• Continental targets lower environmental impact with innovative measurement methods and eco-friendly tire technologies.
• New research on tire wear particles aims to improve environmental impact assessments and reduce emissions.
• COKOON adhesion technology eliminates harmful chemicals in textile reinforcement for tire production.

Continental’s Sustainability Drive

Hanover, Germany – Continental will showcase four key technical presentations at the Tire Technology Expo 2025 from March 4-6 in Hanover. The focus: reducing the environmental footprint of tires and advancing sustainable solutions.

Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires, and Prof. Burkhard Wies, Head of Applied Research and Innovation, will kick off the event with insights into Continental’s sustainability strategy.

“Continental is pursuing eager sustainability ambitions. But in the rapidly evolving tire industry, we also know that certain overarching issues can only be solved collectively,” says Wies.

Breakthrough Research on Tire Wear Particles

Continental partnered with the Technical University of Braunschweig to develop a new method for analyzing tire wear emissions in real conditions. The study, funded by the German Ministry of Science and Culture, introduces a real-time airborne particle analysis system to better assess environmental impact. Dr. Benjamin Oelze, Continental’s Group Leader for Tire Wear Test Methods, will present these findings at the expo.

New Energy Loss Testing Technology

Energy efficiency is critical in tire production. Prof. Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, Continental’s material evaluation expert, will introduce a next-generation rebound testing device that measures hysteresis losses in milliseconds, helping to improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon emissions.

Related Article: Continental Appoints Anne Windberg Baarup as Head of Sustainability for Industrial Business

Eco-Friendly Adhesion Innovation: COKOON

Continental and Kordsa, a global supplier of textile reinforcement materials, have developed COKOON, a bonding system that eliminates resorcinol and formaldehyde—harmful chemicals previously used in tire production.

“Cross-divisional research projects, exchanges of expertise, and the pooling of know-how form the foundation for this,” says Wies.

Continental has made COKOON an open-source solution, offering it license-free to the entire tire industry. Dr. Cornelia Schmaunz-Hirsch (Continental) and Dr. Yasin Sen (Kordsa) will highlight its environmental and industrial benefits.

Looking Ahead

Continental aims for carbon-neutral production at all tire plants by 2040, leveraging scientifically validated solutions to drive sustainability in the industry.

Continental’s latest advancements signal a significant push toward greener tire technologies, reinforcing its commitment to industry-wide collaboration and eco-friendly innovation.

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