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GM Announces Plans to Develop Sustainable Natural Rubber Tires

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General Motors is making an industry-first commitment to sourcing sutainable natural rubber

General Motors is working to transform the global rubber and tire supply chain to create a system that is more lasting, environmentally sound, and sustainable. The American automaker is doing so by today announcing an industry-first commitment to sourcing sustainable natural rubber in its tires, an initial step towards creating an industry with net-zero deforestation and a respect for human and labor rights.

“Our supplier partners are an extension of our company,” said Steve Kiefer, the senior vice president of GM’s Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “We want to encourage affordable, safer and cleaner options for our customers that drive value to both our organization and the communities in which we work.”


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GM believes that sourcing tires produced using sustainable natural rubber will have a number of benefits, including the preservation of primary forests, improving yield and quality for natural rubber farmers, and mitigating business risk related to supply chain sourcing and performance and helping to assure the long-term availability of a key commodity.

GM believes that automaker demand should drive tire manufacturers to create sustainable natural rubber policies. For its part, GM will be working with tire suppliers, governments, rubber industry associations, and environmental NGOs to fuel alignment and cut down on supply chain complexity.

GM is also working with suppliers such as Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, and Michelin so that it can develop appropriate transparency into natural rubber that makes it traceable throughout the supply chain. The company is urging its fellow automakers and suppliers to join in the effort, as well.


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