Continental releases Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy
Continental is disclosing its Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy today.
The technology company's Rubber Group aims at looking at workers, communities, forests, biodiversity and agricultural land and detecting potential risks (such as deforestation, corruption, landgrabbing and others) in early stages. In doing so, Continental takes a multi-stakeholder approach as sustainable business practices in this field cannot be achieved by a single player, but only in a joint effort with all stakeholders. To this end, the Sourcing Policy specifies responsibilities and commitments for all participants in the natural rubber value chain. It also points out six areas for development, namely Engaging with Suppliers and Farmers, Stakeholder Engagement, Increasing Traceability, Saving Resources, Recycling, and Identification of Alternative Natural Rubber Supply Sources.
"We target to consistently implement our Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy along our value chain. At the same time it is meant to impact our work at the Tire Industry Project, as we believe only together with all players we can successfully achieve solid results. This policy therefore marks a start of a joint journey towards sustainable natural rubber",
explains Nikolai Setzer, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG, Head of Tire Division and additionally responsible for Corporate Purchasing.
Sustainable Management is embedded in Continental's company values
The Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy strengthens the technology company's striving for achieving this goal together with competitors and partners in the long term. In the course of this, various projects pay into the whole: On one side, on a micro-level a joint project with a third party in Indonesia, whilst on the other, on a macro-level within the Tire Industry Project (TIP) under the umbrella of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Continental is also supporting the forthcoming Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) as a founding member. By releasing the Policy the tire manufacturer and automotive supplier is keen on clearly and transparently outlining its way of designing its sourcing in a sustainable way by implementing the Sustainble Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy across the entire value chain.
The Continental Sustainable Natural Rubber Sourcing Policy is available for download here:
https://www.continental-corporation.com/en/company/for-suppliers/supplier-information
For more information on Sustainability at Continental, please find the company's Sustainability report here:
https://www.continental-corporation.com/en/sustainability/sustainability
Continental corporation
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2017, Continental generated sales of ?44 billion and currently employs more than 243,000 people in 60 countries.
