For 2021, international non-profit Carbon Disclosure Project (CPD) awarded Continental the highest grade for the fourth time in a row as a global leader in reducing emissions in the supply chain (“Supplier Engagement Rating”). This puts Continental in the 8% of companies evaluated that received the highest grade for supplier commitment to climate change. CDP recognized Continental for its holistic approach of working closely with its suppliers in Automotive, Tires, and ContiTech group sectors. Continental’s approach helps the compay achieve comprehensive improvements by involving as many stages of the supply chain as possible.
Claus Petschick, head of sustainability at Continental Tires, says the company looks at “the entire value chain of its products.” He says it’s the only way to achieve sustainable supply chains that conserve resources and support climate protection goals simultaneously. He further states that Continental’s goal is to achieve sustainable supply chains no later than 2050.
SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE RAW MATERIALS IN TIRE PRODUCTION
Continental has long prioritized the use of sustainable raw materials for tire construction. For example, Continental and its partners are intensively researching the industrialization of the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz) for the extraction of natural rubber, a project known as Taraxagum. In the future, the aim is to grow part of the natural rubber for production close to the company’s plants. This feat will reduce CO2 emissions caused by long transport routes and to conserve valuable resources.
The use of sustainable raw materials also includes the use of recycled polyester from recycled plastic bottles, which Continental is currently introducing into the series production of its tires, as well as the use of silicate from the ash of rice husks, an agricultural waste product. Plant-based oils and resins also reduce the proportion of crude oil-based materials already today. Continental’s goal is to successively use 100% sustainably produced materials in its tire products by 2050 at the latest.
Continental also ensures sustainability of its natural rubber sourcing. Since 2018, Continental has collaborated with German development organization GIZ to promote a digital system for the traceability of natural rubber. Small farmers involved in the project in Borneo, Indonesia, can increase quantities, quality, and yields through learning sustainable cultivation. As a result, these farmers can improve their incomes. A cultivation strategy based on sustainability also prevents logging and deforestation, conserving valuable resources. The pilot project in 2018 began with 450 farmers and is now expected to grow to 4,000 by 2024.
To maximize environmental protections in rubber sourcing, Continental defined a clear sourcing policy and employs third-party partners to evaluate suppliers. For example, since 2017, Continental has worked with EcoVadis, a provider of sustainability ratings for companies and global supply chains.
Find out more, visit www.continental-truck.com.
