法國輪胎製造商米其林提出「Ambition 2048」計畫，要在2048年達到輪胎用料80％為永續材料，並且回收再利用率達到100％。
2018年全球報廢輪胎達10億個
世界永續發展工商理事會估計，2018年全世界將產生10億個報廢輪胎，約2500萬噸。今日全球輪胎再製率為70％，回收率為50％，多的20％轉化為能量。相較之下，塑膠包裝或容器每年回收率僅14％。
為實現「Ambition 2048」，米其林正在投資高科技回收技術，以期將永續材料比例拉高到80%。
米其林總部位於克萊蒙費朗，目前在全球有11萬1700名員工，遍佈170個國家，在17個國家擁有68個生產基地，2016年共生產1.87億個輪胎。
「Biobutterfly」計畫 啟動輪胎循環經濟
米其林計畫用它的新輪胎「VISION」建立循環經濟。這種新概念輪胎不需要充氣，將採用生物來源和回收材料製成，胎面可由生物分解，透過3D列印再製。
今日輪胎的成份包含超過200種原料。輪胎工業中使用的橡膠中有60％是用石油衍生碳氫化合物製成，剩下的40％仍然是天然橡膠。
米其林的「Ambition 2048」永續發展目標包括致力研究生物來源材料。2012年米其林與「Axens」石化公司和法國石油能源研究所（IFP Energies Nouvelles）共同啟動「Biobutterfly」計畫。
「Biobutterfly」計畫致力於透過生物材料製作合成橡膠，例如木材、禾稈（straw）和甜菜。
專利技術 回收輪胎轉化為永續材料
米其林也試著將更多可回收和可再生材料整合進輪胎中。2017年底米其林收購了總部位於美國喬治亞州的「Lehigh Technologies」化學公司，該公司的專利技術是把回收輪胎轉製成高科技微粉化橡膠粉末。
這些創新材料減少了輪胎生產所需的非再生原料數量，如合成橡膠或碳煙。
微粉化橡膠粉末是一種低成本的永續材料，可代替輪胎製程中使用的其他材料，以及塑膠、瀝青和建築材料。
世界許多輪胎大廠以及瀝青和建築材料專業公司已經是「Lehigh Technologies」公司的客戶。
藉著「Ambition 2048」，米其林估計將實現：
＊每年省下3300萬桶石油，足以填滿16.5個超級油輪
＊法國每個人一個月的總能量消耗
＊每年省下一台一般轎車（8L / 100公里）跑650億公里的油耗
To the French tire manufacturer Michelin, Ambition 2048 means a whole new strategy of using sustainable materials in tire manufacturing and recycling. It means that in the year 2048 Michelin plans to manufacture its tires using 80 percent sustainable materials, and that 100 percent of those tires will be recycled.
Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 170 of the world’s 197 countries, has 111,700 employees and operates 68 production facilities in 17 countries, which collectively produced 187 million tires in 2016.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development estimates that in 2018 there will be one billion end-of-life tires generated in the world – around 25 million tons.
Today the worldwide recovery rate for tires is 70 percent and the recycling rate is 50 percent. The remaining 20 percent are transformed into energy. By comparison, 14 percent of plastic packaging or containers are recovered each year.
To accomplish Ambition 2048, Michelin is investing in high technology recycling technologies that will enable the company to increase this content to 80 percent sustainable material.
Michelin plans to help create a circular economy with a new tire concept called VISION. This airless tire would be made of bio-sourced and recycled products with a biodegradable tread that is renewable with a 3D printer.
Today, over 200 raw materials go into tire composition. Sixty percent of the rubber used in the tire industry is synthetic, produced from petroleum-derived hydrocarbons, although natural rubber is still necessary for the remaining 40 percent.
Michelin’s Ambition 2048 sustainable development goal includes a commitment to research into bio-sourced materials, such as Biobutterfly, a program launched in 2012 with Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles.
Biobutterfly involves the creation of synthetic elastomers from biomass such as wood, straw or beet.
Michelin is integrating more recycled and renewable materials in its tires. This strategy motivated the acquisition in late 2017 of the American company Lehigh Technologies, based in Georgia, which specializes in high technology micronized rubber powders derived from recycled tires.
These innovative materials reduce the amount of non-renewable raw materials needed for tire production, such as elastomers or carbon black.
Micronized rubber powder is a low cost sustainable material that can substitute for other components used in the manufacture of tires, as well as plastics, asphalt and construction materials.
Major world tire manufacturers, as well as companies specialized in asphalt and construction materials are already Lehigh Technologies’ customers.
When Ambition 2048 is achieved, Michelin estimates that the potential savings will be equivalent to:
* – 33 million barrels of oil saved per year, enough to fill 16.5 supertankers
* – One month’s total energy consumption of everyone in France
* – 65 billion kilometers driven by an average sedan (8L / 100 km) per year
※ 全文及圖片詳見：ENS
