Continental and GIZ Expand Natural Rubber Sustainability Project in Indonesia to Reach 6,000 Smallholders by 2027

Continental and GIZ Expand Natural Rubber Sustainability Project in Indonesia to Reach 6,000 Smallholders by 2027

(IN BRIEF) Continental has extended its natural rubber sustainability project with GIZ in Indonesia until 2027, aiming to support an additional 1,000 smallholders on top of the 5,000 already trained. The initiative, co-funded by BMZ, has helped increase farmer incomes by 27% while promoting biodiversity and supply chain transparency. The project aligns with Continental’s goal to responsibly source all-natural rubber by 2030 and supports broader environmental and social goals through partnerships with the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR).

(PRESS RELEASE) HANOVER, 15-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Continental has announced a three-year extension of its sustainability project in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to support smallholder farmers in Indonesia’s natural rubber sector. Since its launch in 2018, the initiative has trained around 5,000 smallholders in West Kalimantan, Borneo, to grow high-quality natural rubber using sustainable practices. By 2027, the project will expand to reach an additional 1,000 farmers.

Co-funded by Continental and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the initiative aims to boost farmers’ income, improve biodiversity, and promote traceability in the rubber supply chain. Farmers participating in the program have already seen an average income increase of 27% through improved cultivation methods and quality yields.

“As one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world, we have a particular responsibility in the natural rubber supply chain,” said Dr. Michael Radke, Head of Sustainability in Purchasing at Continental. “Together with GIZ, we have proven that we can increase transparency and smallholder incomes. Now, we aim to scale these successes further and create long-term frameworks for sustainability.”

The project, located in the Kapuas Hulu district—a region home to a UNESCO biosphere reserve—addresses key challenges such as limited knowledge of sustainable farming and low farmer income. Trainings emphasize environmentally friendly techniques, while a digital traceability system ensures transparency from tree to tire.

Beyond training and traceability, the project supports the preservation of peatlands and forest ecosystems, contributing to global biodiversity goals. Continental’s long-term ambition is to source all-natural rubber from responsible sources by 2030, with broader supply chain sustainability goals set for 2050.

The responsibly sourced rubber is also being made available to other manufacturers, and Continental is actively inviting new partners to join the initiative. Both Continental and BMZ are active members of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), promoting global collaboration and aligning with deforestation-free supply chain targets such as the EU’s EUDR regulation.

Media Contacts:

Laura Averbeck
Communications Manager Sustainability
Continental Tires
+49 511 938-23614
laura.averbeck@conti.de

Henry Schniewind
Head of External Communications
Continental Tires
+49 511 938-21810
henry.schniewind@conti.de

SOURCE: Continental