SOCIAL CHALLENGES

According to the World Bank, China is currently the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The Chinese government has been committed to combating air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, with visible success. Innovation made at company level in green technology is also a major factor in combating emissions.

PROJECT APPROACH

To tackle this issue, Continental Tires launched a project to cut emissions from production processes. The first phase of the project was planned back in 2015. Continental Tires led studies with industry specialists and learned that RTOs (regenerative thermal oxidizers) reduced the environmental impact of mixers and cold plasma treatment did the same for curing lines.

Continental Tires evaluated available suppliers around the world and selected German produced equipment as the company felt they offered the best quality and efficiency on the market. After years of hard work from the company and their partners the 1st RTO project started in 2017 Q4 and finished in 2018 Q4. Continental Tires kept close monitoring of the performance for 1 year after implementation and the initial results were positive. In 2020 Q1, despite the uncertainty caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, Continental Tires decided to invest in a 2nd RTO. The end date is currently planned for 2021 Q2.

VALUE ADDED

Continental Tires aims to be a leading company in the industry in environmental protection and also to be an industry role model and to inspire others to create a better environment. Due to the success of this project, RTO and cold plasma treatment processes will be considered in the designing phase for all future plant expansion projects. Efforts in sustain- ability and environmental protection are increasing across all industries. The final VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) emission aver- age is less than 5 mg/m3 and the air quality emission levels not only meet but exceed the Chinese government standards and European emission standards.

LESSONS LEARNED

RTO equipment is very effective, and Continental Tires is working with experts to make the process more energy efficient. This project has been an amazing period of innovation and a great success by the Utility & ESH team.

IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE

Continental Tires is commit- ted to sustainable growth and plans to continue introducing advanced environment technologies to air treatment. Continental Tires will continue its efforts in modernizing the plant processes in terms of environment protection technologies and to be a role model for environmental technologies in the industry.

Source: More Than A Market Booklet 2021