20 anniversary - Tire Industry Project

20 Years of the Tire Industry Project

From their early, simplistic origins, today’s tires have come a long way in terms of technology, design and materials, thanks to advances in science, innovation and engineering. Yet, the value they bring remains unchanged – they continue to keep people connected and the world moving.

Founded in 2005, the Tire Industry Project (TIP) was established by a group of leading tire company CEOs with an idea that was ahead of its time – to anticipate, understand, and address global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues relevant to the tire industry and its value chain.

Since then, TIP has evolved into a global platform for the tire industry’s engagement on ESG matters. What began as a proactive initiative, is now a long-term commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, driving stakeholder collaboration and improving industry practices.

As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re proud to work with:

10 leading tire companies,
representing 60% of the world’s tire manufacturing capacity, united by a common vision and commitment towards ESG matters

8 affiliate members
amplifying our reach and impact

A distinguished
Assurance Group
of independent experts, providing objective counsel and guidance

Together, we’re working towards building a more sustainable future.

Larisa Kryachkova

Executive Director
Tire Industry Project

TIP took shape 20 years ago, at a time when few people were talking about sustainability. The Sustainable Development Goals came seven years later, demonstrating how the idea of TIP was nothing short of pioneering.  

What began as a visionary idea is now a commitment that has stood the test of time – bringing together expert voices, advancing scientific research and driving global impact across the tire life cycle.

I’m proud of what TIP has achieved in the last few years – from establishing the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, to creating and nurturing a research ecosystem that can strengthen our science base and guide future developments, to engaging with stakeholders across the board to drive mitigation measures and industry best practices.

None of this would have been possible without our members, affiliates and partners. I’m deeply grateful for their continued commitment and active involvement in our mission.

As we look ahead to the next 20 years and beyond, I’m confident that we can go even further to deepen our impact and accelerate the pace of change together.

20 years of Helping to
Drive Impact

We’ve come a long way in the last 20 years – learning, evolving and innovating together with our members and partners. We’ve had many successes and uncovered new opportunities, but at the same time, we have had our share of challenges and uncertainties. But thanks to the shared vision and drive, we’ve kept moving forward.

As we reflect on our progress, we recognize that there is still much to do. We’re committed to driving sustainability across the entire tire lifecycle, and building on past achievements that have shaped our journey so far:

Putting science front and center

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TIP was founded on the belief that strong science can enable better decisions and outcomes. Scientific research is the foundation for understanding the challenges we face and for identifying the most effective solutions.

Over the last two decades, we’ve partnered closely with the scientific community, supporting numerous independent, peer-reviewed studies that seek to better understand the environmental impact of tires, particularly during their “use phase”.

These studies have been cited thousands of times, standing testimony to our ongoing contribution to advancing scientific understanding of the most pressing sustainability challenges.  

We continue to nurture a collaborative ecosystem not only through our own research but through funded programs, open call for projects and global research conferences, while also helping shape globally recognized standards and methodologies – including ISO frameworks and Product Category Rules (PCRs) – to improve sustainability assessments across the tire lifecycle.

Driving sustainability - right from the start

Sustainability starts long before a tire hits the road – it begins with how it’s made.

Among the 200+ components and materials that make up a tire, natural rubber stands apart. That’s why TIP along with its members took early action to champion and promote sustainable natural rubber sourcing.

With a desire to drive meaningful change, in 2018 we brought together stakeholders from across the rubber value chain – farmers, processors, traders, car makers, and many more – to create the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR).

The GPSNR is dedicated to building a fairer, more equitable and environmentally sound natural-rubber value chain.

Today, it operates independently, with over 200 members representing more than 55% of global natural rubber volume.

Advancing End-of-Life Tire Management

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While the materials of a tire represent the beginning, we cannot ignore the end. At TIP, we see end-of-life tires (ELTs) as a valuable resource for the circular economy – one where an old tire can be given a second life as material for roads, infrastructure and beyond.

Over the last 20 years, we’ve been working to turn our ELT insights into real-world action – from identifying knowledge gaps with our Global State of Knowledge reports, to developing sustainable ELT management standards and methods with our ELT Management Toolkit. We’ve also brought together hundreds of stakeholders including Governments, equipping them with the tools, knowledge and networks to act on ELT, building capacity and awareness.

While there is still more work to be done in many parts of the world, today the tire sector stands out as one of the most advanced industries in end-of-life product management.

Strengthening industry transparency through reporting

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Without clear and transparent reporting, ambitions and commitments are no more than just words.

Measurement matters, and for nearly a decade, TIP has mobilized its members to report on shared sustainability KPIs, evolving how progress is tracked, leading to increased accountability and action across the industry.

Our successive KPI reports have shown continued progress in the reduction of our members’ carbon footprint and water usage while indicating a significant increase in renewable electricity use and responsible sourcing, among others

Driving action with a clear vision for the future

Complementing our reporting is a clear vision for the future, which we set out in the first-ever UN Sustainable Development Goals roadmap for the tire sector.

Launched in 2021, the Roadmap provides a shared framework for action that outlines how the industry can contribute to the ambitions of the UN SDGs. 

Today, it continues to guide, inform and support decision-making across the tire value chain, reflecting our belief that together, we can build a more sustainable future – for people, for the planet and for the road ahead.

Want to see how far we’ve come? Discover the highlights of our 20-year journey on our timeline

Looking
ahead

With an ambition to accelerate progress over the next 20 years and beyond – delivering on the safety, performance and sustainability of tires – our work is more crucial than ever before.

We want to thank all our members, affiliates and scientific advisors (past and present) whose guidance, dedication and commitment have put us in a strong position to cover new ground in the years to come.

Thank you to
our community

Tire Industry Project members

Continental

Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tires and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Since its foundation in Hanover, Germany in 1871, Continental has been developing pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Over the past 150 years, the company has set standards in the tire industry with its pioneering spirit and innovative strength. Time and again, it was Continental’s engineers who, with their ground-breaking inventions, ensured that tires became safer, more efficient, and sustainable. Meanwhile Continental is connecting its tires and their sensors to the cloud and offering its customers completely new, smart and digital tire solutions and services. These include tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.

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