In addition to increasing production capacity at its Wuxi passenger car tyre plant in China, Bridgestone Corporation has completed the second phase of its project to equip the Bridgestone (Wuxi) Tyre Co., Ltd. facility for generating solar power. Bridgestone has installed further rooftop panels which, since going operational in mid-November 2024, have increased the plant’s solar panel capacity to 13.029 megawatts (MW).
The European Commission has welcomed the provisional political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on its proposal to delay the start of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, claiming this longer phase-in period will “ensure proper and effective implementation” while “preserving its integrity.”
Several weeks ago, prior to visiting the Michelin plant in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, I witnessed the partial demolition of what until recently was one of the country’s most modern and efficient power plants. Capable of satisfying almost the entire electricity requirements of neighbouring Hamburg yet decommissioned after less than seven years in what the local Environment Minster called a “symbolic” gesture, the blasting of the 3-billion-euro plant’s chimneys delivered a depressing reminder of the challenges that tyre makers and other manufacturers face in Western Europe. Perhaps the Michelin team could restore some lost optimism.
Picking up on our earlier first-look relating to Michelin’s whole-life sustainability strategy and previewing the extended and more in-depth take we exclusively provide in our forthcoming Trends & Facts premium supplement, here are some further details Tyres & Accessories gleaned during a recent visit to the French tyre major’s headquarters. The wider context is necessary to understand why Michelin cares so much about both tyre wear and whole-life performance. And that was something that Gary Guthrie, SVP Automotive Global Brands Business Line at Michelin made the focal point of his presentation at the company’s global headquarters in Clermont-Ferrand, France:
JK Tyre & Industries has become the first Indian tyre maker to join the global corporate renewable energy initiative RE100, and just the 16th business of any type within the country. Company Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Raghupati Singhania, states that JK Tyre’s decision to join RE100 “represents our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility.
Garage equipment company SharkEye Wheel Aligners UK has made the case for making wheel alignment part of the MOT test. The company argues that ensuring UK road vehicles are properly aligned would save motorists billions of pounds a year. Proper alignment helps to minimise rolling resistance, as well as ensuring that tyres wear evenly, increasing their longevity. The firm used the occasion of a visit from Jo White MP to its new service centre in Worksop, Nottinghamshire to put forward its argument. SharkEye’s message comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlines his UK’s ambitious ‘net zero’ targets at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.
Drive systems supplier GKN Automotive has been awarded an EcoVadis Gold rating for sustainability. The rating means the company has completed its third successive year of upgraded ratings from the independent sustainability rankings organisation; it was awarded a Silver rating in 2023 and a Bronze rating in 2022. The Gold rating means GKN Automotive are ranked in the top 1 per cent of participants in its category, and the top 5 per cent of participants overall.
Continental Tyres beat Bridgestone, Hankook, Marangoni, and Michelin to win the Tyre Industry Environmental and Sustainable Solution of the Year at the NTDA’s Tyre Industry Awards 2024. The award, presented at the Association’s 94th Annual Dinner, was decided by a panel of industry experts and recognises outstanding corporate social responsibility within the tyre industry. Conti said its achievement reflects the tyre manufactures ongoing commitment to driving sustainability across all of its operations – from enhancing the efficiency of its manufacturing processes and supply chain to developing innovative, eco-friendly materials.
Pirelli UK was named Tyre Manufacturer of the Year at the Tyre Industry Awards 2024, recognising the company’s excellence in product innovation, sustainability, and beyond. The NTDA Tyre Manufacturer of the Year Award celebrates the achievements of manufacturers that have made significant contributions to the tyre industry, with the winner decided by a select panel of independent industry experts. Pirelli’s success stems from its unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and sustainability, exemplified by products like the P Zero range, including the P Zero E tyre: the first UHP tyre on the market with more than 55 per cent bio-based and recycled materials.
Confirming its support for the initiative, Prinx Chengshan Holdings Limited has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The company says this move “not only underscores Prinx Chengshan’s firm commitment to sustainable development” but also highlights its “deep sense of social responsibility as a leading innovator in the tyre manufacturing industry.”
Goodyear has completed its fourth annual Sustainable Reality survey, drawing on insights from over 1,700 transport fleets across Europe regarding their sustainability strategies, challenges, and forward-looking goals. With transport operators facing growing demands to reconcile high performance with environmental responsibility, this year’s survey provides a perspective on trends and concerns shaping fleet management in 2024.
LKQ UK & Ireland has installed nearly 6,500 solar panels on the roof of its central logistics hub in order to reach LKQ Corporation’s global goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Driven by the company’s corporate belief that mobility is a human right and essential for flourishing and freedom, Michelin is committed to decarbonising mobility and – of course – tyres play a key role in that. During a recent visit to Michelin’s Clermont-Ferrand headquarters and Ladoux research and development facility in France, Michelin executives articulated how that grand vision relates to the tyres and vehicles of today as well as the technology of tomorrow.
Hankook has earned the FIA Three Star Environmental Accreditation from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The programme is designed to promote environmental management and sustainability in motorsports and the wider mobility sector. Motorsport suppliers are evaluated based on their environmental performance, energy consumption reduction, logistics efficiency improvements, waste management optimisation, and the implementation of carbon neutrality programmes. The Three Star accreditation represents the highest level of environmental and sustainability certification.
Industrial tyre manufacturer Atire reports that its range of solid tyres has been certified carbon-neutral. Indeed, according to Atire, the tyremaker is “the first company in the world to launch a carbon-neutral solid tyre range.”
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