Continental has been awarded the prestigious ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ title at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, a significant achievement for the company’s commitment to sustainability. The company’s tire production plant in Lousado, Portugal, was also recognized for its CO2-neutral manufacturing process, making Continental the only company to win two awards in 2024.
“We are proud to be the only manufacturer to win two awards this year in such a competitive field,” said Edwin Goudswaard, Head of Research and Development at Continental Tires. “These honors emphasize our dedication to sustainable tire production. In a competitive industry, this recognition highlights our innovation and leadership in shaping the future of tire manufacturing.”
Continental outperformed competitors from the USA, Italy, and France to win the coveted ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ award. This is the fourth time Continental has claimed this title, having previously won in 2022.
Sustainability is a growing priority in the tire industry, and the 27-member jury of independent experts praised Continental’s continuous progress in this area. Notable initiatives include the increased use of sustainable materials, such as recycled PET bottles, at Continental plants, and the expansion of its Rayong plant in Thailand to meet high energy-efficiency standards. Additionally, Continental’s Lousado, Puchóv, and Hefei plants have earned ISCC-PLUS sustainability certifications.
In another sustainability achievement, Continental topped the ‘Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design’ category for its UltraContact NXT tire in 2024. The company’s Lousado plant was also recognized for implementing a CO2-neutral tire production process.
Since 2024, the Lousado plant has been testing a groundbreaking method for tire production that eliminates CO2 emissions. This process uses a fully electric steam boiler powered by solar energy and renewable energy from the grid. The steam is essential for the vulcanization process, where raw rubber is transformed into the flexible material used in tires. Traditionally, this process relied on natural gas.
With an annual production capacity of 18 million tires, the Lousado plant is one of Continental’s largest. The company plans to transition all its tire plants to carbon-neutral production by 2040.
The Tire Technology International Awards have been honoring advancements in tire technology since 2008, with categories that emphasize innovations for a more sustainable tire industry.
