Continental Advances Circular-Economy Materials Strategy in Tyre Production
Continental has announced a significant shift in its tyre-production strategy by increasing the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in its products, underlining its commitment to a true circular-economy approach. In 2024, recycled and renewable feedstocks accounted for approximately 26 % of the materials used in its tyres. By year-end 2025, the company expects that share to grow by another two to three percentage points, and it aims for at least 40 % by 2030.
The firm is integrating a range of alternative materials: synthetic rubber derived from renewable or circular oil, polyester yarns recycled from PET bottles, recycled steel, and silica sourced from rice-husk ash. These innovations sit alongside its “mass-balance” tracking system certified via ISCC PLUS, which ensures sustainable raw materials are accounted for throughout the supply chain.
In parallel, Continental is also advancing its tire-to-tire recycling technologies. Through a collaboration with Pyrum Innovations, the company is working to recover carbon black from end-of-life tyres (ELTs), converting them into usable raw materials for new tyres. At its Korbach (Germany) site, solid tyre productions now contain ~60 % renewable/recycled materials, with the goal of full circularity by 2050.
From a materials-design perspective, Continental is also replacing traditional chemical bonds and steel components with more sustainable alternatives. For instance, its ContiRe.Tex recycled-polyester yarn, made from PET bottles, is now used for some tyre carcasses, and its COKOON adhesive system replaces formaldehyde-based bonding. Continental AG
Overall, the company is signalling that sustainability and performance need not be trade-offs: innovation in raw materials is being pursued without compromising safety, durability, or tyre performance. For the global mobility ecosystem, the development places materials innovation and recycling at the heart of tyre-industry strategy.
Editor’s View
Continental’s push into greater use of renewable and recycled materials marks a key evolution in the tyre industry’s response to environmental and supply-chain pressures. As vehicles become heavier, more electrified, and laden with advanced electronics, tyre manufacturers face growing demand not just for durability and grip but for traceability and circular-economy credentials.
The shift to recycled steel, PET-bottle yarns, and pyrolysis-derived carbon black suggests that the tyre industry must now think of materials as part of the service ecosystem, not just commodity inputs. Suppliers, aftermarket players, and OEM-partners should note that material origin and recyclability will increasingly influence procurement and branding. The outcome: tyres will become as much about their lifecycle as their tread pattern.
