BRUSSELS—The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association has voiced its full support for an environmentally friendly economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus, calling for a regulatory framework to achieve "climate neutrality and digital transition."
In a statement published May 12, ETRMA said the industry was "fully committed" to the European Green Deal, and demanded "a supportive and reasonable timing to the overall changing regulatory framework."
Among other points, ETRMA called for speeding up the regulatory work on smart mobility.
The move, it argued, will enable new digital transportation services and tire data systems which could help economic recovery and sustainable development.
"A lack of timely, comprehensive regulation may cause market failures with regard to technology adoption, platform interoperability and unjustified barriers to competition," ETRMA said.
In addition, the trade body called on the European institutions to support the tire industry's investments in sustainable consumption and production. This, it suggested, could be achieved through offering incentives for private consumers and public authorities to choose environmentally sound tires and services.
ETRMA also urged European institutions to include end-of-life tires within the EU end-of-waste criteria in order to support remanufacturing models and the development of secondary raw materials.
ETRMA also called on the authorities to increase research and innovation funding to decarbonize the transport sector.