ISCC PLUS in the tyre industry: driving the transition to certified materials
Every year, billions of tyres are produced globally, creating a significant sustainability challenge. Their complex composition, reliance on both fossil and biogenic materials, and limited recyclability make tyres among the most difficult products to transition towards a circular economy.
At the same time, sustainability expectations and regulatory requirements are evolving rapidly. Initiatives such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are increasing pressure on tyre manufacturers to ensure deforestation-free and fully traceable natural rubber supply chains. Upcoming frameworks, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passports, will further strengthen expectations around material transparency and circularity.
In response to these pressures, the tyre industry is undergoing a profound shift. Manufacturers increasingly integrate circular and bio-based materials, working to improve traceability across complex global supply chains. This growing need for credible and scalable verification has driven rapid adoption of ISCC PLUS certification across the sector, with all major global tyre manufacturers now actively engaged. Currently, more than 50 valid ISCC PLUS certificates are held by companies, including Bridgestone, Continental, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook, Pirelli, and others.
Enabling transparency in complex supply chains
Tyres are made from a wide range of materials, including natural and synthetic rubber, steel, textiles, and various chemical components – each associated with distinct sustainability challenges. Ensuring transparency across these interconnected value chains is a key capability of ISCC PLUS.
As an end-to-end certification system, ISCC PLUS ensures that sustainability characteristics are traceable from raw material origin through to the final product, supported by robust chain of custody and verification requirements. With the ISCC EUDR add-on, we also support companies in aligning with requirements for deforestation-free natural rubber sourcing.
Expanding the scope: from rubber to steel and beyond
One of the most significant developments in the tyre sector is the expanding range of materials eligible for ISCC PLUS certification. Today, the scope reflects almost the full complexity of tyre production and enables companies to progressively increase the share of certified materials.
The scope includes natural rubber, bio-based and circular synthetic rubber, recycled steel cords and bead wires, and waste-based textile inputs.
Partially eligible components include fillers such as carbon black and silica, as well as additives such as antioxidants, antiozonants, and curing systems.
This broad material coverage enables a significant share of a tyre to be linked to certified material flows, supporting the transition towards more circular, bio-based, and transparent products.
ISCC PLUS certification for steel tyre reinforcement
We have recently carried out several pilot projects in collaboration with System Users to incorporate steel tyre reinforcement products into the ISCC PLUS scope for tyre certification. Read more about one of these collaborations.
Understanding end-of-life tyres: reuse, recycling, and waste
With regard to material sourcing, a key challenge lies in the classification and management of used tyres intended as feedstock. In practice, tyres are sorted into those suitable for reuse or recycling, and those that are not.
Under ISCC PLUS, only end-of-life tyres that are not fit for reuse or recycling are considered waste, and can enter the supply chain as certified waste feedstock. This aligns with the waste hierarchy and the EU Waste Framework Directive, which prioritise reuse and recycling over disposal.
Importantly, both the biogenic and fossil-based fractions of end-of-life tyres can be certified. This approach allows end-of-life tyres to be used as raw material for manufacturing new tyres alongside other material flows, thereby contributing to the circular economy and bioeconomy.
Communicating environmental claims responsibly
As certified materials increasingly enter tyre production, environmental claims are becoming more visible across both B2B and consumer-facing contexts. They are now appearing in corporate reporting, product marketing, and even directly on tyre sidewalls.
ISCC provides clear guidance to ensure that such claims are accurate, transparent, and not misleading. Any on-product communication requires prior approval to safeguard consistency and credibility. At the same time, certification can enable participation in initiatives such as the Climate Pledge Friendly Programme on Amazon, provided that defined criteria, such as a minimum share of certified material, are met.
Challenges and opportunities
Despite strong progress, challenges remain. Technical limitations in material formulations continue to restrict the full substitution of conventional inputs. Furthermore, scaling certified materials across all tyre components requires further collaboration across the value chain. At the same time, evolving and regionally diverse regulatory frameworks add complexity, requiring companies to continuously adapt.
With ISCC PLUS, we strive to provide a robust framework to navigate these challenges. To enable transparency, support credible claims, and help the tyre industry turn ambition into measurable progress.
