Continental has been named ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ at the prestigious Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, marking a major achievement in the company’s sustainability efforts. In addition to this top honor, Continental’s tire production facility in Lousado, Portugal, was also recognized for its CO2-neutral production, making it the only company to win two awards in the same year.
These accolades include the ‘Environmental Achievement of the Year – Manufacturing’ award, highlighting Continental’s leadership in eco-conscious manufacturing. The awards were presented during the Tire Technology Expo on March 4 in Hanover, a key event in the global tire industry.
“We are especially proud to be the only manufacturer to win twice at these awards in such a competitive field,” said Edwin Goudswaard, Head of Research and Development at Continental Tires. “These recognitions underscore our unwavering commitment to sustainable tire development and manufacturing. In such a competitive market, this success demonstrates our innovation and leadership in shaping the future of the industry.”
The competition for ‘Tire Manufacturer of the Year’ was intense, with Continental surpassing rivals from the USA, Italy, and France. This victory marks the fourth time Continental has received this prestigious title, having previously won in 2022.
As sustainability becomes a central focus in the tire industry, the 27-member jury of independent experts acknowledged Continental’s continued progress toward sustainability. Key projects that influenced the decision include the increased use of sustainable materials such as recycled PET bottles at Continental plants, the expansion of the Rayong plant in Thailand to meet top energy-efficiency standards, and the certification of its Lousado, Puchóv, and Hefei plants under the ISCC-PLUS sustainability certification.
Continental’s commitment to sustainability was also highlighted by its top ranking in the ‘Environmental Achievement of the Year – Tire Design’ category for the production of the UltraContact NXT tire in 2024. This year, the company’s Lousado plant was recognized for its efforts to implement a CO2-neutral production process.
Since 2024, the plant has been testing an innovative method to produce tires without emitting CO2, using a fully electric steam boiler powered by solar energy and renewable energy from the grid. The steam is crucial for the vulcanization process, where raw rubber is transformed into the flexible material used in tires. Historically, this process relied on natural gas to generate steam.
With a production capacity of 18 million tires per year, the Lousado plant is one of Continental’s largest facilities. The company is aiming to transition all of its tire plants to carbon-neutral production processes by 2040.
The Tire Technology International Awards have been recognizing cutting-edge innovations in tire technology since 2008, with categories that highlight major advances in creating a more sustainable tire industry.
