The CEOs of 11 global tire manufacturers — representing 65% of the world's tire making capacity — are supporting the creation of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), designed to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain.
The founding of that platform is among the highlights of the work underway as part of the Tire Industry Project (TIP). The project was created in 2005 to research potential human health and environmental impacts of tires throughout their lifecycle.
TIP is co-chaired by the leaders of the Big 3 tire manufacturers: Bridgestone Corp., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Michelin Group.
CEOs from eight additional tire companies are part of the effort as well: Continental AG, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., Kumho Tire Co. Inc., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Toyo Tire Corp., Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. and Pirelli & Cie SpA.
The group meets biennially to review progress and approve a two-year work plan, which is reviewed by an Assurance Group of independent scientists.
The CEOs approved publication of two reports:
- an updated TIP global state of knowledge report on the management of end-of-life tires (ELT), and
- a 2019 edition of the TIP report on environmental key performance indicators for tire manufacturing, noting overall improvement in TIP member performance.
The 2020-2021 work program will include numerous research projects studying tire and road wear particles (TRWP), including:
- extended sampling of TRWP presence in different environmental compartments (air, rivers, soil, estuaries),
- analyzing the degradation of TRWP,
- modelling TRWP fate in the environment, and
- investigating the potential health impacts on organisms from long-term exposure to TRWP.
TIP will continue to report on the environmental performance of the manufacturing operations of its members and on end-of-life tires (ELT)
As part of its tire materials research, TIP will continue evaluating chemicals used in tire making for any potential human health or environmental impacts and will contribute to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines on the safe development and use of nanomaterials throughout the tire lifecycle.
TIP will study the opportunity to develop a World Business Council for Sustainable Development sector roadmap for TIP Members.
