Pirelli & Cia SpA says it will be the world's first tiremaker to produce a range of products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The Pirelli P Zero is designed for the BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid.
Manufactured at the Pirelli Tire North America plant in Rome, Ga., the Pirelli P Zero has been engineered for "environmental sustainability, along with low rolling resistance - scoring ‘A’ on the European tire label - which improves fuel consumption and reduces consequent harmful emissions," say Pirelli officials. "On top of this, noise levels are lower, which further benefits the environment.
"The FSC certification for the natural rubber used to make the new P ZERO tire for BMW’s X5 Plug-in Hybrid procured from certified plantations is the latest step on the path that Pirelli has been on for many years towards the sustainable management of the natural rubber supply chain.
"This is achieved through a roadmap of activities based on the training and sharing of best practices in the countries of origin of the material, in line with the principles and values contained in the Pirelli Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy, which was issued in 2017.
"This document is the result of consultations with key stakeholders in the natural rubber value chain, including international NGOs, Pirelli’s main natural rubber suppliers, growers and traders within the supply chain, automotive customers and multilateral global organizations."
The Pirelli P Zero will be supplied in size 275/35R22 for the front of the BMW X5 xDrive45e and size 315/30R22 for the car's rear axle.
Giovanni Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s senior vice president for sustainability and future mobility, notes that "sustainable mobility begins with raw materials. With the world’s first FSC-certified tire, 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.”