Continental is ramping up its use of renewable and recycled materials in tire production, including using synthetic rubber made from cooking oil.
“We’re closing the loop: Continental is ramping up its commitment to a circular economy and mapping out its path for the future,” said Jorge Almeida, head of sustainability at Continental Tires. “Innovative solutions enable us to use more sustainable raw materials. For example, synthetic rubber made from used cooking oil or resins based on certified renewable feedstocks originally derived from vegetable oil.”
Synthetic Rubber from Cooking Oil
Rubber remains a vital commodity for global mobility, with modern tires containing up to 40% rubber by weight. Continental said it uses both natural and synthetic rubber to achieve performance and durability. Natural rubber offers impact resistance and strain-induced crystallization that synthetic versions cannot yet match, making it essential in tire treads.
Synthetic rubber complements natural rubber in treads, improving braking performance and rolling resistance, the manufacturer said. Continental is increasingly sourcing synthetic rubber from sustainable inputs like pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tires and synthetic rubber from cooking oil. Suppliers including Synthos and TotalEnergies Cray Valley provide these materials using a mass balance approach, certified by ISCC PLUS.
Continental said it also integrates circular resins to balance elasticity and resilience in tire compounds. These resins enhance wet grip, abrasion resistance, and rolling resistance, reducing vehicle energy consumption.
Additives With Lower Carbon Footprints
In addition to rubber and resins, Continental said it relies on additives to protect rubber during vulcanization. The company uses ISCC PLUS-certified TMQ, supplied by LANXESS. Made with biocircular acetone from recycled cooking oil and other biological waste, this additive has a carbon footprint more than 30% lower than conventional alternatives.
Continental said it applies a mass balance approach to manage its diverse raw material portfolio. This method mixes fossil, renewable, and recycled materials during production while tracking their share along the value chain.
“The mass balance approach enables us to efficiently manage the complexity of the raw materials portfolio and track how these raw materials are used at multiple production sites in a wide range of markets,” said Matthias Haufe, head of material development and industrialization at Continental Tires. “In this way, we can steadily increase the share of renewable and recycled materials in our tire production.”
