BMW X5 PHEV will use world’s first 'sustainable' tires

MANILA: The BMW Group becomes the first automotive manufacturer to equip its vehicles with tires made from certified sustainable natural rubber and rayon. The 22-inch tires will be sourced from Pirelli and will be used in the BMW X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid units that will be produced in August.

The production of the sustainable Pirelli tires take place in accordance with the strict standards of the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

In a statement, BMW AG Purchasing and Supplier Network Board of Management Member Dr. Andreas Wendt said, “As a premium manufacturer, we aspire to lead the way in sustainability and take responsibility. We have been committed to improving cultivation of natural rubber and increasing transparency in the supplier network since 2015. The use of tires made of certified natural rubber is a pioneering achievement for our industry. In this way, we are helping preserve biodiversity and forests to counteract climate change.”

Natural rubber is commonly used in most products that people use daily, such as boots and mattresses. Over 80% of the world’s natural rubber cultivation is done by about six million small farmers worldwide. In some tropical regions, rubber farms cover between one and two hectares of land area. Millions of small individual farms usually face major challenges when it comes to social and environmental growing conditions.

Tire manufacturers use natural rubber for their production as it provides high elasticity and durability. The largest of natural rubber trees grown worldwide goes into tire production.

FSC has created a certification standard that is used worldwide for socially beneficial management of forests. This standard is also applied to products made of natural rubber. To achieve the coveted FSC certification, Pirelli adapted its US plant in Rome, Georgia to craft the 22-inch P Zero * tires using FSC-certified natural rubber and rayon. The star (*) in the tire’s name signifies that it meets the BMW Group’s performance requirements, including low rolling resistance and noise level.

Pirelli Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Future Mobility Giovanni Tronchetti Provera stated, “Before even reaching the road, 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.”

Meanwhile, FSC International Chief Markets Officer Jeremy Harrison commented, “The new FSC-certified Pirelli Tyre is a significant milestone in the drive to deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits across the natural rubber value chain. This is a major step forward in the journey towards a more sustainable natural rubber value chain, thereby helping to mitigate deforestation and support the fight against climate change.”

The use of the first FSC-certified tires is part of the BMW Group’s long-term commitment to sustainability in the natural rubber supplier network. In 2019, the BMW Group established the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) together with renowned tire manufacturers, non-government organizations, rubber producers, as well as small farmers. The GPSNR aims to improve social and environmental conditions for the cultivation of natural rubber. It also conducts programs to stop deforestation and make supply chains more transparent. Currently, the GPSNR has around 100 members who contribute around half of the global natural rubber market.

The BMW Group has also previously worked with the FSC organization as they decided to use FSC-certified wood in the BMW i3. The BMW iX, which will be launched later this year, will also use FSC-certified wood. In 2017, the BMW Group and FSC have worked together for the development of FSC standards for cultivation of natural rubber in Thailand.

As part of its commitment to promote sustainability, the BMW Group has contractually obligated all its direct suppliers to comply with expanded environment and social standards since 2014. Potential suppliers are evaluated using a risk filter. They are also required to summarize their sustainability activities in a detailed questionnaire. External partners are also working with internal appraisers to verify compliance with sustainability requirements through audit. Every year, the BMW Group is able to monitor thousands of locations.

The development of the BMW X5 xDrive45e has already completed full lifecycle CO₂ certification — from raw material procurement, supply chain, production and use phase, all the way to recycling. If charged with the European electricity mix, the vehicle achieves an advantage around 40% over the BMW X5 xDrive40i. If charged with green power, the advantage is around 70%. The BMW X5 xDrive45e has an electricity range of 77 to 88 km.

Photos from BMW

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