The Continental tyre plant in Hefei, China, has recently become the company’s latest production site to receive the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS sustainability certification. 

The globally recognised standard certifies that Continental meets specific sustainability standards. It also confirms the transparency of the traceability of the raw materials used in the production process. Certification of the raw materials enables Continental to ensure the end-to-end traceability of the materials from sustainable sources. For the premium tyre manufacturer, this is a further step on the way to 100 percent sustainable materials in its products by 2050 at the latest.

Jorge Almeida, Head of Sustainability Tires at Continental said, "We are increasing the proportion of renewable and recyclable materials in our tyres. We use the principle of mass balance to enable sustainable materials and technologies to ramp-up, while generating the needed transparency and accountability regarding our progress. This is confirmed by the internationally recognised ISCC PLUS certification. Our aim is to gradually roll out the mass-balance approach to all our tyre plants worldwide."

The company says the certification was based on fulfilling and documenting certain raw material mass balancing procedures. The mass-balance approach mixes fossil, renewable and recycled raw materials in existing systems and processes. The quantities used are tracked along the entire value chain and can therefore be allocated proportionately at any time. The mass-balance approach enables Continental to gradually increase the proportion of sustainable materials in its products. It ensures that the balance of certified sustainable materials can be accurately reported.

Xiaoji Wang, Head of Continental tyre plant in Hefei, China said, "The certification proves the high quality of all of our work processes, from the procurement of certified raw materials to the transportation of the finished tyre. Our Hefei plant meets the strict certification requirements of ISCC PLUS, including raw material traceability and compliance with environmental standards. This certification underlines our commitment to sustainable processes along the entire value chain."

Complete traceability 

ISCC PLUS is an internationally recognised voluntary certification system. It is applicable to the bioeconomy and circular economy and certifies non-conventional raw materials that can be used, for example, in the areas of foodstuffs, animal feed, chemicals, plastics, packaging and textiles. The various criteria required for ISCC PLUS certification include the traceability of raw materials, compliance with environmental standards, the protection of ecosystems, ensuring compliance with labour and human rights and the promotion of sustainable economic development.

The UltraContact NXT the most sustainable serial tyre from Continental, uses mass-balance-certified materials. For example, synthetic rubber made from bio-based and bio-circular raw materials or carbon black, which is produced in part using oil from circular processes. It is manufactured at the tyre plant in Lousado.

Continental says it is working intensively to switch as many raw materials as possible in production to sustainable materials. Raw materials that could be used in tyre production in the future include agricultural waste such as the ash from rice husks, rubber from dandelions, recycled rubber or PET bottles.

The certification of the Continental plants in Hefei, China, and Lousado, Portugal, is an important milestone in Continental’s efforts to use more than 40 percent renewable and recycled materials in its tyres by 2030 and to become completely climate-neutral by 2050. By 2050 at the latest, all new tyres from Continental are to be made entirely from sustainable materials.

Continental’s Hefei tyre plant, located in the Nangang Tech Park of Hefei’s High-Tech Zone, was inaugurated in September 2009 and today covers a total area of 667,000 square meters. The company has been producing tyres for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles for the Chinese market and other markets in the Asia-Pacific region since 2011. The plant has also been producing two-wheel tyres since 2012.

As part of a strategic effort to increase its presence in the region's premium original equipment (OE) market, Kumho Tire has confirmed its plans to establish its first tyre production facility in Europe by 2027.

The company has shortlisted Poland, Serbia and Portugal as possible locations for the plant, which is projected to need an investment of more than KRW1 trillion (USD 705 million). The decision is closely linked to Kumho’s ambition to strengthen its partnerships with European automakers and was revealed by Kumho Tire CEO during the South Korean premiere of Kumho's new Ecsta Sport tyre line.

Kumho has recently secured OE supply contracts with major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen Group. At the moment, Kumho runs eight tyre production plants in China, Vietnam, South Korea and the US. Its capacity to compete in the premium OE market, however, has come to be perceived as being constrained by the absence of a European production base. Through the benefits of local production, the new facility will improve response to European client requests, save freight costs and shorten delivery times, all of which will strengthen the company's partnerships.

Sentury Tire USA has opened pre-enrolment for its two associate dealer programmes (ADPs), the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program and the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program, underscoring the company’s commitment to rewarding dedication and partnership to the Landsail and Delinte brands.

The ADPs, which are customised for each brand and intended to encourage dealers, will formally start on 1 June 2025. Both programmes give dealers access to special benefits, incentives and strong tools to help them expand their businesses. This involves dependable customer service, effective marketing and worthwhile financial incentives to promote dealers' success at every stage.

Beginning in Q3, dealers may earn up to USD three per tyre through the Delinte HYPERDRIVE Associate Dealer Program. Dealers can receive retroactive benefits for purchases completed in Q2 if they register before 1 June. The awards are available for all Delinte PTR, LTR and the new DV3 LMD AS last-mile delivery tyres. For all Landsail PTR and LTR tyres, independent dealers that sign up for the Landsail Elyte Associate Dealer Program can also earn up to USD three per tyre. For customers who sign up by June 1, the new LMD 100 AS last-mile delivery is also eligible for the benefits and will get the same early bird incentive for Q2 2025.

No initial order is necessary. Dealers only need to register to begin making money. According to the monthly programme rewards structure, 48 tyre purchases each month are eligible for a reward of USD one per tyre, 120 tyres are eligible for a reward of USD two per tyre and 240 or more tyres are eligible for a reward of USD three per tyre.

ENSO, a London-based tyre manufacturer engaged in the production of sustainable tyres specially designed for electric vehicles (EVs), has launched its new ENSO Premium range of EV-specific ultra-high-performance (UHP) tyres aimed at drivers of high-performance EVs such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Specifically designed for electric passenger vehicles, the ENSO Premium range comes with A/A EU-label ratings for both energy efficiency and wet grip. The tyres are designed to provide safety, increased range and a reduced total cost of ownership. Conventional tyre designs frequently fall short of the special performance needs of electric vehicles, which include greater vehicle weight, regenerative braking and higher torque loads. By lowering tyre wear and rolling resistance, ENSO Premium takes care of these issues.

The company is an authorised provider of replacement tyres for LEVC's electric taxis and has partnered with Uber to install its tyres in high-mileage metropolitan areas. The company now plans to grow throughout Europe and North America, and with ENSO Premium, it is now offering its services to individual EV owners throughout the United Kingdom. According to ENSO, the range offers advantages including longer tyre life and fewer replacements, lower energy usage, fewer charging stops and lower CO₂ emissions and tyre particle pollution.

Gunnlaugur Erlendsson, CEO and Co-Founder, ENSO, said, “We’re plugging a long-standing gap in the tyre market by offering EV drivers a purpose-built, affordable, premium EV tyre alternative that matches the innovation of their EV.”

Kraton Corporation, a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value bio-based products derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has announced a general price hike in North America for its SBS, SIS and HSBC product lines with effect from 1 May 2025.

Following a careful analysis of the effects of recently implemented tariffs, related cost increases and a conclusion that the company cannot independently absorb these repercussions, Kraton is adopting these pricing hikes, according to a company statement. The company further said that it will keep an eye on the scene and reassess these measures promptly in the event that conditions and US import tariffs alter.