Continental is accelerating its use of renewable and recycled resources in tire production. The company plans to raise the share of Continental sustainable tire materials from 26% by two to three percentage points in 2025. The company said it achieves this using synthetic rubber from renewable or circular oil, recycled PET polyester, recycled steel, and silica from rice husk ash.
Commitment To Sustainability Drives Material Innovation
“We are systematically increasing the share of renewable and recycled materials in our raw material portfolio. In five years, we aim to surpass the 40% mark,” said Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires. “We are constantly searching for even more environmentally friendly materials. After extensive testing, we integrate them into production as quickly as possible.”
EcoVadis Awards Continental Platinum Rating for Sustainable Tire Materials
Continental’s advancements earned it a Platinum Rating from EcoVadis, placing it in the top 1% of tire and supplier companies assessed. The company scored 84 out of 100, a 10-point improvement from the prior year.
EcoVadis evaluated Continental based on environment, ethics, labor and human rights, and sustainable procurement. The highest scores were awarded in the latter two categories.
A major contributor to the Continental sustainable tire materials initiative is the mass balance approach. This method integrates renewable and recycled raw materials into traditional production processes while maintaining full transparency and traceability. The process is ISCC Plus certified.
Recycled Steel, PET Bottles, And Natural Rubber Used Responsibly
Continental said it incorporates natural rubber sourced responsibly, recycled steel, and polyester from PET bottles through its proprietary ContiRe.Tex technology. Additionally, silica derived from rice husk ash replaces conventional filler materials.
The company said it continues developing and testing new sustainable materials to support the global transition to environmentally conscious mobility.
“We have developed a comprehensive portfolio of diverse, more sustainable materials and are continuously integrating them into all our products after extensive testing,” Almeida said. “In doing so, we ensure that there is no compromise in safety or performance. With this portfolio, we are getting closer and closer to our ambitious, long-term sustainability goals.”
