Our commitment regarding materials and emissions
Schwalbe develops tires and tubes with a recycling-friendly design using fair-trade natural rubber (Fair Rubber e. V.) in the balanced models as well as materials including recovered carbon black (rCB) and recycled butyl from the Schwalbe Recycling System. The fair-trade rubber is allocated across the supply chain based on the mass balance rather than physically to the individual tires. We lower our emissions through reduction not offsetting.
OUR CSR VISION
Our road is determined by clear development plans, disclosed figures, and binding environmental and social standards. Our mission: to reduce our environmental footprint along the entire value chain, promote safe and affordable mobility, and strengthen social participation.
Based on these foundations, we are working on four strategic focus areas: keeping materials in the cycle, reducing emissions along the value chain, making the raw materials used digitally traceable, and improving access to mobility for more people. Details of our current endeavors and our progress to date can be found in our implementation plans:
Materials
return to the cycle*
* Transformation fields within the scope of our CSR strategy, not current values
Emissions
reduce via scope 1, 2, and 3*
Supply chain
digitally trace raw materials*
Participation
improve access to mobility*
INNOVATIONS
As an independent family business, we specifically invest in the development of materials and processes to improve our tires and tubes. Two things drive us in this regard: our love of new technologies and our desire to responsibly shape mobility. From recycled and renewable materials to new rubber compounds, we are continually developing.
30 %
recycled materials, share of total weight*
50 %
renewable materials, share of total weight*
41 %
lower carbon footprint than with the predecessor model HS420*
Fair Rubber
Fair Rubber – fair-trade natural rubber (mass balance)*
* The values relate to the Green Marathon (HS620) in 40-622. CO₂ comparison: HS620 compared with the predecessor model HS420, 41% with Seawastex, 34% without; PCF in accordance with ISO 14067, characterization IPCC AR6, GWP100, excluding biogenic CO₂, including LUC. The fair-trade rubber is allocated across the supply chain based on the mass balance rather than physically to the individual tires.
Circular economy
Tires and tubes are made of precious raw materials. We are therefore rethinking their life cycles. We use our take-back systems to recover materials from used tires and tubes; recovered carbon black and recycled butyl are used to make new products. We are committed to developing products with materials that can be recycled.
2.3 m
recycled bicycle tires*
* As of March 2026.
17 m
recycled bicycle inner tubes*
73 %
lower GWP100 of rCB compared to fossil industrial carbon black*
70 %
of the tire range made using rCB*
People
Our employees form the heart of Schwalbe. We are committed to fair conditions, safety, and appreciation in our daily dealings with one another – with long-term prospects, opportunities to help shape what we do, and a corporate culture that embraces diversity. We create an environment that offers inspiration, promotes participation, and invites loyalty.
272
employees*
* Facts and Figures 2024/2025
98 %
employee retention*
14
nationalities*
12 years
average length of service*
SOCIAL COMMITMENT
Social responsibility is a central element of our actions. Particular focus lies on social commitment that facilitates participation, education, and fair opportunities. We specifically support initiatives that make access to mobility safe, inclusive, and self-determined – by engaging in long-term partnerships based on an equal footing.
20
Children’s Advisory Council projects since 2022*
* Retrospectively updated 30.06.2026
12
grassroots sports projects*
37
cultural and social projects*
FAQ
For us, sustainability means linking corporate action inseparably with ecological and social responsibility. In this context, we speak of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This awareness of responsibility toward the environment and society is firmly embedded in our philosophy. We pursue a holistic approach and integrate CSR into all areas and departments: from production and purchasing to product design. At Schwalbe, we design circular products with the highest level of environmental awareness: using fairtrade natural rubber, recycling-friendly design, pollutant-free materials, and reduced emissions. Each new product is made step by step more envi-ronmentally friendly than its predecessor - out of deep conviction and respect for peo-ple and the planet.
Our innovations are the result of close collaboration between Schwalbe and the Korean family-owned company Hung-A, a partnership that has existed since 1973. Continuous exchange of knowledge, experience, and technical expertise between our companies drives new ideas and solutions for sustainable products.
In addition, our in-house CSR department, consisting of six team members, guides the sustainability strategy and its related goals. The team works closely with other departments to ensure the holistic implementation of CSR across all business processes. This creates a deep understanding of sustainability that enables us to make innovations even more environmentally friendly.
Cycling is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of mobility. It produces no direct CO₂e emissions or noise and requires far less space than motorized traffic. Regular cyclists actively help reduce traffic emissions and improve air quality, especially in urban areas. Cycling also promotes health and overall quality of life. At Schwalbe, we support this positive change by developing long-lasting, sustainable products that advance climate-friendly mobility.
We see climate neutrality not as a one-time state but as a long-term process. Instead of pursuing the illusion of instant climate neutrality, we contribute - within the framework of international climate finance - to projects that have a positive, regenerative impact on the environment and society. Our goal remains clear: by 2030, to reduce emissions across our value chain (Scopes 1, 2, and 3) by at least 55%, and by 2040, to achieve net-zero environmental impact according to SBTi - with the overarching vision of leaving future generations a livable planet.