A number of components are needed to produce a tyre. Among the raw materials that are utilized, some come from plantations: natural rubber and a derivative of wood cellulose, which serves for the tyre’s reinforcement structures.

The first certified tyre in the world produced by Pirelli will have natural rubber and rayon certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) NGO. The FSC certification of forest management confirms that the plantations are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and brings benefits to the lives of the people of the local communities and workers, ensuring at the same time economic sustainability.

The world’s first FSC-certified tyre made using natural rubber and rayon sourced from FSC-certified plantations marks a new milestone in the sustainable production of tyres.

“We are really excited for this achievement, it represents a milestone in our continuous commitment to pursuing sustainability. This certification represents more than just a step forwards in sustainable mobility, it represents having a product that allows people and a rich variety of wildlife and biodiversity to exist in a safe environment, a helping hand in mitigating deforestation and supporting the fight against climate change”.

Filippo Bettini, Chief Sustainability & Risk Governance Officer at Pirelli

In the complex process of certification of the chain of custody FSC verifies that, along the chain of transformation from the plantation to the tyre maker, the FSC certified material has been identified and separated from uncertified material.

The sustainability of this tyre, which will be produced exclusively in Pirelli’s Rome, Georgia factory in the USA, will also benefit from low rolling resistance (scoring ‘A’ on the European tyre label), which improves fuel consumption and reduces consequent harmful emissions. On top of this, noise levels are lower, which further benefits the environment.

The FSC certification of the natural rubber produced in certified plantations and used to make the new P ZERO tyre for BMW’s X5 Plug-in-Hybrid procured is just the latest step on the path that Pirelli has been on for many years towards the sustainable management of the natural rubber supply chain. This is achieved through a roadmap of activities based on the training and sharing of good practices in the countries of origin of the material, in line with the principles and values contained in the Pirelli Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy (2017). This document is the result of consultations with key stakeholders in the natural rubber value chain including international NGOs, Pirelli’s main natural rubber suppliers, growers and traders within the supply chain, automotive customers, and multilateral global organisations. Pirelli also is a founding member of GPSNR, a global multi-stakeholder platform created in 2018 to support the sustainable development of the natural rubber business worldwide, benefitting the entire supply chain.

For a comprehensive overview of Pirelli`s commitment to creating value for its stakeholders, read the recently released 2020 Integrated Report, which reflects the business model adopted by the company and inspired by the United Nations Global Compact, the principles of Stakeholder Engagement set forth by the AA1000, and the Guidelines of ISO 26000.

RELATED NEWS