Commitments

Michelin’s All-Sustainable approach is based on achieving the best balance between People, Profit & Planet that translates in all its activities.

People

As a responsible, community-minded company, Michelin is committed to respecting human rights in its business and value chain.

Michelin is committed to respect and uphold all human rights and community livelihoods wherever it operates. By creating fair and decent direct or indirect jobs for both men and women, increasing the employability of the local population, notably by supporting access to education and education infrastructures.

Rubber farmers

By promoting best agricultural practices and natural rubber quality, Michelin acts to improve farmer livelihoods.

Six million smallholders make up 85% of natural rubber global production, making them the most important stakeholders. The Group is committed and takes action to improve their livelihoods through research and training programs as well as operational support.

Stakeholders

Interacting with its stakeholders, through an inclusive, transparent and participatory approach is a standard practice at Michelin.

The Group regularly consults with its stakeholders and the main civil society organizations interested in natural rubber issues and works closely with its suppliers. Every two years, Michelin brings these organizations together to report on progress across the natural rubber value chain and to identify potential areas for improvement.

Environment

Increasing the yield per hectare is one of the challenges of the next few years to meet increasing global demand.

Michelin ensures the responsible land management across all its operations and was the first tire manufacturer to adopt a commitment to zero-deforestation in 2015, as part of its sustainable natural rubber policy. Since then, the Group has sourced only natural rubber that has not been deforested. Through the EU regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR), and by ensuring traceability, it provides tangible proof of the non-deforested nature of its rubber.

Furthermore, the Group works alongside local communities and civil society organizations to protect ecosystems, biodiversity, water, soil by developing transparent land-use plans that consider social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Natural resources

The Group focuses on increasing the material efficiency of natural rubber to meet the growing global demand for tires.

To meet the growing demand for tires without excessively increasing the surface area of cultivated land, one of the major challenges for the coming years is to increase the yield, and thus better control land pressure and reduce the risks of deforestation. At the same time, the Group is working to improve the sustainability of tires, promote regulations against programmed obsolescence and policies for recycling or reusing materials.