SCHWALBE PUBLISHES DETAILED LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT FOR GREEN MARATHON
SAVINGS OF 41% CO2EQ COMPARED TO PREDECESSOR MODEL THANKS TO RECYCLED AND RENEWABLE MATERIALS
IIt is the world‘s first bicycle tire with a closed material loop - Schwalbe has now presented a detailed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the environmental impact of the Green Marathon. The result: With 1.43 kg CO2 equivalents (CO2eq)*, the Green Marathon saves a total of 41% CO2eq compared to its predecessor model. The Marathon from 2010 already had a lower CO2eq footprint than other bicycle tires thanks to the use of recycled materials, including in the puncture protection.
The life cycle assessment was calculated on the basis of
strict scientific criteria and in compliance with current standards.
Schwalbe worked closely with both suppliers and
pre-suppliers to collect the relevant data.
Raw materials cause the majority of emissions
The product carbon footprint (PCF) calculated with the life
cycle assessment provides a key finding: the majority of
emissions, 62% in total, are caused by raw materials. Approximately
one-third is attributed to the energy consumption
during production, while just under 3.5% is induced
by transportation logistics. This cements the importance of
Savings of 41% CO2eq compared to predecessor model thanks to recycled and renewable materials
Press Release 22.01.2024
research into raw materials and materials for reducing
environmental impacts. Schwalbe has been working
intensively on the ecological material optimization of
all tires and inner tubes since 2013.
Sebastian Bogdahn, (Environmental R&D Manager):
„The Green Marathon is the result of years of research
and development work and a flagship product - this is
underlined by the result of the life cycle assessment. At
the same time, the work doesn‘t stop there for us. Our
goal is to create life cycle assessments for all tires and
tubes by 2025 and at the same time further reduce the
environmental impact of our products.“
Schwalbe has achieved most of the CO2eq savings in
the Green Marathon by using recycled and renewable
raw materials. The tire is the first product to use 100%
recycled carbon black (rCB). The rCB of recycling
partner Pyrum Innovations AG is a direct product of
Schwalbe tire recycling and replaces fossil-based carbon
black.
What's next?
The life cycle assessment for the Green Marathon
reflects Schwalbe‘s current status of sustainable
product development and research.The familyowned
company is currently working at full speed
to further develop its life cycle assessment methodology
in order to calculate and publish life cycle
assessments for all Schwalbe core products by
2025. In addition to raw materials and production,
the use phase and disposal or recycling of the products
will also be included.
Detailed information on the calculation
To determine the CO2eq savings, a detailed PCF
of both Marathon models was calculated according
to DIN EN ISO 14067 and evaluated using
the „LCA for Experts“ software in accordance with
the current IPCC AR6 standard (GWP 100, excl.
biogenic CO2). Specifically, the study is a „partial
PCF“, which describes the total amount of greenhouse
gases emitted by a tire from raw material
extraction to the finished product („cradle-to-gate“)
and is expressed as CO2 equivalents. This
includes all raw materials that make up at least
5 percent by mass of the total weight of the tire.
By 2025, the system boundary of the life cycle assessment
is to be extended so that the complete
product life cycle from raw material extraction to
recycling („cradle-to-cradle“) is mapped and all
raw materials from 1 mass percent are included.
* The calculation is based on the best-selling tire size (40-622 with a weight of 810 grams for both models), the exact value varies for other tire sizes.
Further information:
SCHWALBE | Ralf Bohle GmbH
Press Office
Otto-Hahn-Straße 1
51580 Reichshof-Wehnrath
Phone: +49 22 65 109-0
press@schwalbe.com
www.schwalbe.com