KARLSRUHE, Germany (April 2, 2008) — Michelin is offering to plant a tree for every set of low rolling-resistance “green” tire consumers buy in Austria, Germany or Switzerland.
The marketing ploy will run through May 17. Michelin is organizing the offer through Naturefund e.V., a Wiesbaden, Germany-based non-profit dedicated to protecting nature and natural habitats.
Together the partners want to plant “future forests” in Germany's Spessart district near Frankfurt, northwest of Vienna and in areas surrounding Bern, Switzerland. These areas were chosen because forests there have been ravaged by storms or insect infestations, Michelin said. The partners will select native tree types that absorb the maximum amounts of carbon dioxide.
The offer goes for summer passenger, sport-utility vehicle or light-truck tires.