Continental, the premium tire manufacturer, has announced a significant step forward in its sustainability journey with its tire plant in Sarreguemines, France, receiving the internationally recognized International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS.
The ISCC PLUS certification is a globally respected standard that verifies a company's adherence to stringent documentation requirements regarding the use of renewable and recycled raw materials. Crucially, it also confirms the complete and transparent traceability of these materials throughout the production process. For Continental, this means a verified end-to-end tracking of materials sourced from renewable and recycled origins.
The certification process rigorously assessed the plant’s compliance with and documentation of specific processes for the mass balance of raw materials. The mass balance approach is a critical tool in this transition, allowing for the mixing of fossil, renewable, and recycled raw materials within existing systems. By meticulously tracking the quantities used throughout the entire value chain, these materials can be proportionately allocated at any given point. This methodology empowers Continental to progressively increase the proportion of more sustainable materials in its products while ensuring accurate reporting of certified material balances.
Established in 2010 through a multi-stakeholder initiative, the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) stands as a leading global certification system dedicated to promoting traceable, sustainable, deforestation-free, and climate-friendly supply chains. Its certifications are universally recognized and encompass a wide array of sustainable inputs like agricultural biomass, biogenic waste and residues, non-biological renewable materials, and recycled carbon-based materials.
Continental has been actively increasing its use of mass balance-certified materials in tire production since the beginning of this year. Notable examples include synthetic rubbers derived from bio-based and bio-circular raw materials, as well as carbon black partially produced using oil from circular processes, showcasing the tangible impact of these certifications.
Since its inception, the Sarreguemines plant, has manufactured over 330 million tires. A significant recent achievement in the plant's sustainable development was the implementation of the innovative ContiRe.Tex technology in 2024. This groundbreaking technology repurposes PET bottles that would otherwise go unrecycled, spinning them into high-quality polyester yarn without any intermediate chemical steps. This yarn is specifically engineered to withstand the demanding stresses within a tire, further solidifying Continental's commitment to a circular economy. The ISCC PLUS certification of the Sarreguemines plant represents a crucial step in Continental’s journey toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future in tire manufacturing.
