By Sharad Matade

As part of its sustainability efforts, Continental aims at using at least ten percent of natural rubber derived from Russian dandelion roots in its tyre and industrial rubber goods production in future.

“We have undertaken a huge research task to meet ten percent of our requirement of natural rubber from dandelion roots. It is a long-term process,” Dr Carla Recker, Head of Expertfield Materials Chemistry & Taraxagum, told Tyre Trends in an interview. “It will take decades to complement natural rubber from Hevea brasiliensis with natural rubber from dandelion plants at an industrialised level. However, the company does not intend to replace NR from Hevea brasiliensis trees.”

According to Dr Carsten Venz, Site Manager at Taraxagum Lab Anklam, “Dandelion will be an additional source of natural rubber, not a replacement to rubber trees, in the coming years.”

Continental has been consequent on the cultivation and processing of Russian dandelion as an alternative source of raw material to the rubber tree in the tropics. Last year, the company officially opened its research and test laboratory named Taraxagum Lab Anklam in Anklam, Germany, a base for its future research into the cultivation and processing of Russian dandelion, within a year after the ground-breaking ceremony held in November 2017.

“The Taraxagum Lab Anklam is the latest key milestone of our project,” said Dr Recker.

The Taraxagum project is crucial for the company. “The natural rubber from dandelion is important to develop a new alternative and sustainable supply of the raw material” Dr Venz said.

On bicycle tyres

Though the lab was opened last year, Continental started working on the dandelion rubber project in 2011, and the company has already used rubber from dandelion roots in its passenger car tyres, truck tyres and industrial rubber goods. “The latest development on production-side is that we have industrialised bicycle tyres with rubber derived from dandelions. So, you can now buy bicycle tyres of Continental made of dandelion rubber in the market,” Dr Recker said. Continental showcased its first bicycle tyre with dandelion rubber at the Tour de France this year.

Currently, the Taraxagum lab is working on dandelion research, and over the next five to ten years, it will focus on the industrialisation of dandelion rubber and increase the share for the dandelion rubber in its products.

“Continental sees the Russian dandelion as one element of our commitment for sustainable natural rubber as detailed in our Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy published in October 2018. At least for us, the Russian dandelion is the most promising alternative source for natural rubber. There might be different sources (to get natural rubber), but that does not fit for us. The Russian dandelion can be grown in different climate zones unlike natural rubber from heave brasiliensis trees which need tropical climates to grow. Rubber trees and the Russian dandelion have the same characteristics, the same chemical structure and the same properties. It is just two plants producing the same material,” says Dr Recker. The advantage of dandelion rubber over rubber from trees is that the former has a generation succession of just three months as compared to seven years for the latter.

Since the dandelion plants can be cultivated in Northern and Western Europe, which makes transportation routes to the European production sites much shorter and contributes to the sustainable use of existing resources, thinks Continental.

However, the major challenge will be the 100 percent replacement of rubber made from trees with dandelion rubber. Dr Recker thinks, yes, technically, dandelion can replace tree rubber by 100 percent, but the more significant challenge will be the industrialisation of dandelion rubber to the level of rubber trees. “We are at a research stage. The amount of dandelion available globally is not enough to replace natural rubber commercially. To create that biological system to industrialise the natural rubber from the dandelion will take some time and we will have to be more patient,” says Dr Recker.

Research is a time and capital consuming task. Synthetic rubber is also coming into tyre production in a more significant way, but the crude oil derived commodity has historically been volatile, and even oil-producing nations are diversifying their businesses citing falling productions and growing focus on cleaner options.

Dandelion rubber is not new to the tyre industry; however, the industry does not seem much keen on dandelion plants as an alternative source for natural rubber. “Not everybody (tyre company) is willing to invest in the early research of dandelion rubber and setting up the entire bio-economy. You have to establish a full value chain from breeding to the production of natural rubber from dandelion plants, which is does not exist yet and not every market player is willing to invest in such a long-term process,” explains Dr Recker.

Since Continental sees dandelion a sustaining resource for natural rubber in the future, it has made a substantial investment for the project. It has already poured in 35 million euros for the project. “Though many of our peers are investing in other resources to get natural rubber, I think we are quite unique investing like the way we are to explore alternative resources for natural rubber,” says Dr Venz.

Over 90 percent of natural rubber derives from South East Asia, a tropical region suitable for natural rubber trees. However, erratic climate behaviour is hitting production of natural rubber in this region. Natural rubber producers are also exploring other areas to grow natural rubber trees. According to Dr Recker, the research project has yet to ascertain the survival scope of the Russian dandelion in changing climates. “I believe that Dandelion will grow in all climate zones,” says Dr Recker.

