Continental's UltraContact NXT Wins 2024 Tire and Rubber of the Future Award

Continental's most sustainable tyre series UltraContact NXT has been awarded in the "Advanced Design: Tyres" category. This newly created award recognises advances and developments that significantly improve the performance and sustainability of the global tyre and rubber industry. UltraContact NXT is manufactured from up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials.

The editors of European Rubber Journal have awarded Continental's UltraContact NXT tyre the Future of Tyre and Rubber Award in the "Advanced Design: Tyres" category for developing a tyre that combines a high level of sustainable materials with maximum safety and performance.

Maria Hanczuch, Programme Manager, Continental Passenger Vehicle Tyres, said: "This award has made us very happy as recognition of our comprehensive efforts to make the tyre industry and mobility more sustainable. We aim to ensure that more than 40 per cent of our tyres contain renewable and recycled materials by 2030. UltraContact NXT is an important step towards achieving our ambitious targets in this area."

UltraContact NXT is manufactured from up to 65 per cent renewable, recycled and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials, depending on tyre size. The proportion of renewable materials can reach up to 32 per cent, and recycled materials up to 5 per cent. Additionally, Continental sources approximately 28 per cent of ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials from biological, biodegradable and/or circular raw materials. All available sizes feature the highest rating of "A" in the EU tyre label in the areas of rolling resistance, wet braking and external noise.

Since its market launch, UltraContact NXT has won multiple awards, including the Sustainability Award at the 2023 Swiss Automotive Fair Innovation Awards, the 2023 International Design Award and the 2024 German Innovation Award.

Being honoured by Continental in the inaugural year of the Future of Tyre and Rubber Awards is considered a great honour. Patrick Raleigh, Editor of European Rubber Journal, commented on the award as follows:

"Continental's UltraContact NXT, which combines a very high level of sustainable materials with the highest safety and performance standards, rightfully earned our most valued innovation award. All 19 currently available sizes rank in the EU tyre label's highest 'A' category in terms of rolling resistance, wet braking and external noise."

European Rubber Journal, which has been reporting on the global rubber and tyre industry for over 130 years, is regarded as the world's most respected trade journal in the field.