INNOVATION

BIOMATERIALS:
THE RESEARCH
CONTINUES!

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Constant improvement of the sustainability of all the phases of our value chain forms the basis for our responsible growth strategy

We focus our growth strategy on the ability to:

  • innovate products and processes;

  • assess new opportunities which may arise from ongoing research work.

Human capital, our main asset.

Approach to Materials

We are constantly expanding our viewpoint in order to:

  • take our investments where most effective;
  • maximise the environmental benefits of our innovation.

THE EU MEDIUM CAR
CARBON FOOTPRINT

of which
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IS THE AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION OFFOUR TYRES

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Life cycle assessment:Global warming potential of our representative tyre

  • RAW MATERIALS
  • PRODUCTION
  • DISTRIBUTION
  • USE
  • END OF LIFE
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Materials Research and Innovation

The research and development of innovative materials is essential in order to design and produce increasingly sustainable tyres which guarantee lower environmental impact, greater driving safety and at the same time production efficiency.

Biomaterials: towards a new ECOnomy

Innovation in the field of biomaterials represents an important asset as part of a Premium strategy.
We combine production needs with environmental objectives.

Expansion of range of "green" products

1

Search for alternative sources and diversification

PRESSURE
BIODIVERSITY COUNTRIES
PRODUCER

PRODUCTION
FLEXIBILITY

2

Recycling of materials from tyres no longer in use

PRODUCTION
COSTS

ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT

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Open Innovation: research without boundaries

Ongoing collaboration with universities and organisations have allowed us to diversify the raw materials in favour of greater economic, environmental and social sustainability.

1

NATURAL RUBBER FROM RUBBER TREE

>

2

NATURAL RUBBER FROM DANDELIONS

+

3

NATURAL RUBBER FROM GUAYULE

Inside innovation

Products at the environmental finishing line: silica from rice husk

  • < ROLLING RESISTANCE
  • > VEHICLE EFFICIENCY
  • = CAPACITY FOR GRIP, ABOVE ALL IN THE WET

Traditional process

Silica is produced via a chemical process at a very high temperature
which involves the use of fossil fuels.

Pirelli process

The husks act both as biomass for generating the heat energy necessary for the low-temperature process and as a source for the extraction of the material.

FROM RICE HUSK TO SILICA

THIS TECHNOLOGY, PATENTED BY PIRELLI, PROVIDES:

high-quality silica
silica with high economic competitiveness
silica from renewable source
a saving in fossil energy
avoidance of CO2 emissions

Target

Pirelli aims at satisfying with this technology 50% of its own internal
demand in Latin America by 2017