Yield ratio

As of now, Continental also does not have comparable yield ratios between natural rubber from dandelion and hevea brasiliensis. “We are working on determining the output of natural rubber per acre from both resources,” says Dr Venz. “Usually, between 1 and 1.8 ton per hectare per year is produced from rubber trees, and around the same amount of production per hectare we are expecting from dandelion plants,” estimates Dr Recker.

As part of the value chain creation, the company is focusing on breeding for seed production and harvesting, root production and harvesting, and the extraction process. According to the company, growers also need some time to understand and get hands-on to harvest dandelion plants. Every year climate conditions will determine a different impact on the plants. “We will need to see how the crops will react in different climate and harvesting seasons. We are building a network of farmers in North East Germany from whom we learn and whom we can teach what we have learned,” added Dr Recker.

Fundamental design and development of tires for the mobility of the future will be unchanged; however, tires will be expected to be high performance and eco-friendly. According to Continental executives, for the mobility of the future, natural rubber will remain the core ingredient and dandelion will be one of the sustainable options to provide natural rubber. “Rubber be will be used in future to make high-performance tires, and we are exploring the option to have a sustainable source for natural rubber,” adds Dr Recker.

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Pirelli has been reconfirmed as the global leader in the Auto Components and Automobiles sectors within the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class World and Europe indices, formerly known as the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. The tyre manufacturer achieved this distinction based on its performance in the 2025 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

Pirelli, which remains the only tyre company featured in both the World and Europe indices, secured a score of 86 points. This result is the highest among all companies in both the Auto Components and Automobiles categories and far exceeds the sector averages of 34 points for auto components and 37 points for automobiles.

The company earned maximum scores across multiple criteria, including Business Ethics, commitment to Human Rights, Occupational Health and Safety programmes, supply chain ESG assessment and environmental management related to water, waste and energy. Additional top scores were recorded for biodiversity protection and Pirelli’s verified pathway towards its Net Zero by 2040 target, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

This latest recognition follows Pirelli’s reconfirmation in February 2026 as the only tyre manufacturer worldwide included in the Top 1 percent of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026. Originally launched in 1999 as the first global best‑in‑class sustainability benchmark series, the S&P Dow Jones indices now cover 62 business sectors and assess more than 12,000 companies annually across regional and global levels.

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice President Sustainability, New Mobility and Motorsport of Pirelli, said, “The confirmation of Pirelli at the top of the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class indices is a testament to the solidity of a journey built on industrial innovation and responsibility across the entire value chain. This approach is embedded in our strategic and operational decisions, from technology to processes, from supplier management to the protection of people and contributes to strengthening the Group’s competitiveness while supporting its long‑term growth.”

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Shalva Akhvlediani, the Executive Director of Tegeta Green Planet, appeared on Radio Ucnobi on 15 April 2026, alongside Giorgi Guliashvili, Chairman of Wasteless. The broadcast focused on transforming waste into a resource, a key principle of the modern circular economy.

The discussion highlighted the necessity of properly managing automotive waste, especially end-of-life tyres, while addressing environmental and economic challenges in Georgia and worldwide. The guests argued that tyres should no longer be viewed as purely hazardous waste, as modern technologies and circular economy models can turn them into valuable materials for various industries.

A significant point of interest was rubber-modified asphalt. The speakers reviewed international practices and the potential for adopting this technology in Georgia, noting its proven durability, noise reduction benefits and ability to enhance road infrastructure while minimising environmental harm. The conversation also acknowledged local progress in sustainable road development.

As a follow-up, the guests referenced the GRAS 2026 conference, held in Tbilisi on 16 March 2026 and organised by Tegeta Green Planet and Wasteless. The event united local and international experts, private sector leaders and policymakers to discuss innovative technologies and circular economy applications. The conference served as a key platform for environmental awareness, demonstrating that the circular economy represents both an ecological duty and a basis for new economic opportunities and sustainable growth.

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DUNLOP’s natural rubber procurement subsidiary, SUMITOMO RUBBER SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., which operates as part of the supply chain partner Halcyon Agri Corporation Ltd., has been leading a major sustainability effort in Indonesia. Together with its Indonesian subsidiary PT Hok Tong, the Singapore-based producer and distributor launched the Traceability and Transparency Pilot Project, also known as the SNR Project, in South Sumatra in 2022. The initiative was designed to directly support smallholder natural rubber farmers in the region.

