Continental has eliminated coal and heavy fuel oil from all 19 of its global tire production sites as of January 2026, a major step in the company’s sustainability program. Until this change, seven plants relied on those fuels primarily for steam generation in production processes.
The manufacturer shifted each site to alternative energy sources, including biomass, biogas, renewable electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, and natural gas to maintain reliable steam and heat supply. The moves are intended to improve energy independence and operational resilience, according to Dr. Bernhard Trilken, head of manufacturing and logistics.
The changes are already in place at several facilities. The Sumperk plant in the Czech Republic now runs on biomass, with LPG covering remaining needs. In Sri Lanka, the Kalutara plant brought a second biomass boiler online to phase out heavy fuel oil.
Henning Mühlenstedt, head of future technologies and sustainable infrastructure, says investments in electrification and switching energy sources have produced substantial reductions in production-related CO2 emissions. Continental is also prioritizing renewable energy generation on-site where feasible, and has removed outdated fuels entirely from its operations.
Tire production commonly uses steam for curing and vulcanization, so the fuel source for boilers is a direct lever for cutting emissions and exposure to fuel market volatility. Continental’s program shows how a major tire maker can reconfigure plant energy systems without halting production.
For the original report, see https://www.brakeandfrontend.com/continental-ends-coal-heavy-fuel-oil-use-in-tire-manufacturing/.
