Michelin will be turning yogurt cups and PET bottles into tires

MANILA: Michelin is making an innovative and interactive presence at the 2021 IAA Mobility Event in Munich, Germany. Six Michelin teams will be traveling around downtown Munich during the event to promote recycling of plastic waste and emphasize the company’s plans in making its tires as sustainable as possible.

The teams consist of German Michelin employees. They will be joined by the world-famous Michelin Man in raising awareness on the possibility of transforming plastic wastes into tires.

The first Michelin tires to be made up of recycled yogurt cups and PET bottles will be hitting the road by 2024. According to Michelin, around four million PET bottles will be recycled every year to be used as raw material for tires. The Michelin teams at the IAA targets to collect enough plastic for the first 100 tires during the event.

In a statement, Michelin Europe North Chief Executive Officer Anish Taneja said, “In one tire, we can process up to 143 yogurt cups and around 12.5 PET bottles* with the high-tech recycling processes. We want to address society's plastic problem and offer solutions.”

The Michelin booth on Munich’s Konigsplatz will also exhibit the recycling process. The “Michelin REGEN’Lab” will showcase how raw materials for new tires are made from wood, PET plastic, or packaging waste.

Michelin targets to use 40% sustainable materials, such as natural rubber or sunflower oil, on the production of its premium tires by 2030. The company also aims entirely use sustainable raw materials in its tire production by 2050.

The company will also be presenting the Michelin Vision Concept, its vision of the future of recycled tires, during the event. This is composed of 100% recyclable sustainable material, 3D-printed and puncture resistant. There will also be an electric vehicle running on prototype Michelin Uptis tires, a vision that is set to go into production by 2024.

Photos from Michelin

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