As part of its initiative in stepping up sustainability activities, the BMW group will equip its cars with tyres using certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon, a wood-based material used to strengthen the tyres.
Becoming the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to do this, the company will source 22-inch tyres in the first instance exclusively from Pirelli and, from August of this year, will use them in the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid. Certification of the rubber plantations and the complex supply chain for natural rubber and rayon takes place in accordance with the strict standards of the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Dr Andreas Wendt, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network, said, “As a premium manufacturer, we aspire to lead the way in sustainability and take responsibility. We have been committed to improving the 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 22-inch P ZERO ∗ tyre has now become the world’s first tyre to receive the coveted FSC label. To earn this certification, Pirelli adapted its US plant in Rome, Georgia, to produce tyres using FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon. From there, the tyres are delivered to BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, around 370 km away, and mounted on the BMW X5 Plug-in Hybrid. The star ∗ in the name indicates that the new tyre meets the group’s strict performance requirements, including low rolling resistance and noise levels.
Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Future Mobility, said, “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. We continue to invest in sustainable growth for our planet, aware that this is also essential for the future of our businesses.”
Jeremy Harrison, Chief Markets Officer, FSC International, said, '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 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.”