Here’s why focusing more on tire performance could cut more emissions, faster…
If we really want to get serious about cutting down our carbon footprint in tires, we have to move beyond the tired old debate focusing only on emissions generated by the oil, gas, and electricity used in production.
Scope 1 and 2 provide a detailed analysis of emissions on the production phase, while upstream and downstream emissions that fall under Scope 3 are often “outside” of the scope for which manufacturers are held accountable.
You’d be surprised how many manufacturers focus only on Scope 1 and 2 emissions. And manage to look super green while doing so. When it comes to Scope 3, sustainable sourcing (i.e., biobased materials, waste, or recycled feedstock, etc.) is certainly one part of the equation – and a crucial win for the environment.
But for many products, the emissions associated with performance is where it matters most. Tires are one such case.
World Resources Institute, Greenhouse Gas Protocol. “Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard.“ Accessed: 15 Feb 2022
Tires: downstream emissions outweigh upstream emissions
When you consider the entire lifecycle of a tire, more than 80% of tire-related CO2 emissions occur in the use phase. Which means that in terms of emission reduction, the biggest “bang for your buck” is to improve performance in the use phase, while continuing to minimize emissions upstream.
That’s exactly what we do with CarbonX®.
With CarbonX®, CO2 emission savings are realized by reducing rolling resistance, without compromising wear or grip. The downstream Scope 3 savings here heavily outweigh the CO2 emitted during the production phase (Scope 1 and 2).
For standard ICE passenger car tires, this balance translates into a net savings of 66 tonnes CO2 per tonne CarbonX®. For electric vehicles, we consider the renewable energy contribution in the current power generation mix (~20%). Even so, there is still net savings of 44 tonnes CO2 per tonne CarbonX®.
The sooner we cut of emissions, the better chance we have of limiting the effects of climate change. Why wait?
Learn more about our LCA, our tires, and how CarbonX aligns with long- and short-term sustainability strategies in the tire industry! Don’t miss our presentation on May 19, “CarbonX: A New Spin on CO2 Reduction in PCR Tires.”