Pirelli introduces FSC-certified P Zero for BMW hybrid

Pirelli claims a world first with the launch of a range of FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) tyres. Designed for the BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in-hybrid, these tyres contain FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon. According to Pirelli, its FSC-Certified P Zero represents “a new horizon for increasingly sustainable tyre production.”

FSC forest management certification confirms that plantations are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local communities and workers, while ensuring sustained economic viability. The complex FSC chain of custody certification process verifies that FSC-certified material has been identified and separated from non-certified material as it makes its way along the supply chain, from the plantations to the tyre manufacturer.

The BMW X5 xDrive45e will wear the FSC-certified Pirelli P Zero in size 275/35 R22 at the front and 315/30 R22 on the rear axle. This second generation of the BMW X5 with electrified drive combines a model-specific 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder petrol engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology with the fourth generation of BMW eDrive technology. The plug-in hybrid drive produces a system output of 290 kW/394 hp along with a maximum system torque of 600 Nm, an electrically powered range of 77-88 kilometres (WLTP). The BMW Group has conducted a full-cycle CO2 certification for the BMW X5 xDrive45e from raw material procurement, the supply chain, manufacturing and the use phase, all the way to recycling.

Pirelli says it developed this particular P Zero according to its ‘perfect fit’ strategy, thus meeting the German manufacturer’s performance needs for this popular model while contributing to the ‘green’ philosophy of this hybrid vehicle.

The tyre maker will manufacturer these OEM P Zero tyres at its Rome, Georgia factory in the United States. Rolling resistance is sufficiently low to warrant a European tyre label ‘A’ fuel efficiency grade, and tyre/road noise is said to be low.

The BMW hybrid wears the FSC-certified Pirelli P Zero in 275/35 R22 (front) & 315/30 R22 (rear) (Photo: Pirelli)

Latest step towards sustainable supply chain management

According to Pirelli, FSC certification for the natural rubber procured from certified plantations and used to make the new P Zero tyre for BMW’s X5 plug-in hybrid is the latest step on the path the company has traversed for many years towards sustainable management of the natural rubber supply chain. The tyre maker says it has got to where it is today via a roadmap of activities based on the training and sharing of good practices in the countries where its raw materials originate, in line with the principles and values contained in the 2017-released Pirelli Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy.

This document is the result of consultations with key stakeholders in the natural rubber value chain, including international NGOs, Pirelli’s primary natural rubber suppliers, growers and traders within the supply chain, automotive customers, and multilateral global organisations. Pirelli also is a founding member of the global platform for sustainable natural rubber (GPSNR), a multi-stakeholder platform created in 2018 with the objective of supporting the sustainable development of the natural rubber business worldwide.

Sustainable growth essential for future of our business

“Before even reaching the road, sustainable mobility begins with raw materials. With the world’s first FSC-certified tyre, Pirelli once again demonstrates its commitment to pursuing increasingly challenging goals in terms of sustainability, a testament to the constant work on innovative materials and increasingly cutting-edge production processes,” says Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s senior vice-president for Sustainability and Future Mobility. “We continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses.”

Giovanni Tronchetti Provera states that Pirelli continues “to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses” (Photo: Pirelli)

“As a premium manufacturer, we aspire to lead the way in sustainability and take responsibility,” adds Andreas Wendt, member of the BMW AG Board of Management responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network. “We have been committed to improving cultivation of natural rubber and increasing transparency in the supplier network since 2015. The use of tyres made of certified natural rubber is a pioneering achievement for our industry. In this way, we are helping preserve biodiversity and forests to counteract climate change.”

“The new FSC-Certified Pirelli tyre is a significant milestone in the drive to deliver economic, social and environmental benefits across the natural rubber value chain; this is particularly important in the context of natural rubber’s sustainability challenges. We congratulate Pirelli for their commitment to responsible sourcing and for demonstrating that a transparent value chain is possible for natural rubber from smallholders to the market. We also applaud BMW for supporting the development of the FSC-certified tyre and for choosing it to equip one of their new models. This is a major step forward in the journey towards a more sustainable natural rubber value chain, thereby helping to mitigate deforestation and support the fight against climate change. We celebrate the sustainability leadership shown in this case and look forward to driving a wider transformation across the industry,” concludes Jeremy Harrison, chief markets officer, FSC International.