Continental is increasing its use of recycled materials in tyre manufacturing, with more facilities now using polyester fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. This initiative has raised the recycled content in several tyre lines by an average of thee percent. Depending on the tyre size, up to 15 PET bottles can be used in a single tyre, conserving valuable resources.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle – this trio is key to more sustainable tyres “, says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle – this trio is key to more sustainable tyres. Wherever possible, we use recycled materials while maintaining our highest quality standards,” says Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability at Continental Tires. “Our polyester yarn made from recycled PET bottles is just as strong as conventional polyester yarn. This shows that sustainability, performance, and safety go hand in hand at Continental.

The company’s ContiRe.Tex technology, unveiled in late 2021, processes PET bottles that would otherwise go unrecycled. These bottles are spun into high-performance polyester yarn without intermediate chemical treatments, producing materials robust enough to meet the demands of tyre manufacturing.

Since 2022, this technology has been used on a limited scale at Continental’s tyre plants in Lousado, Portugal, and Otrokovice, Czech Republic. Recently, facilities in Korbach, Germany, and Sarreguemines, France, have also adopted recycled PET in series production.

Ambitious sustainability goals

The transition to sustainable materials aligns with Continental’s broader sustainability strategy. The company aims to increase the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in its tyres to over 40% by 2030. By then, all new car and light truck tyres are expected to feature high-performance polyester fibres made entirely from sustainable PET.

At present, an average passenger tyre contains 15–20 percent recycled and renewable materials. By 2050, Continental plans for all its new tyres to be made from 100 percent sustainable materials.

Turning waste into high-quality materials

Continental’s use of recycled PET is part of a broader effort to replace raw materials with sustainable alternatives. Textile fabrics made from recycled polyester enhance the strength, flexibility, and durability of tyres, with performance matching that of materials derived from crude oil.

In addition to recycled PET, Continental is exploring other sustainable materials, including bio-based and chemically recycled PET. Agricultural by-products, such as rice husk ash, rubber from dandelions and recycled rubber, are also being tested for future use.

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Pirelli has officially communicated to all Formula 1 teams the tyre compound selections for the upcoming Dutch, Spanish and Italian Grands Prix. The Italian manufacturer has opted for the medium-range C2, C3 and C4 compounds for the events at Zandvoort and the new Madrid circuit, while the Monza race will see the softest available tyres, the C3, C4 and C5, deployed.

For the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Pirelli has confirmed the same compound choice as the previous year. The coastal circuit is defined by its medium and low-speed corners, including two banked turns, which place significant vertical and lateral loads on the tyres and demand high aerodynamic downforce. The track surface itself offers low inherent grip, a challenge compounded by sand from the nearby beaches being blown onto the asphalt, further affecting tyre performance.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza presents a contrasting challenge, with its recently resurfaced track encouraging teams to run low-downforce configurations. The pit lane loss time for a tyre change is among the highest of the season, incentivising teams to extend stints and manage degradation to achieve a one-stop race. However, the potential for high ambient temperatures could complicate this strategy, making tyre management more difficult.

Making its debut on the calendar as the Spanish Grand Prix, the semi-permanent street circuit in Madrid features 22 highly varied corners, significant elevation changes and the longest banked turn in the championship. Simulations indicate that the loads on the tyres are comparable to those at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Consequently, Pirelli’s selection of the medium-range compounds is designed to favour a two-stop strategy and offer greater protection against overheating, a risk to which the softer C5 compound would be particularly vulnerable in warm conditions.

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Vittoria has unveiled The Quest, a 25-minute technical documentary that grants unprecedented access to its factories, laboratories and production lines. The film meticulously answers what defines a world-class bicycle tyre by examining every facet of the Corsa PRO, the brand’s premier road racing tyre trusted by top WorldTour teams. From raw material sourcing and premium cotton casing construction to advanced compound development, the film chronicles the tyre’s complete journey.

Extensive laboratory testing and real-world validation alongside professional squads are featured, alongside the human expertise driving the process. The documentary also follows the tyre from natural rubber to test tracks and ultimately to the tarmac of cycling’s most prestigious races. Created for enthusiasts seeking deeper understanding over traditional advertising, the content reflects a growing consumer appetite for educational, long-form narratives.

Now available on Vittoria’s official YouTube channel, the film aligns with modern viewing habits on smart TVs and connected home platforms. By sharing the passion and knowledge behind each Corsa PRO, Vittoria responds to evolving rider trends with meaningful storytelling that respects viewers’ intelligence and time.

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The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has achieved the highest possible rating in the latest CDP Supplier Engagement Assessment, securing an ‘A’ score for its climate-related collaboration with vendors. This recognition from the global environmental disclosure organisation places the tyre manufacturer in the leadership tier for its supply chain emissions management.

The CDP evaluation scrutinises how corporations involve suppliers in climate strategy, focusing on emissions targets, Scope 3 greenhouse gases and cooperative initiatives. Goodyear’s top-tier score underscores its systematic approach to integrating environmental performance into procurement and partnership frameworks.

Central to this achievement is the company’s focus on value-chain emissions, supporting formal climate commitments. The firm has established science-based milestones for 2030 and a net-zero ambition for 2050. Goodyear initiated a supplier programme in 2023, mandating science-based target-setting, renewable energy adoption and transparent progress reporting from raw material providers.

The engagement strategy includes impact analyses by material type, customised development roadmaps and performance evaluations. Through structured assessments, Goodyear deepens understanding of vendor sustainability, identifies improvement areas and fosters collaboration on shared climate objectives throughout the production ecosystem.

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BKT Tires’ Waluj Plant has secured two Gold Awards for Manufacturing Innovation at the Quality Circle Forum of India’s TQM Convention 2026, hosted at the Quality Circle Excellence Centre in Pune. The recognition came in the Case Study presentation segment, where the plant’s entries stood out among a competitive field.

The awards were selected from a pool of 132 case studies, presented by 481 participants representing 38 different organisations. This achievement highlights the Waluj facility’s technical proficiency and its sustained focus on problem-solving, process optimisation and employee-driven improvements. The twin honours reflect the teams’ persistent dedication and ingenuity, reinforcing the plant’s reputation for operational resilience and manufacturing excellence.

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