Fourth Michelin Sustainable Development Report Published

Michelin has released the fourth edition of the Michelin Performance and Responsibility report, its document outlining the company’s commitment to balanced development. This year the report is organised around the five stages in a tyre’s life: design, raw material purchases, manufacture, sale and use, and end-of-life recovery. The information contained within the document, says Michelin, comes from lifecycle analyses conducted to measure the tyre’s environmental impact, and its objective is to demonstrate that this commitment to responsible development is fully integrated into all Michelin projects and initiatives.

Launched in 2002, this approach – known as Michelin Performance and Responsibility – is based on five key corporate values: respect for customers, people, shareholders, the environment and facts. Michelin publishes a complete version of its Performance and Responsibility report every two years and a summary update of changes in key indicators in alternate years. According to Michelin, the latest report provides a detailed account of road mobility and tyre industry challenges as well as Michelin’s 2007 and 2008 performance in deploying its sustainable development approach.

Highlights of the fourth edition include:

A report on the Ecosystems preservation action plans, forthcoming European Directives on grading tyres according to their performance, Michelin Fleet Solutions and the development of product-service systems, and improvements in end-of-life tyre recovery. The new edition also showcases recent achievements in the areas of energy efficiency, safety, longevity and other areas of responsible product performance, plus the environmental performance of Michelin’s facilities, the ongoing implementation of the manufacturing excellence program, workplace safety and ergonomics action plans, team diversity, relations with host communities and initiatives to make roads safer. The report also includes a special section on technological innovation and how it drives improvements that extend beyond the tyre itself.

The fourth edition of the Michelin Performance and Responsibility Report is now available and will soon be downloadable in both French and English versions at www.michelin.com/corporate.