Bridgestone Corporation has been included in the STOXX Global ESG Leaders Index, a stock investment index focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The news, announced on 24 September, marks the second consecutive year that Bridgestone has been listed in the index.
On 12 September 2020, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published its fourth batch of green manufacturing lists. The list includes 602 green factories, 371 green design products, 39 green parks and 50 green supply chain management demonstration enterprises.
Environmental campaigners have been protesting against Linglong’s Zrenjanin, Serbia tyre factory. At the same time the construction work, which has been variously described as either an 800 million euro or US$994 million project by different sources, has also been involved in certification disputes.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is implementing new environmental measures at its facilities in China. These measures are linked to the country’s “three-year action plan for Blue Sky protection” to reduce air pollution, as per the 2016 Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Global natural rubber production lacks transparency and the necessary sustainability commitments to protect both people and wildlife, according to an analysis of the natural rubber industry undertaken by international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London). ZSL assessed 15 of the “most significant” natural rubber companies and calculated an average score of just 35 per cent on SPOTT (Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit).
Testing for the Extreme E off-road electric racing series began earlier this month at the Château de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France. One question the tested aimed to answer during proceedings was how well the car and tyres work together. They also looked into any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental, tyre supplier to Extreme E, and Spark Racing Technology.
The Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights has named Continental Tyre Group Ltd the inaugural winners of the Tyre Industry Environmental & Sustainable Solution Award. The accolade was presented at the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights White Tie Banquet. The independent judging panel looked for entries to show evidence of materially reducing the environmental impact of tyres and production over the product’s entire lifespan, whilst promoting sustainability and bringing environmental benefits to both business and wider society. Conti’s marketing director Tracey Mortimer said the award was “a huge honour,” which “highlights Continental’s commitment to environmental consideration.”
A decade ago, around 20 per cent of Pirelli tyres were made according to the company’s Green Performance strategy – with new production systems, reduced environmental impact and low energy consumption. The tyre maker reports this figure reached 49.8 per cent of sales last year, up from 43.5 per cent in 2017. Green Performance tyres accounted for 57.5 per cent of Pirelli’s High Value product sales.
As average vehicle CO2 emissions trend upwards in Europe, carmakers are looking to form ‘pools’ that can help avoid large fines under new tighter EU CO2 emission rules that come into force in 2021. Dave Leggett, automotive editor at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view.
Professor Richard Thompson OBE, who leads the International Marine Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, has questioned claims made by the Marine Conservation Society relating the role played by tyre wear in marine microplastic pollution.
Pirelli & C. SpA has been recognized as a global leader in corporate climate action by CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), achieving a place on the CDP Climate Change A list. An international non-profit organization, CDP gathers, distributes and promotes information on environmental questions. The A rating is the highest possible score awarded to a company.
According to a new report undertaken by Eunomia Research and Consulting for Friends of the Earth, up to 19,000 tonnes of microplastic pollution could be entering UK waterways every year from vehicle tyres. The report, titled Reducing Household Contributions to Marine Plastic Pollution, listed tyres in its ‘top ten’ list of items of concern, commenting that interventions and innovation, as well as governmental, business and scientific collaboration, may be required over the coming five years to solve the issue.
Trelleborg Wheel Systems