Continental Unveils Sustainable Tire Innovations At Expo

As the world's automotive sector ups the pace to transition towards sustainability, Continental is leading the charge with innovative solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of tire manufacturing. At the Tire Technology Expo 2025, held in Hanover from March 4-6, the firm will showcase four core technical developments to lower emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and implement eco-friendly materials in tire production.

The conference will kick off with the perspectives of Jorge Almeida, Sustainability Head at Continental Tires, and Prof. Burkhard Wies, Applied Research and Innovation Head, who will present the sustainability strategy of the company. They will emphasize Continental's ambitious sustainability targets and the need for collaboration across the industry to tackle pressing sustainability issues.

"Continental is chasing ambitious sustainability goals. But in the fast-changing tire industry, we are also aware that some overall problems can only be addressed together," Wies added, highlighting the company's intent to collaborate with research centers and industry partners in order to facilitate sustainable change.

Breakthrough Research on Tire Wear Particles

One of the main fields of interest for Continental is emissions from tire wear, which result in environmental contamination. In partnership with the Technical University of Braunschweig, the firm has created an innovative technique to examine tire wear particles in realistic conditions. The study, supported by the German Ministry of Science and Culture, presents a real-time airborne particle analysis system, enabling a more accurate evaluation of tire wear's impact on the environment.

Dr. Benjamin Oelze, Group Leader of Tire Wear Test Methods at Continental, will reveal the findings of the study at the expo. The novel measurement method provides a better insight into how tire particles disperse in various environments, allowing the industry to come up with solutions that reduce their environmental impact.

Improving Energy Efficiency with New Testing Technology

Reducing fuel consumption is another key part of sustainable tire manufacturing. Continental will unveil a next-generation rebound testing device for measuring hysteresis losses in milliseconds. Hysteresis—the energy lost as heat when a tire deforms and recovers shape—has a direct effect on rolling resistance and, by extension, vehicle fuel consumption.

Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, Continental's materials testing expert, will demonstrate how this innovative test technology improves the capability to calibrate tire compounds for lower energy loss. Through optimizing this aspect, the company hopes to make a contribution toward lower carbon emissions and better energy efficiency in the automotive industry.

Eco-Friendly Adhesion Innovation: COKOON

Another key highlight of Continental's drive for sustainability is its groundbreaking COKOON bonding technology, which was co-developed with Kordsa, a top textile reinforcement material supplier. Conventionally, tire manufacturing has used chemical adhesives based on resorcinol and formaldehyde—both hazardous to the environment and human health. COKOON breaks away from the use of such harmful chemicals, substituting them with a less toxic and more sustainable option.

The technology is not only an eco-friendly innovation but also a reflection of Continental's dedication to sectoral advancement. Contrary to closed proprietary technologies, which are limited to a particular company, COKOON is an open-source technology provided license-free to the entire tire industry. The action promotes widespread usage and ensures that advancements in sustainability reach the entire sector and not just a single manufacturer.

Dr. Cornelia Schmaunz-Hirsch of Continental and Dr. Yasin Sen of Kordsa will talk about the environmental and industrial benefits of COKOON at the expo and bring to the limelight how this revolutionary technology is redefining the tire-making future.

Continental's Long-Term Sustainability Vision

Peeking over these developments, Continental has ambitious environmental objectives, such as reaching carbon-neutral production at every one of its tire factories by 2040. The corporation is actively embracing scientifically proven solutions to its production processes, where its sustainability activities are supported by robust research and evidence-based decision-making.

Through ongoing technology improvements, strategic partnerships, and making its breakthroughs available to the wider industry, Continental is becoming a champion of sustainable tire manufacturing. Its latest innovations are a major leap toward a cleaner future, supporting its position in the global initiative toward environmentally sound automotive solutions.

As the Tire Technology Expo 2025 draws near, industry players and stakeholders will closely observe how Continental's innovations forge the future of tire production. With a vision in mind and tangible progress, the company is demonstrating that technology and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, but can complement each other to create a greener, more efficient tire industry.