Continental also took the Environmental Achievement of the Year award for cutting water withdrawal per tonne by over 10% from 2020 to 2025.
Continental Takes Top Honours for Innovation and Sustainability
Continental has been named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year for the fifth time at the Tire Technology Awards for Innovation and Excellence, presented during the Tire Technology Expo on March 3, 2026, in Hanover, Germany.
The independent jury cited the company’s introduction of new tyre technologies, innovative measuring methods, and continuous improvements to its production processes as setting new industry benchmarks. The awards, launched in 2008, are considered among the most important independent honours in the international tyre industry.
The jury highlighted several developments Continental achieved in 2025, including the use of synthetic rubber derived from more sustainable sources such as pyrolysis oil made from end-of-life tyres or used cooking oil. It also recognised Continental‘s work with the Technical University of Braunschweig on an innovative method for analysing tyre wear particles, using a specially adapted vacuum device mounted behind a drive wheel that, together with advanced particle sensors, can detect even the finest airborne particles behind the wheels and at other points on the vehicle.
Continental‘s VanContact A/S Eco was also noted, having become the first all-season van tyre to achieve an “A” rating across all three categories of the EU tyre label: rolling resistance, wet grip, and rolling noise. The jury further acknowledged Continental‘s joint project with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to support the responsible sourcing of natural rubber in Indonesia.
“Tyres are our passion. We are committed to optimising them and making our manufacturing processes even more advanced and resource-efficient. Our greatest strength is our global team, working together closely to develop highly creative and innovative solutions. The jury honoured this very special commitment. And I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our colleagues for their remarkable dedication,” said Edwin Goudswaard, head of Research and Development at Continental Tires.
Another award Continental received during the event was the Environmental Achievement of the Year in Manufacturing. This award acknowledged Continental’s achievement in reducing water withdrawal per metric ton of product at all production sites by more than 10 per cent from 2020 to 2025.
In total, the company saved 197 million litres of water. This was achieved, in part, through advanced filtration and membrane technologies that allow Continental to reuse around 90 per cent of its wastewater after treatment. The group received a “B” rating for water management from the independent organisation CDP in 2025.
Commenting on the achievement, Henning Mühlenstedt, head of Future Technologies and Sustainable Infrastructure at Continental Tires, said, “Water is a valuable resource. Our continued progress in reducing consumption at our plants demonstrates how effective our approach is.”
The Tire Technology Awards for Innovation and Excellence‘s prizes span 11 categories honouring the latest innovations in tyre technology and major advances on the road to a more sustainable tyre industry. The award ceremony is organised by the trade magazine Tire Technology International. Continental also won the Tyre Manufacturer of the Year award last year.
