Continental announced the complete elimination of coal and fuel oil as energy sources in tire production. Since January of this year, all of the company’s plants have switched to alternative energy sources such as biomass, biogas, electricity from renewable energy sources, and fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas, with the goal of ensuring a constant energy supply .
“By opting for a smart mix of energy sources, increasingly renewable and, where possible, generated directly on site, we are making our manufacturing more independent and, therefore, more resilient,” said Bernhard Trilken, Director of Manufacturing and Logistics at Continental Tires.
For his part, Henning Mühlenstedt, Director of Future Technologies and Sustainable Infrastructure at Continental Tires, highlighted that the reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is the result of continuous investments in electrification and alternative sources .
Until the early 2020s, seven of the company’s 19 plants relied on coal and fuel oil to generate steam. Currently, all operate with a diversified mix of alternative sources , the result of systematic investment.
According to the tire manufacturer, the greenhouse gas intensity of its production has been reduced by more than 70% compared to 2019, avoiding nearly 180,000 metric tons of CO₂ in the last four years .
The energy transition is reflected in various of the company’s plants . In Gqeberha, South Africa, coal was replaced by biomass and LPG; in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, the installation of a second biomass boiler eliminated fuel oil. In Otrokovice, Czech Republic, collaboration with the regional energy provider led to a shift towards biomass and natural gas.
Currently, all of Continental’s tire plants have a diversified mix of alternative energy sources, due to systematic and long-term investments.
Last year, Continental’s efforts to reduce its emissions were recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) , which awarded it an A- rating for climate transparency and emissions reduction measures .
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