Continental uses synthetic rubber made from used cooking oil
Making tyres more sustainable
Continental is prioritising renewable and recycled materials in tyre manufacturing. In 2024, these materials accounted for 26% of production. The company expects an increase of two to three percentage points by year-end, with a target of at least 40% by 2030. Key areas of focus include sustainable sources of rubber and resins, both vital to tyre performance.Rubber is the most important raw material in tyre production, making up to 40% of a modern high-performance tyre by weight. Continental uses both natural and synthetic rubber, tailoring each compound to its function. Its car tyres can contain up to 100 raw materials, combined into 20 customised compounds per tyre. Increasingly, these compounds integrate recycled additives and circular resins that boost elasticity and improve performance.
“Synthetic rubber from renewable feedstocks and responsibly sourced natural rubber are essential to our sustainability strategy,” says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires. “Innovative solutions enable us to use materials like synthetic rubber made from used cooking oil or resins derived from renewable feedstocks.”
Synthetic rubber from recycled sources
Natural rubber, traditionally used for tyre treads, is highly durable thanks to its unique crystallisation properties. Synthetic rubber complements it by offering enhanced braking and lower rolling resistance. Continental now produces synthetic rubber from more sustainable inputs, such as pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tyres and used cooking oil.
Suppliers including Synthos and TotalEnergies Cray Valley provide these materials using the ISCC PLUS mass balance approach, which certifies and tracks renewable feedstocks through the supply chain. This system ensures that sustainable inputs are verified while maintaining the same performance standards.
Circular resins and additives
Resins are key to tyre performance, improving wet grip, abrasion resistance and rolling resistance. Continental already uses ISCC PLUS-certified circular resins derived from renewable sources, including vegetable and used cooking oils.
Additives are equally important, protecting rubber during vulcanisation. Continental is the first tyre manufacturer to use the ISCC PLUS-certified TMQ additive from LANXESS. Produced with biocircular acetone, TMQ has a carbon footprint over 30% lower than the conventional equivalent. Biocircular acetone is made from biological waste such as recycled cooking oil.
Continental is systematically applying the mass balance approach to expand its use of renewable and recycled raw materials. By mixing fossil, renewable and recycled inputs in production and tracking them along the value chain, the company can attribute certified sustainable inputs to its tyres.
“The mass balance approach enables us to manage a complex raw materials portfolio across multiple sites and markets,” says Matthias Haufe, Head of Material Development and Industrialisation at Continental Tires. “It helps us steadily increase the share of renewable and recycled materials – and transparently document our progress.”
A circular future
By combining innovation, supplier partnerships and certified traceability, Continental is positioning itself as a leader in circular tyre production. The company’s commitment to reach 40% renewable and recycled materials by 2030 marks a decisive step towards a more sustainable mobility industry.