Environment
"In running its operations the Pirelli Group is mindful of the Environment and public health. A key consideration in investment and business decisions is environmental sustainability, with the Group supporting eco-compatible growth, not least through the adoption of special technologies and production methods (where this is operationally feasible and economically viable) that allow for the reduction of the environmental impact of Group operations, in some cases even below statutory limits.
Pirelli has adopted certified Environmental Management Systems to control its operations, chooses production methods and technologies that reduce waste and conserve natural resources, and assesses the indirect and direct environmental impact of its products and services. The Group works alongside leading national and international organizations to promote environmental sustainability both on a local and a global scale."
(Ethical Code - "Environment")
| Approach | Product | Process |
The Pirelli Group monitors the environmental impact of its tyres through a constant exchange of information and experience with other tyre manufacturers, and participates in the specific working group set up by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
In order to minimize the environmental impact associated with tyre use, Pirelli is constantly engaged in the design and development of compounds and product lines that, by using new materials, innovative internal structures and different tread designs, can reduce rolling resistance while guaranteeing the same performance and can avoid the dispersion of pollutants in the environment during the tyre debris. In particular Research & Development will enable the Group to eliminate highly aromatic oils from its entire worldwide product line by 2013.
Some examples following.
PIRELLI CINTURATO: ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE
Environmental friendliness, safety and performance are the key features of the new Pirelli Cinturato, whose innovative compounds, structure and tread patterns ensure lower consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, greater durability and improved safety characteristics in both wet and dry conditions. In particular, the new Cinturato, available in tread sizes P1 (to be launched in spring 2011), P4, P6 and P7 (dedicated to the premium car segment) and featuring ECOIMPACT on the sidewall, can reduce rolling resistance by 20% and energy consumption by 4%, while increasing overall mileage by up to 30% in the case of the P4 Cinturato line.
SCORPION VERDE PIRELLI: GREEN PERFORMANCE FOR SUVS
Pirelli research and develop activity created new products in 2010 in the car and light truck tyre segment, flanking the existing green line of Cinturato tyres. Scorpion Verde extends the green performance line to the world of SUVs, whose end users need a performance product that is also mindful of the environment.
Fabricated from materials without highly aromatic oils, Scorpion Verde reduces overall fuel consumption by up to 3.9% in city driving and 3.4% in mixed driving conditions (city and highway) as compared with the best-of class in this product category. It also reduces noise by one decibel, or almost a third of the total.
The new tyre has thus been lightened and designed to use up to 10% less raw materials, with the same reduction in environmental impact by unit produced. The strongly ecological character of this tyre is complemented by improved braking, better hold on wet surfaces and handling. In addition to inheriting the ecological experience accumulated by Pirelli technicians with the Cinturato P7, Scorpion Verde develops the high performance technology of the PZero family.
Scorpion Verde already complies with the new European regulation which will be active in 2012-2015, related to cars and tyres’ ecological features.
GREEN TRUCK INNOVATION
The principal objective of research and development in the Truck Business Unit is to strike the right balance between all the characteristics of a Pirelli tyre: performance, safety and environmental friendliness. This means developing a tyre that is not limited to compliance with regulatory requirements governing integrity, eco-compatibility, and so on, but extends to all those elements or factors that a tyre must have to offer complete safety both for the driver and the world surrounding him.
This radically changes the way a tyre is designed, since it implies developing it for any situation, including unusual conditions.
One of the principal eco-compatibility features is reduction of the energy necessary to fabricate the tyres. The use of recyclable raw materials plays a key role in design. Another key aspect is tyre mileage potential: not only its first life, but also the number of re-treads that can be realized on the same casing translate not only into energy savings but also savings of raw materials.
This involves reducing its overall environmental impact while remaining focused on improving the product’s performance.
