GM is Working on Sustainable Natural Rubber Tires

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

GM has made an industry-first commitment to sourcing sustainable natural rubber in its tires.

General Motors is hoping the move will help drive the industry toward net-zero deforestation while upholding human and labor rights. The American automaker believes sourcing tires produced using sustainable natural rubber has many benefits for the business as well as the environment including preserving and restoring primary forests along with high carbon stock areas that are critical to addressing climate change and protecting wildlife.

In addition, by using sustainable natural rubber tires, GM hopes it will also improve yield and quality for natural rubber farmers, supporting the small businesses that contribute 85 percent of the material. Lastly, the commitment will help mitigate business risk related to supply chain sourcing and performance, while helping assure long-term availability of a key commodity.

SEE ALSO: The Best and Worst Tire Manufacturers of 2017: J.D. Power

The automaker will be working with tire suppliers, governments, rubber industry associations and environmental NGOs to drive alignment and reduce supply chain complexity in its move to sourcing sustainable natural rubber for its tires. It is also working with major tire manufacturers including Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Michelin to develop appropriate transparency into natural rubber so that it can ensure its traceability throughout the supply chain.

Discuss this story on our General Motors Forum

Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

More by Jason Siu

Comments
Join the conversation
Next