04 Sustainability Statement Pollution (E2) l To drive faster progress in scientific research, Michelin joined with nine other tiremakers years ago as founding members of the Tire Industry Project (TIP, https:// tireindustryproject.org/), which has since conducted studies to collect, characterize and understand both TRWP composition and flow, as well as to assess their potential impact on the environment and explore mitigation measures. In 2024, the Chief Executive Officers of the ten TIP member tire manufacturers approved a new work plan for 2024-2025(1). In addition to ongoing research programs, the plan addresses the mitigation of potential impacts, with a commitment to launching pilot projects before the end of 2025 (e.g., to collect and filter roadside runoff and stormwater). In 2024, these initiatives required a financial investment, in addition to the time allocated by members of the TRWP program and the Group’s Pollution Sector Committee. In addition, the capital expenditure plan for the next five years has budgeted funds for projects to continue deploying the Group's strategy in this area. A TRWP target and metric currently being defined Once metrics have been defined to measure TRWP emissions and their known impacts, objectives will be set for both. To measure gains, the TRWP program tracks the milestones reached in the planned deliverables. According to the ESRS disclosure requirement(2), the TRWP metric is directly linked to sales volumes and not to a tire’s environmental performance. In addition to being highly approximative, the metric does not encourage progress, nor does it support an objective comparison with competitors over time. To enable effective tracking of the continuous improvement in this highly complex impact, the Group has been working with the TRWP program to define a more suitable metric that could be shared with the industry(3). Such a metric should be based on abrasion data measured as part of a standardized framework, such as the Euro 7 Regulation emissions standards. However, these data will not be available before 2025, and then only for passenger cars and only in the European Union. As a result, the scope of the approach has to be broadened so that a meaningful, industry-wide metric can be calculated. 4.3.4 MITIGATING AIR AND WATER POLLUTION FROM GROUP OPERATIONS The Group is pursuing its strategy of preventing and controlling pollution by managing the resources needed to activate the Group’s Environmental Policy’s prioritizing hierarchy of levers (Avoid – Reduce – Reuse – Recycle – Renew). To help Group facilities to embrace this process, a directive has been issued specifying the Policy’s principles, objectives and guidelines applicable to their operations, as part of the Group’s commitment to safeguarding the environment at every stage in the product life cycle. The directive is being implemented primarily through the deployment of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in the legacy production plants and research centers, which is delivering continuous gains in the identification and mitigation of environmental impacts both day-by-day and over the long term. The EMS is fully compliant with ISO 14001 standards(4). To manage and mitigate pollution in its own operations, Michelin financed capital projects in its production facilities in 2024. In addition, the capital expenditure plan for the next five years has budgeted funds for projects to continue deploying the Group's strategy in this area. 4.3.4.1 Air pollution: focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 4.3.4.1.1. A VOC program built around an ambitious objective and a 2030 milestone The objective for 2050 is to phase out all VOC-generating organic solvents completely from the tire manufacturing processes. The 2030 milestone is to reduce solvent use by 50% compared to 2019. To meet these targets, levers have been defined by a VOC program underway since 2017. The Group sites’ Environmental Policy addresses this impact and specifically mentions the program’s 2030 milestone. The program is managed by tracking the quantity of solvents used in kilograms per tonne of finished product. (1) Tire Industry Project Commitment to Addressing Tire and Road Wear Particles, a white paper on TRWP mitigation issued in April 2024. (2) See ERSR E2 Disclosure Requirement E2-4, paragraph 28(b). (3) See the 2021 ADAC study, Tyre wear particles in the environment (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, Tyre abrasion: wear and burden on the environment/31940 RMU), updated in March 2022. (4) It covers prevention and protection procedures, in normal and faulty operating conditions, as well as compliance with local regulations. Group guidelines dictate that every new or upgraded production facility, research center or natural rubber processing plant must earn ISO 14001 certification within five years of start-up. 225 2024 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT_MICHELIN
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzMxNTcx