Triangle Group issues green challenge to suppliers, Customers

ERJ staff report (TB)

Las Vegas, Nevada (SEMA) - Triangle Group Co. Ltd., one of China's largest tyre makers, is going green and is challenging its suppliers and customers to take up the challenge as well.

In a presentation to customers, employees and the press at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, Triangle Chairman and President Ding Yuhua challenged the company's employees and partners to work together to help Triangle achieve “low-carbon economy, green manufacturing” as civilization transitions to ecological-based from industrial-based.

“We are committed to build a development model that integrates our financial, social and environmental responsibilities and abide by the guidelines of 'promoting human progress,'” Mr. Ding told those gathered at an evening reception at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas in a presentation called, “Triangle Manifesto for a Green Earth.”

Specifically, Mr. Ding said the company's tyre plant under construction near Weihei, Shandong Province, is being engineered to minimise energy consumption and reduce materials wastage. He did not say whether Triangle will seek ISO 14000 certification for the plant.

In existing operations, Mr. Ding said Triangle has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 293 kg per metric ton of rubber processed over the past four years, or the equivalent of taking 2,500 cars off the road each year.

In addition, Triangle has adopted low aromatic process oils for all its tyre manufacturing, in line with legislation in Europe that calls for a ban on the use of aromatic-rich oils, which are considered carcinogenic, by January 2010.

Triangle also claims to be producing a new generation of tyres that are measurably lower in rolling resistance, although the company did not cite specific test data in support of the claims.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)