Tire manufacturers: different sustainability approaches

The sustainability of electric cars is discussed controversially. Most things are about the origin of the charged electricity or the ecological footprint of the battery. Manufacturers also strive to further reduce the consumption of electric cars with lightweight construction materials. But what about the sustainability of the tires?

Car tires consist of 40 percent rubber, a raw material from the juice of the rubber tree, which is renewable, but increasingly becomes. The manufacturers therefore research both alternative sources of raw materials and the possibility of using recycled secondary raw materials. The energy requirement of tire production is also in focus.

The German tire manufacturer Continental is dedicated jointly with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology to replace the rubber through an alternative source of nature: The root of the Caucasian dandelion contains natural rubber, which could also be suitable for tire production, as in a research project was confirmed. The advantages of the supposed weeds are obvious: dandelion is not very demanding, can be grown on cargides and thus no food production even with industrial cultivation. Since the plant thrives with moderate climate, a cultivation in Central Europe is also possible. This in turn reduces the rubber tree plantations in rainforest fields. The CO2 emission would also be reduced due to the shorter transport routes. The first dandelion tires should be produced according to the researchers in a few years.

Michelin in turn also relies on recycling in addition to the alternative raw materials. Tires of the French manufacturer should come from 2030 to 40 and from 2050 to 100 percent of fully biologically produced or recycled materials. In addition, the tire production from 2050 should be completely CO2-neutral. Michelin has set itself the goal of reducing the ecological footprint of all production sites, including in the consumption of solvents and energy, with resulting waste and water consumption. In the field of logistics, alternative transport options such as electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles as well as sailing freights are used. Thus, CO2 emissions incurred in logistics will be reduced by 15 percent by 2030 compared to 2018. The 100 percent sustainable tires be “a big challenge for the Michelin Group”. One would develop new technologies and change the way of working like Anish K. Taneja of Michelin emphasizes.

Exciting future plans also rolled Goodyear: The visionary “Oxygene” should clean the air – by putting his side wall with moss. The plant then converts CO2 from the air into oxygen. What Kurios sounds, according to Goodyear, should actually have a significant effect: in the Greater Paris with about 2.5 million cars could be almost 3.000 tonnes of oxygen are produced – provided that all cars are equipped with the “Oxygen”. Even more sustainable is the green tire through the use of recycled altruics. 3D printing is used to make the new “Oxygene” from the grease rubble from old tires. In addition, the tire “Smart”: Since it supplies itself via the photosynthesis with energy, an electronics embedded in the tire can give light signals, for example when changing the lane. Whether and when the intelligent, sustainable tires should come to the market is still open. Since the presentation of the concept 2018, it has become very quiet about it.

Sources: sustainable life.CH – New Rubber Source: Tires from Dandelion // News.Michelin.de – the way and the challenges for 100 percent sustainable mature // sustainable life.Ch – green car tire of the future is to clean city air

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