The television team of channel "WDR" had set out to find answers to serious questions about raw material extraction for car tyres. What Michael Höft found were devastating conditions under which parts of the population of Thailand and Cambodia - other East Asian regions are affected the same way - use all their strength for a pittance. The harvesters of natural rubber risk their only good - their health - by handling highly toxic substances unsuspectingly.
While the TV team's enquiries were rolling off all the new tire manufacturers, only the most important retreading company for passenger car tires provided insight into its production and willingly answered questions about the tire industry and the handling of its raw materials.
Conclusion: If you want to remain mobile and drive more climate-neutral, the only option is to buy retreaded tyres. This way of producing high quality tyres saves up to 70% of resources compared to the new tire industry.
Missed the video? There are repetitions to watch here at tagesschau24:
23.08.2019 20:45 hrs / 25.08.2019 00:20 hrs / 25.08.2019 07:45 hrs / 26.08.2019 21:30 hrs
For one year the entire video can also be viewed in the ARD media library and on our YouTube channel.
The WDR would like to pursue further the causes and reasons, why the politics did not become active here, long ago. Information on upcoming programmes or news can be found here in the News section or on one of the company's social media channels.
We are looking forward to your reactions. Until then, drive safe and environmentally conscious with our "King-Meiler" made in Germany.