Since July 2022, newly made Continental Gravity mountain bike tires have been using responsibly sourced natural rubber from a project in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The responsibly sourced natural rubber is sustainably cultivated and processed through a transparent supply chain which is monitored by a due diligence mechanism. This ensures environmental impacts are minimized and human rights are upheld, by improving the living conditions of local smallholders and farmers.
In addition to establishing a fair value chain for natural rubber, the tire maker aims to achieve 100% sustainable supply chains by 2050 and hopes to cover its entire demand exclusively through responsible sources by 2030.
Available in five different tread patterns, the Gravity mountain bike tire range benefits from a highly resilient carcass and a highly robust tread made from responsibly sourced natural rubber. To ensure the tires deliver a high level of performance, each was tested by professional riders on downhill, endurance and trail courses.
The joint project in West Kalimantan was launched by Continental and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in 2018 to prevent sustainability risks. Through the project the duo aims to enable smallholders within the natural rubber industry to boost income by cultivating high-quality products while adhering to sustainability criteria. Due to its success, the project was then expanded by the pair in 2021.
“I’m delighted that we are now using responsibly sourced natural rubber from our project in Indonesia in series production for our Gravity mountain bike tires,” said Claus Petschick, head of sustainability, Continental Tires. “Our ambition is to actively take responsibility in our supply chains. For us, digitalization and education are the keys to enhancing the transparency of our natural rubber supply chains.”
Striving for climate neutrality along its entire value chain, Continental – as part of its Net|Zero|Now program – will now neutralize carbon emissions produced during raw material procurement in addition to the production and disposal of bicycle tires.
