ESG issues a focus for tweaked TIP

Much has changed since 2005, the year the Tire Industry Project (TIP) was formed. To bring the TIP focus more in line with the zeitgeist and elevate its commitment to sustainability, the body has made changes to its organisational structure, including the addition of a fourth co-chair.

Continental joined Bridgestone, Goodyear, and Michelin as co-chair of the project in December 2022 after the CEOs of TIP member companies endorsed amendments to the mission and organisational structure in June. While the original three co-chair positions have been occupied by the same tyre makers since 2005, the extra chair that Continental now sits in is a renewable, rotating position that members vote upon every four years. TIP views the addition of a fourth co-chair as a change that will “bolster executive oversight.”

New team members for enhanced mission

In a release published 9 February, TIP explains that its “enhanced mission” will see the tyre industry body “anticipate, understand, and address global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues relevant to the tyre industry and its value chain.”

TIP states: “Built upon the pillars of research, action and engagement, and communication, the updated organisational structure and work programme will complement TIP’s sustainability-driven programme of scientific research and other projects with enhanced action, stakeholder engagement and communication across a suite of ongoing and new projects relevant to ESG in the tyre sector.”

In addition to adding a fourth co-chair, TIP has also hired Domenico La Camera in a research capacity and Tania Paratian in an action and engagement role. They join Gavin Whitmore (communication), Anne Cécile-Rémont (executive director) and other team-members and contributors to lead the expanded work programme.

Evolving to meet broader sustainability challenges

“This important update recognises the evolved contributions of TIP to a sustainable tyre sector and equips us for the work ahead,” says Anne Cécile-Rémont. “TIP was founded to deliver scientific research on tyre and road wear particles (TRWP) and other environmental and human health issues facing the industry in 2005, and while our support for research is as important as ever, TIP and our members have evolved to meet broader sustainability challenges.

“TIP’s initiation of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) and the publication of a ground-breaking tyre sector sustainability roadmap have been key milestones in the evolution of TIP. The changes we have made to TIP’s governance, team, and work programme formalise the project’s ongoing and expanded commitments across the ESG space.”

Kick-off for ‘TIP 2.0’

Further components of this evolution are TIP’s establishment of a taskforce for better understanding and promoting action on the mitigation of TRWP, a commitment to extended reporting about the sustainable performance of members’ operations, and a new programme of stakeholder engagement to build tools and knowhow for improved global end-of-life tyre (ELT) management.

“These are the most important organisational changes to TIP since its founding in 2005, and we welcome Continental to the governance team,” continues Rémont. “And this is only the first step. We’re excited to kick-off ‘TIP 2.0’ and look forward to demonstrating that these changes deliver research, action, and communication that drives a more sustainable tyre sector.”

About TIP

Operating under the umbrella of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, TIP is a voluntary CEO-led initiative that brings together ten tyre companies that represent more than 60 per cent of the world’s tyre manufacturing capacity. The members of TIP in alphabetical order are Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Pirelli, Sumitomo, Toyo Tires, and Yokohama.