Schwalbe 'nets' sustainability gains with new bicycle tire

Reichshof, Germany – Discarded fishing nets have enabled Schwalbe to increase the proportion of recycled and renewable materials in a range of bicycle tires from 70% to 80%.

The German company is using Seawastex recycled nylon material, which comes from fishing nets that are no longer usable and have been thrown away.

The recycled material “completely replaces petroleum-based nylon” in the carcass of Schwalbe’s Green Marathon tire, said a 29 Feb company announcement.

Taiwanese carcass manufacturer Formosa Taffeta collects the fishing nets in Taiwan both from fisheries and from the sea to produce Seawastex.

The carcass makes up around 10% of the weight of the Green Marathon, according to Felix Jahn, head of the CSR department at Schwalbe.

This, said Jahn, has “enabled us to increase the proportion of recycled and renewable materials in the tire to 80% just six months after launching the Green Marathon.

“In this way, we are reducing our dependence on petroleum-based materials such as new nylon and also reducing CO2eq emissions.

“In the medium term, we will steadily increase the proportion of Seawastex in Schwalbe tires."

The discarded fishing nets are collected, cleaned and then chemically recycled into caprolactam for spinning into new nylon yarn.

Formosa Taffeta weaves the yarn into new Seawastex carcass, which is said to offer the same quality characteristics as those with conventional nylon.

As the entire process, from collection and recycling to the production of new material, takes place in Taiwan, transportation emissions are kept to a minimum, said Schwalbe.

Overall, Seawastex saves 49% CO2eq emissions compared to conventional nylon carcasses, the bicycle tire maker continued.

The Green Marathon, added Schwalbe, saves a total of 41% CO2eq compared to its predecessor model.

The tire is also said to incorporates recovered carbon black from Pyrum, fair-trade natural rubber, silica from rice husk ash, recycled rubber, recycled steel wire – and to avoid the use of any new synthetic rubber.