help to anchor sustainability more firmly in workshops and among workshop customers."

"We are very proud of this pioneering achievement in the passenger car aftermarket," says Rolf Sudmann, who is responsible for the spare parts business for cars and commercial vehicles in the ContiTech Industrial Solutions EMEA business area. "At ContiTech, we have the material expertise to make belt drive components and other rubber-based products progressively more sustainable, without compromising on performance and durability, as we are now demonstrating with the CONTI NXT Multi V-belts. We are closely monitoring the demand for spare parts made from recycled or renewable materials, and we firmly believe that we can offer more sustainable alternatives for other spare parts."

Multi V-belts for passenger cars usually consist of four layers: a polyester tension cord, a rubber layer, a belt backing also made of rubber and a textile cover layer. Continental has now succeeded in using polyester made from recycled plastic bottles for the tension cord. Also, the ContiTech material experts were able to replace the synthetic fiber cover layer of most Multi V-belts with a cover layer made of cellulose-based lyocell fibers. The fibers are produced in an environmentally friendly and closed process; the cellulose used comes from sustainable forestry. Furthermore, recycled carbon black and rubber certified according to the mass-balance standard are also used for the rubber compound.

The mission of the new ATE New Original product line is to combine optimal performance with maximum sustainability. It supports workshops in positioning themselves as service partners for brake systems, electric drives and sustainability. ATE New Original complements the ATE Original line in which Continental has so far offered its entire European portfolio of brake components. "We will bundle all our products for next-generation brake systems under the ATE New Original product line," says Straten. "This not only underscores the premium claim that we have established as a brake specialist with well over 100 years of experience. It also reaffirms the pioneering spirit that has always distinguished the ATE brand, showing that we are well prepared for any future challenges in workshops."

The ATE New Original product offering starts with friction pairings for disc brakes that are tailored to the higher requirements of electromobility. The brake disc and pad are perfectly matched, and designed to offer the optimal combination of longevity, braking performance, comfort, and sustainability. The brake pads are also copper-free in compliance with the US Better Brake Law standard. ATE will launch friction brake pairings for the VW ID.3 and ID.4 models, the Tesla Model S, the Cupra Born and the Polestar 2 in the spring of 2025. The product range will be further expanded during the year. This will provide dealers and workshops with a product range that is perfectly tailored to the growing number of electric vehicles – and it will also support future compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the upcoming Euro 7 regulation. Among other measures, this regulation stipulates a reduction in particulate emissions from braking systems.

The SecuBrake brake fluid is also part of the ATE New Original product line. It exceeds the requirements for DOT 4 brake fluids and is also suitable for electric vehicles. ATE SecuBrake is sustainably produced through the ISCC PLUS certified mass-balance manufacturing process using mostly renewable raw materials. This results in a significantly improved CO2 footprint compared to conventional brake fluids. ATE SecuBrake also contains no borate, eliminating the need for hazardous substance labeling. This simplifies handling in the workshop and makes storage in a hazardous materials warehouse unnecessary.