Buy a tyre, we'll plant a tree - Michelin

Tire Business staff report

Karlsruhe, Germany -- Buy a tyre, plant a tree. Group Michelin's latest marketing effort to spur interest in its low rolling-resistance “green” tyres is that simple.

Through its Austrian, German and Swiss subsidiaries, Michelin is offering customers a deal whereby Michelin will arrange to have a tree planted in those countries for every set of Michelin summer tyres purchased between now and 17th May.

Michelin is organising the offer through Naturefund eV, a Wiesbaden, Germany-based non-profit dedicated to protecting nature and natural habitats.

Together the partners want to plant “future forests” in Germany's Spessart district near Frankfurt, northwest of Vienna and in areas surrounding Bern, Switzerland. These areas were chosen because forests there have been ravaged by storms or insect infestations, Michelin said. The partners will select native tree types that absorb the maximum amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The offer goes for summer passenger, sport-utility vehicle or light-truck tyres.

Michelin said the offer serves two ecological goals: reducing CO₂ output by putting more low-rolling-resistance tyres on the road and increasing the size of woods in central Europe to absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)