General Motors buys a lot of tires. About 49 million a year, in fact. As part of its sustainability efforts, the automaker announced a goal of 100-percent sustainability for its natural rubber needs, and suppliers like Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, and Michelin – which were all represented at GM’s announcement this week in Detroit – are on board, too.
The partners also want to uphold labor rights for those in the rubber industry, conserve wildlife, and preserve carbon stocks, all while still producing quality products without raising costs.
Together, they aim to set the standard for sustainable and ethical rubber, holding every member of the supply chain accountable, and encouraging other suppliers and customers to follow suit. Traceability and transparency are keys, GM says, to making sure the rubber doesn’t lead to deforestation, and that it contributes to the economic and social development of the areas where it’s harvested.
Natural rubber will continue to be part of tire manufacturing for the foreseeable future. As Dr. Juan Botero, Continental VP of Sales of Passenger & Light Truck Tires for the Americas, points out,
“The properties that you get from that material, unfortunately, we have not been able to replicate in a laboratory. Mother nature does a fantastic job with this material.”
At this point, manufacturers simply can’t build as good of a tire without natural rubber. Over the years, advances have allowed them to use a smaller ratio of natural rubber, but it still makes up 10 to 15 percent of a passenger car’s tires, up to around 30 percent for a truck, and even higher for larger vehicles.
Proper management is critical to making natural rubber more sustainable. It’s better, of course, to make the most of existing trees than to clear land for new plantations, and all participating parties aim to dramatically increase their yield as demand continues to grow. It’s also important to protect rubber trees from disease, as their limited growing range makes them particularly susceptible. At the end of their lifecycle of about 20 years, the trees can harvested for their wood, and new ones are replanted in their place.
The natural rubber industry produces about 12 million tons per year, 75 percent of which is used in the tire industry. GM and the participating tire manufacturers hope this initiative will make a difference in their impact, as well as that of the other customers that share their supply chain.
The sustainable natural rubber plan is in its early stages, and we can expect more announcements about this initiative in the future.
Read more: Auto Blog