The project has successfully raised natural rubber productivity while simultaneously improving the earnings of local farmers. By enabling growers to achieve a stable income on existing farmland, the initiative has reduced pressure to expand agricultural areas. This outcome has contributed meaningfully to curbing deforestation that would otherwise result from farm expansion, demonstrating positive environmental and economic results for the DUNLOP Group’s sustainable procurement efforts.

Natural capital, including natural rubber, is recognised by the DUNLOP Group as an essential foundation for its sustainable business activities. Following the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, the group has assessed its dependence on and impact upon natural capital, along with associated risks and opportunities. Continuing to use natural rubber as a sustainable resource has been identified as a major management objective for the future.

Most natural rubber production is carried out by smallholders rather than large plantations, and insufficient knowledge of cultivation and processing methods can lead to lower productivity and unstable incomes. These factors also risk driving farm expansion and deforestation, as well as creating social issues in production areas. To address these challenges, the DUNLOP Group undertakes support activities aimed at improving smallholder productivity and living standards.

In collaboration with Halcyon Agri, support focused on enhancing traceability, transparency and producer welfare in South Sumatra. Using RubberWay, a risk assessment tool for natural rubber, the project identified risks related to wage levels and agricultural practices. Over roughly three years from 2022 to 2025, including a pandemic-related suspension, more than 1,000 farmers received assistance through field investigations, raw material distribution mapping, productivity training, fertilisers and guidance on fertilisation. As a result, natural rubber yield increased by up to about 19 percent, and farmers’ earnings rose by approximately 25 percent in the target region.

Halcyon Agri commented: “At Halcyon Agri, we believe that the long-term resilience of the natural rubber industry is closely linked to the well-being of smallholder farmers. Through our subsidiary, PT Hok Tong, and in partnership with DUNLOP, we are advancing a CSR programme in Jambi Province to strengthen farmer capabilities through training, agricultural inputs and on-the-ground support. We are honoured to collaborate with DUNLOP, whose strong commitment and investment have been instrumental in enabling this initiative. Through this partnership, we aim to enhance productivity, improve livelihoods and promote sustainable practices across the supply chain. We believe this collaboration will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the natural rubber industry and create meaningful value for all stakeholders.”

Mulyono, a farmer who received support, said, “After the application of fertilisers, the leaves and bark of a rubber tree showed clear improvements in their conditions, and the health states of the entire tree improved. The leaves became even greener, and the bark became thinner, which made tapping easier. As a result, the rubber yield increased from approximately 100 kg to around 125–130 kg. Support from Halcyon Agri and DUNLOP has led to the improvement of our livelihood, and we expect a project like this to continue in the future.”

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Bridgestone is broadening its winter truck tyre offering with the introduction of the Duravis Winter Drive, a new premium product designed specifically for mild European winter conditions. The tyre aims to help commercial fleets lower operational downtime and total cost of ownership by delivering extended mileage, better fuel efficiency and dependable winter traction.

The newly launched Duravis Winter Drive achieves a 15 percent mileage improvement over its predecessor, the Bridgestone RW-DRIVE 001.1, alongside a three percent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the previous generation. These enhancements allow fleets to cut both fuel consumption and carbon emissions while maintaining reliable snow traction throughout the tyre’s entire lifecycle, thereby minimising the risk of weather-related vehicle downtime.

Key performance gains are enabled by a fresh pattern design, a tailored compound and the integration of Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology, a next-generation suite that delivers customised and uncompromised tyre performance while boosting sustainability. Additional engineering features include new sipes geometry for improved traction until end of life, a higher contact area, increased tread depth and variable groove angles to extend wear life and mileage. Interlocking centre ribs further reduce rolling resistance and enhance fuel efficiency.

To support sustainable fleet management, the Duravis Winter Drive is engineered for regroovability and multiple retreads, extending tyre lifespan, reducing waste and lowering operational costs. Its retreadable design also aids fleets in cutting environmental impact. The tyre comes with integrated RFID for digital readiness and is designed for year-round use. Availability begins in size 315/80 R22.5 from May 2026, with additional sizes rolling out in August 2026.

Waqqas Ahmad, VP Commercial, Bridgestone EMEA, said, “Now more than ever, European fleets need both predictable, reliable performance and solutions that can help reduce operational costs. That’s why we’ve engineered a tyre that consistently and efficiently performs from the very first kilometre to the last. The Duravis Winter Drive is built to keep vehicles running and help fleets stay on the move with confidence.”

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