As a significant leap towards environmental stewardship, Continental Tires announced that it has saved approximately 197 million liters of water, equivalent to filling 79 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This is a significant move towards maximizing water management through its operations by the company and as the United Nations’ World Water Day on March 22, which celebrates the importance of this valuable resource.
Since 2020, the firm has managed to reduce its water consumption per ton of tires it manufactures by more than 10%, through a variety of water efficiency and wastewater reuse strategies. These include the use of advanced filtration, membrane technologies, and reverse osmosis equipment for water recycling, with approximately 90% of wastewater now being reused after treatment.
Dr. Bernhard Trilken, Head of Manufacturing and Logistics at Continental Tires, singled out Continental’s disciplined water consumption management. In his words, Continental integrates the latest technology in its operations to consistently minimize water consumption, recycle water, and reduce its environmental impact.
Continental Tires’ commitment to sustainable water use has paid off. Compared to industry standards, Continental Tires has considerably reduced its water use per tire produced. Dr. Trilken acknowledged that the company is still working to reduce its water withdrawal, particularly in regions exposed to water scarcity threats. He was hopeful that the company is heading in the right direction, with the recent reduction being a crucial milestone.
Continental Tires boasts a long history of environmental stewardship, having officially incorporated environmental protection into its business vision back in 1993. The last 30 years have witnessed the company track water consumption at its plants, with numerous initiatives to limit water usage. Particularly, the company transitioned from water-cooled to air-cooled systems in 1996 and has since created various internal programs, such as the “Sustainable Water Initiative in Manufacturing” (SWIM), to engage employees in water-conservation activities.
The company’s innovative water recycling plan utilizes advanced membrane and filtration technologies that efficiently remove pollutants to allow for the reuse of water in other wastewater streams. Continental also employs reverse osmosis technology for the treatment of steam, which allows it to extend the service life of its facilities by removing minerals that can cause them harm.
Henning Mühlenstedt, the Head of Future Technologies and Sustainable Infrastructure at Continental Tires, highlighted the company’s web-based monitoring system, which tracks water usage in all production sites. The system is critical in identifying potential water loss and streamlining operations. As Mühlenstedt reports, the system sends automatic alert if water usage exceeds defined limits, allowing the company to take effective measures and cut down waste.
Besides these technological innovations, Continental is also interested in pragmatic solutions to save water at its facilities. These include rainwater collection, water-saving equipment, and touchless faucets and water-saving flushing systems.
Continental’s dedication to environmental sustainability has not been neglected. The firm has for the seventh consecutive year been praised by the non-profit CDP (previously referred to as the Carbon Disclosure Project), which awarded Continental an “A-” for climate protection leadership for 2024. The firm was also awarded a “B” for its water protection initiative, proving its improved handling of water resources and preservation.
This award is recognition of the dedication of Continental Tires towards being environmentally conscious, a path blazer among industries with its campaign for prevention of climate change and responsible consumption of resources.