WITH INNOVATIONS SUCH AS OUR SCHWALBE RECYCLING SYSTEM AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GREEN MARATHON, WE ARE PAVING THE WAY TOWARDS A CLOSED CIRCULAR ECONOMY - GET THERE
the green marathon sets new standards in tire development - made from 80% recycled and renewable materials.
GREEN MARATHON: THE FIRST BICYCLE TIRE WITH A CLOSED PRODUCT LOOP
WORLD DEBUT: THE GREEN MARATHON
The Green Marathon consists of 80% recycled and renewable materials, including recycled nylon from fishing nets (Seawastex), recovered carbon black (rCB) from the Schwalbe Recycling System, recycled steel and rubber, natural rubber from fair trade and further ecofriendly components. Our tire does away completely with synthetic rubber based on petroleum, thus saving on resources.
Seawastex im Green Marathon
Seawastex wird aus nicht mehr verwendbaren und weggeworfenen Fischernetzen gewonnen. Diese Netze werden gesammelt und zu Karkassen aus recyceltem Nylon verarbeitet, welches neues erdölbasiertes (virgin) Nylon vollständig ersetzt. Der taiwanesische Karkassenhersteller Formosa Taffeta stellt das Seawastex her.
DRIVEN BY OUR PIONEERING SPIRIT, WE REPEATEDLY EXPLORE NEW AVENUES AND BROADEN THE BOUNDARIES OF POSSIBILITY.
Schwalbe is the first bicycle tire manufacturer worldwide to develop an innovative and holistic recycling process.
We have been recycling bicycle inner tubes since 2015 and use the recycled material in the production of new tubes without any loss of quality.
THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE FAIR RUBBER COOPERATIVE ROSE FROM 277 IN 2020 TO 2,855 IN 2023.
COOPERATION WITH THE FAIR RUBBER ASSOCIATION
In cooperation with the Fair Rubber Association, we promote the fair trade of natural rubber and actively support the improvement of living and working conditions for rubber tappers. In 2023, Schwalbe increased the percentage of Fair Rubber used in its products. The number of tire models produced using fair trade natural rubber increased sixfold.
SCHWALBE IS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIRE MANUFACTURER TO USE FAIR TRADE NATURAL RUBBER IN ITS PRODUCTS.
LONG-TERM, INTERNATIONAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS ARE NOT ONLY AT THE HEART OF OUR STORY OF SUCCESS BUT ALSO FUNCTION AS A GUARANTEE FOR THE FUTURE.
LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH HUNG-A
Our long-term partnership with Hung-A forms the basis for Schwalbe’s high level of quality and numerous innovations. We began our close friendship with the Korean family business in 1973. This cooperation, realized as a joint venture, has been manufacturing tens of millions of tires and inner tubes for many years now.
Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA)
We have worked closely with EPEA GmbH since 2013. Our greatest inspiration is the circular economy according to the cradle-to-cradle design principle. Here, right from the start products and processes are designed so that all materials can also be recycled after use. By circulating materials in this manner, we do not actually produce any waste.
Pyrum Innovations AG
With its patented thermolysis technology, Pyrum Innovations AG is active on the recycling market for used tires and various plastics. Pyrum’s thermolysis process has a self-sufficient energy supply and makes new materials such as pyrolysis oil, gas and recovered carbon black (rCB) from old tires.
UNIVERSITIES
Schwalbe has developed the Schwalbe Recycling System as part of a research community in cooperation with Cologne Technical University and partner Pyrum Innovations AG.