Michelin covers challenges, innovation of 100% sustainable tyres of the future

Florent Menegaux, Michelin Group CEO

French tyre maker Michelin, does not need to gaze on a crystal ball to foresee what a “tyre of the future” would look and feel like. The tyre industry is responding to the climate emergency with 100 percent sustainable tyres. In the same vein, Michelin claims that it is utilising all of its innovative capabilities, including the ability to develop new innovative technologies in ecosystems, and that it is taking action at each stage of the tyre’s life cycle. On the occasion of its first Media Day held in November at the Group’s global Research and Development centre in Clermont-Ferrand, outlines the challenges associated with 100% sustainable tyres.

Tyres, which are Michelin’s core business, represent a major source of growth as part of the Group’s “All Sustainable” strategy, and is projected to represent more than 70% of the company’s total business by 2030, with a total turnover which is set to increase significantly.

According to Michelin, the tyres of the future will be 100% sustainable, throughout their entire life cycle, featuring low rolling resistance , long-term performance, lessening tyre wear particles and connected tyres. As well, the tyres will be made up of 100% biosourced or recycled materials by 2050 and 40% by 2030. They will be manufactured in  net zero CO2 emission production plants by 2050. 

Tyres incorporate an increasing amount of bio-sourced or recycled materials as early as the design phase (natural rubber, bio-sourced resins, recycled plastic, etc.). Michelin engineers are involved in a number of research projects that are being carried out in collaboration with start-ups, laboratories, and universities. Michelin has pledged to use 40% sustainable materials in its tires by 2030. This percentage will reach 100% by 2050. 

Michelin said that it is committed to reducing the environmental footprint of all of its manufacturing plants during tyre production, including solvent and energy consumption, generated waste, CO2 emissions, and water abstraction. The Group’s impact has already been cut in half since 2005. Michelin’s goals for 2050, including zero net C02 emissions for all Michelin production plants; zero impact on water availability for local communities in which the Group is active; and total removal of solvents from tyre manufacturing.

 In terms of logistics, the Group vows to transport less, better, and differently. As a result, Michelin aims to reduce CO2 emissions from logistics by 15% by 2030 compared to 2018. It is also developing alternative modes of transportation, such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as cargo sailing. For example, the Group has announced an initial partnership with Neoline, a wind-powered vessel operator, to provide decarbonised transportation between Halifax and Saint-Nazaire. 

During road use, when between 75% and 90% of the tire’s environmental impact occurs, Michelin is acting on a number of performance levers, including, continuing to invest and innovate to create tyres which enable fuel savings and increased autonomy for electric vehicles. Michelin has dramatically improved the rolling resistance of its tyres by improving their performance by 1 to 2% each year over the last 30 years; providing tyres which are safer, whether they are new or used. It said that if all tyres were used until their wear limit, 128 million fewer tyres would be used per year in Europe, that is a saving of 6.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

Michelin has also been investing for many years in the reduction of wear particles in tyres. Michelin is committed to continuing the reduction of overall emissions of particles in its new ranges beyond the 5% already reached since 2015. In the context of the implementation of European tire abrasion regulations, the Group is contributing to defining the testing method.

Finally, digital technologies and the development of connected tyres for optimised tyre use for individuals and professionals, and to enable a reduction in their environmental impact (speed of use, fuel consumption, pressure and temperature monitoring of tires, RFID chips to track tires throughout their lifetime and so on).

 At end-of-life, Michelin aims to transform used tyres into raw materials, which will be put back into the production process for making new tyres and manufacturing new products. The end of life period of tyres is a major global issue. Indeed, each year 1.6* billion tyres are discarded, that is 26 million tonnes. On this important matter, Michelin and Bridgestone jointly launched a call to action on November 22 2021, to enrich the recycling ecosystem for ELTS and to promote the circular economy within the rubber industry. The two global tyre leaders hope to enable and increase the use of carbon black from recycled tyres.

Florent Menegaux, Michelin Group CEO, commented, “The climate emergency is upon us and the COP 26 has just reemphasised this! 100% sustainable tyres represent an immense challenge for all of the Group’s teams. This challenge spurs us on to invent new disruptive technologies and to change our modus operandi in ecosystems. It is a perfect illustration of Michelin’s fundamental purpose, which continually innovates to make mobility ever safer, more accessible, more efficient and more respectful of the environment.”