ROME, GA: Pirelli has become the first company in the world to produce a range of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified tires made from natural rubber and rayon for BMW’s new X5 xDrive45e Plug-in-Hybrid.

FSC certification confirms that plantations are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring economic viability.

The complex chain of custody certification process verified that FSC-certified material has been separated from non-certified material along the supply chain, from plantations to tire manufacturing.

BMW conducted a full-cycle CO2 certification for its new car from raw material procurement, the supply chain, manufacturing and the use phase, to recycling.

The new tire will be produced at Pirelli’s Rome, GA factory and is the result of a natural rubber supply chain managed in consultation with key stakeholders including NGOs, suppliers, growers and traders, customers, and multilateral global organisations.

“We congratulate Pirelli for their commitment to responsible sourcing and for demonstrating that a transparent value chain is possible for natural rubber from smallholders to the market,” said FSC International Chief Markets Officer Jeremy Harrison.

“We also applaud BMW for supporting the development of the FSC-certified tire and for choosing it to equip one of their new models. This is a major step forward in the journey towards a more sustainable natural rubber value chain, thereby helping to mitigate deforestation and support the fight against climate change.”