Tire Industry Project evolving, strengthening

GENEVA—Since 2005, the Tire Industry Project, part of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, has focused on ensuring the tire industry's path forward is the most sustainable possible. And while it started with a focus on understanding and promoting action to mitigate tire road wear particles, the organization has evolved.

In the nearly two decades since, that core sustainability mission never changed. It's just more comprehensive than ever before. Take, for instance, the initiation of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber in 2017. That organization, focused on improving "the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain," was an outgrowth of TIP's original mission.

"TIP's initiation of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) and the publication of a groundbreaking tire-sector sustainability road map have been key milestones in the evolution of TIP," Executive Director Anne Cecile-Remont said in a statement.

Natural rubber may be where the sustainability focus takes root, but it's far from where it ends.

TIP member companies are committed to understanding how their products and processes impact the planet and its citizens both throughout the tire's lifetime (think TRWP) and its end-of-life management as well. This is evident, in part, in the extended reporting on the sustainable performance reporting for TIP member companies' operations.

And as TIP's enhanced and renewed mission, which is endorsed by the CEOs of TIP member companies, continues to take shape, the organization is working to "anticipate, understand and address global environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues" facing the industry and its entire value chain.

"This important update recognizes the evolved contributions of TIP to a sustainable tire sector and equips us for the work ahead," Remont said. "TIP was founded to deliver scientific research on tire and road wear particles (TRWP) and other environmental and human health issues facing the industry in 2005, and while our support for research is as important as ever, TIP and our members have evolved to meet broader sustainability challenges."

With that renewed vision for moving forward, TIP also is stepping up its executive oversight. In December, the organization updated its governance structure when Continental A.G. took a co-chair position within the project, joining Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin in this role.

"These are the most important organizational changes to TIP since its founding in 2005, and we welcome Continental to the governance team," Remont said, "and this is only the first step. We're excited to kick off 'TIP 2.0' and look forward to demonstrating that these changes deliver research, action and communication that drives a more sustainable tire sector."

To this end, TIP has added to its staff, bringing key expertise to the areas that will allow the tire industry to further realize its all-encompassing sustainability vision. Three critical areas—namely research, action and engagement, and communication—will be the focus for the TIP team.

Domenico La Camera and Tania Paratian will provide support and guidance in the areas of research and action and engagement, respectively.