Tyre industry CEOs review environmental research

Los Angeles - Chief Executives from 11 leading tyre companies met on 9 Feb in Los Angeles, to review progress and discuss a joint global research program dealing with potential environmental and health impacts of their products.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, the Companies will work with material suppliers to better understand the current potential and future risks for chemicals in tyres, and perform sample collection and characterization of tyre-wear particles found in the environment. By late 2008, this program should permit a more precise risk assessment of both concerns.

At their last meeting in Geneva in 2005, the companies funded an initial $1 million, independent research program to examine issues related to materials used in tyre manufacturing, and the impact of tyre-wear particles generated during normal product use. Working under the auspices of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) based in Geneva Switzerland, ChemRisk, a San-Francisco-based risk assessment consultant was retained for the initial work. They have now completed scoping work on these two topics, working in close cooperation with DIK (Deutsches Institut für Kautschuktechnologie), the German Institute of Rubber Technology. The result is a multi-year research program to address gaps in existing information on these topics.

Participating companies in alphabetical order include: Bridgestone Corp, Continental AG, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Coy, Hankook Tire Co, Kumho Tire Co Inc., Group Michelin, Pirelli & C., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Toyo Tire & Rubber Co Ltd., and Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin have served as co-leaders of the group's work to date. Representatives of the tyre industry associations in Europe, Japan, Korea, and the United States also attended the meeting.