Tire majors launch sustainability roadmap

Geneva – Some of the world’s biggest tire manufacturers have launched a roadmap to accelerate tire value-chain impact on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted by the UN in 2015. 

The roadmap, developed under the umbrella of Tire Industry Project (TIP), outlines how the tire sector can contribute to the SDGs whilst transitioning to “a low-carbon, resilient and resource-efficient economy.”  

Developed in consultation with value-chain stakeholders, “Sustainability driven: accelerating impact with the tire sector SDG roadmap” identifies how the tire value chain interacts with the SDGs and the areas where it can have the most significant impact, said a TIP statement 18 May.

“The tire sector interacts with all 17 SDGs, but the roadmap puts focus where the sector has the greatest potential to lead, accelerate, or influence action toward the 2030 agenda [set by SDGs],” said TIP director, Anne-Cécile Rémont. 

According to the official, seven “impact pathways to maximise positive impact and minimise negative impact" have been identified as part of the roadmap, across three main themes: supply chain, operations, and products & services.

TIP said it would monitor the progress of companies and the sector in their implementation of the roadmap.

By 2023, TIP said it will complement its existing monitoring of environmental key performance indicators (KPIs) for tire manufacturing with other indicators to measure progress against roadmap targets.

In alphabetical order, TIP member companies are: Bridgestone Corp., Continental AG, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, Hankook Tire Co., Ltd., Kumho Tire Co., Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin, Pirelli & C. SpA, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., The Yokohama Rubber Co.