Pirelli MotorSport tires with FSC™ certification ~ Garagem Rio de Janeiro

Milan, 29 February 2024 – Pirelli is the first company to produce a complete line of FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) certified tires for motorsport. From this year onwards all tires used in the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship™ will be branded with the FSC logo. This certifies that all natural rubber used in the tire meets the rigorous environmental and social criteria required by FSC, an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly, socially beneficial and economically sustainable forest management.

This certification, announced on 10 October last year when Pirelli renewed its agreement as Formula 1® Global Tire Partner until at least 2027, will be introduced on all tires used during the season. The FSC certified tires were introduced following an intensive development programme, which began in 2022, which has produced clear results in terms of reliability and performance.

The first free practice sessions of the FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2024 were today the stage for the debut of these certified tyres. This is a significant achievement that reflects Pirelli’s commitment to offering increasingly sustainable performance and solutions, even in a special environment such as motorsport, starting from what is the maximum technological and competitive expression: Formula 1®.

Pirelli confirms itself among the world’s leading companies in the fight against climate change for the sixth consecutive year, entering the «Climate A 2023» list of CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), an international non-profit organization that researches and promotes environmental information. Pirelli was also the first tire manufacturer to receive three stars in the FIA’s Environmental Accreditation Programme.

Together with the FIA ​​and Formula 1®, the Italian company has underlined its position at the forefront in the research and development of new technologies, both on the technical and sporting sides, in support of the work carried out to reduce CO2 emissions during the entire life cycle of a Formula 1 tyre. The FSC certification adds to a series of initiatives already implemented by Pirelli for motorsport in recent years:

All the tires that Pirelli will bring to the track during the Grand Prix weekends – in the F1®, F2™, F3™ and F1 Academy™ championships – will be transformed, after use, into secondary raw materials for multiple circular uses;
The electricity used in the production of F1®, F2™, F3™ and F1 Academy™ tires comes exclusively from 100% certified renewable sources;
The use of “virtual” design technology in all tires significantly reduces not only development times, but above all the number of physical prototypes required and, consequently, the materials used in their production;
Formula 1’s elimination of rain tire covers, debuted in Monaco last year, reduces electricity use;
More simplified logistics, with transport preferably carried out by sea rather than by air, reduces emissions resulting from logistics operations.

GIOVANNI TRONCHETTI PROVERA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT PIRELLI MOTORSPORT, SUSTAINABILITY AND FUTURE MOBILITY:

«The debut of our FSC-certified tires in the world of motorsport represents a significant moment in Pirelli’s sustainability journey. In 2021, we were the first to equip a road car with FSC-certified tyres, and now we are proud to be the first in motorsport too. Formula 1 is an extraordinary outdoor laboratory for us. It allows us not only to design and test new technologies, but also to improve research processes and development for road tires and combine the maximum performance, typical of the demanding automotive environment, with the commitment to making the world increasingly sustainable».

SARA MARIANI, SUSTAINABILITY AND D&I DIRECTOR FIA:

“Pirelli’s implementation of FSC-certified tires in the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship is a strong statement of the company’s commitment to sustainability – not only its own objectives, but also its alignment with the objectives of the FIA’s Environmental Strategy, which aims to reduce the impact of motorsports and strengthen the sport as a catalyst for sustainable innovation and technology. These ambitions were central to the competition. supply of Formula 1 tyres, launched last year by the FIA, for the years from 2025 onwards, and, following a successful application, Pirelli has already admirably begun to innovate in the pursuit of even greater sustainability with the introduction of FSC certified tires in 2024”.

ELLEN JONES, HEAD OF ESG FORMULA 1:

“Formula 1 is proud to partner with Pirelli on sustainability issues at all levels, such as the introduction of FSC-certified tyres. This is an important and positive step forward, and another example of how our partners are demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices as we continue our mission towards Net Zero by 2030. We can’t wait to see the new FSC-certified tires in action this weekend in Bahrain and then for the rest of the season.»

FABIAN FARKAS, INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL:

«The FSC logo and certification are the benchmark for sustainable forest management. The automotive industry must respond to alleviate the pressure that natural rubber production places on forest ecosystems and communities. We applaud Pirelli’s leadership in addressing the complex environmental and socioeconomic challenges of the natural rubber value chain. This initiative demonstrates that performance and sustainability can coexist and FSC stands ready to support companies globally in following this example.»

WHAT IS FSC CERTIFICATION?

The Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) is a non-profit organization, governed equally from environmental, social and economic perspectives, covering more than 150 million hectares of certified forests, being a global reference in forest management. FSC’s rigorous standards require that forests are managed in a way that preserves biological diversity, while benefiting workers and local communities in a cost-effective way. The robust FSC certification process ensures that all certified material is separated from non-certified material throughout the entire supply chain, from plantation to tire production.

PIRELLI NATURAL RUBBER SUPPLY CHAIN

The FSC certification of the natural rubber used by Pirelli to produce tires for the FIA ​​Formula 1 World Championship is the latest step in the company’s long-term program to sustainably manage its natural rubber supply chain. This is achieved through a map of best practices in the different countries of origin of natural rubber, in line with the principles and values ​​set out in Pirelli’s Sustainable Natural Rubber Policy 2017. This document is the result of consultation with key stakeholders in the natural rubber value chain, including international NGOs, Pirelli’s main natural rubber suppliers, manufacturers and sellers in the supply chain, automotive customers and other global organisations.