Environmental impacts of tyres
Being part of Michelin Group, environmental stewardship means taking a full life-cycle approach to the products and services it sells. From the sourcing of raw materials to handling at end of life, we are taking action to ensure that resources are used responsibly and that environmental impacts are reduced across the entire life cycle.
Raw materials
Michelin is responsibly developing its natural rubber supply and other sustainable materials.
Manufacturing
Michelin strives to continuously reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing through its environmental management system and performance targets.
Logistics
Michelin applies multiple levers to reduce its carbon footprint for transporting semi-finished and finished products.
Use of products and services
Represents 63 to 96% of tyre life cycle impacts* Michelin's innovations mean longer distances and higher performance with materials and a smaller footprint. Our services and solutions optimise tyre use. *Depending on type of vehicle environmental impact category
End of life
Michelin actively supports resource recovery and recycle systems for end-of-life tyres with its stakeholders and industry partners around the world.
Recycled material
Recycling and energy conservation for a sustainable future.
Sustainable Mobility
Mobility is a universal right that everyone should be able to enjoy, and one that Kleber is committed to preserving and making more sustainable. We are working toward innovating to make it ever safer, accessible from a physical and economic point of view, efficient, with maximum performance and minimum consumption of resources, and with less impact on the environment.
Driving better, for a safer planet
Did you know the tire industry impacts our planet as critically as aviation? With 84% of a tyre’s environmental impact occurring while driving, your tyre choice truly matters. Not all tyres are created equal.
It's important to address the planet’s challenges and it’s a win-win for consumers because with more energy-efficient tyres that last longer, economic gains are also at stake.
We are committed to acting quickly with goals on these pillars set for 2030 while maintaining the high performance that our consumers expect from Kleber tyres. Moreover, we’re working collectively to better engage the industry on these ambitions. By doing so, we ensure that our actions are impactful and worthy, driving meaningful change for the planet.
To better understand, how choosing the right tyre for your car impacts and helps our global life, three main questions need to be asked:
1. How do tyres contribute to CO2 emissions?
The primary contributor to CO2 emissions is the usage phase. When a car runs, it uses fuel, and burning this fuel emits CO2, which contributes to global warming. About 20% of a car’s energy is used (and wasted!) by the tyres as they deform when in contact with the road. Therefore, tyres with better energy efficiency can help a car emit less CO2 while driving.
2. What resources do tyres use?
Tyres are made from hundreds of materials, many of which are finite resources like oil, silica, and steel. The primary environmental benefit of a product is its ability to perform effectively for as long as possible. Additionally, using more recycled and renewable materials can help reduce the extraction of fossil resources.
3. Why do tyres release particles?
As tires roll on the road, they wear down. The friction generates tyre and road wear particles (TRWP) through abrasion. These particles come in various sizes and are currently being studied to better understand their potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Improved abrasion of tyres can minimise these tyre wear particles in the environment.
Ambitions & commitments
We are committed to carbon neutrality and reducing our impact on the planet, i.e mitigating and adapting to climate change, preserving resources and protecting biodiversity and have set medium- and long-term ambitions. Our actions are guided by a Group-wide environmental policy.
What can you do if your tyre reached end-of-life?
There are two ways that consumers can return worn automotive tyres:
to a garage if new tyres are being fitted
to a recycling centre in the municipality in which you live
Understanding recycling in tyre industry
In Europe every year, huge number of end-of-life tyres are collected and treated through various recycling and recovery processes. It is our common responsibility to manage those tyres to limit their impact on the environment.
According to European Tire & Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA), in 2019, 95%* of ELTs were collected and treated for material recycling and energy recovery.
*Source https://www.etrma.org
KLEBER’s involvement in tyre recycling
KLEBER is part of the Blackcycle project*. This project gathers 7 industrial partners, 5 R&D entities and one innovation pole in a European consortium located in 5 countries. This project aims to put in place a circular economy around tyres by designing a new production process able to create new tyres based on used tyres.
*as part of Michelin Group. Blackcycle project is led by Michelin. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement NO 869625.
How are tyres recycled?
Tyre recycling is a key progress area for the industry and there are different ways of doing it, for example:
End of life Tyre (ELT)-derived rubber powder for rubber modified asphalt: Rubber modified asphalt takes advantage of the elasticity and noise absorbing characteristics of the rubber.
Use of ELTs in steel mills: Shredded tyres can be used in steelworks equipped with electric arc furnaces as a substitute for anthracite and scrap metal.
Emerging recovery routes: Pyrolysis/Thermolysis: thermal treatment technologies – pyrolysis, thermolysis and gasification – are some of the emerging solutions for recovering value from end of life tyres.