The path to a more sustainable product can take various directions depending on a number of key variables. In the tire industry, there have been progressive efforts over the past few decades to improve the overall environmental footprint. From recycling end-of-life tires to improving fuel efficiency through better rolling resistance to reducing the impact of tire wear particles, large strides have been made. However, the future of sustainability is still ripe with opportunities. Material developments, tire recycling, and manufacturing processes provide opportunities for continued improvement. Testing and validation has a critical role in reducing potentially negative unintended consequences. This presentation will kick off the 2024 conference by covering current sustainability trends in the industry and introduce some of the key topics that will be addressed during the Traction Summit.
 
Dr. James A. Popio | Vice President of Operations - North America, Smithers

This panel will discuss how the automotive industry in the US and Globally can work together to create consistency & agreement.

• Shared common definitions – industry consensus, what are the pieces that need to come together.
• Clearly defined terms, goals etc
• Globally accepted standards

Panelist:

• Dr. John Baldwin – Chief Product & Technical Strategist, Discount Tire
• June Satterfield Director Industry Standards and Government Regulations, Michelin North America
• Jay Spears – Director of Standards and Regulation, The Americas, Continental Tire

John Baldwin, Ph.D. | Sr. Vice President, Discount Tire

Rivian was founded to help individuals and businesses solve a “once-in-a-planet” challenge. Developing and sharing the life cycle carbon footprints for our vehicles is an important part our sustainability strategy, allowing us to communicate our progress and provide transparency to our stakeholders. This presentation will provide an overview of the Rivian’s carbon footprints and how tires play a crucial role in our sustainability efforts
Nick Santero | Principal, Sustainability Science, Rivian

Alyssa Barbuto | Environmental Sustainability Lead, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America

To be confirmed

•    Future OEM needs from tires
•    OEM Sustainability goals how can the tire industry support 
•    Challenges, experiences industry wide opportunities for collaboration
•    EV impact on general automotive landscape, manufacturing, tires, lightweight materials
•    Impact electrification on tire requirements and design Sustainability 

Moderator: June Director Industry Standards and Government Regulations, Michelin North America
Panelists:
Alyssa Barbuto , Environmental Sustainability Lead, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC
 
Nick Santero, Rivian 

 

While the tire industry is continually evolving, many internal and external factors are currently driving rapid change and innovation. Governments are looking more closely at environmental stewardship, which covers everything from more fuel-efficient tires to a review of the effects of raw materials like 6PPD to particle emissions in general. Tire treadwear characteristics are also being discussed not only from an emissions standpoint, but also from the perspective of understanding tire traction performance at varying levels of wear. The industry is balancing all of these important drivers of innovation with overall tire performance and safety for the consumer. This discussion will take a broad look at current global regulatory and research activities and how they are affecting both tire development and testing.
Joshua Guilliams | Vice President, Consulting Materials Science and Engineering, Smithers

Abstract to come
Ken Rider | California Energy Commission

• Low rolling resistance tires are one of the most impactful strategies for achieving energy efficiency gains and reducing short-term greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, yet there are no statewide or federal policies adopted in the U.S. to spur greater usage in the replacement tire market.
• With federal efforts focused on Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, Washington is among several states working on or considering action to fill this policy gap for replacement tires.
• This presentation will give a brief update on Washington’s consideration of legislation to pursue replacement tire energy efficiency standards that would expand access to existing tire technology for all drivers.
• The presentation will be followed by a conversation with audience attendees about how government agencies can work together with industry experts to craft energy efficiency policies that save money for consumers, improve tire safety performance, and reduce pollution.    

Steven Hershkowitz | Transportation Electrification Policy Lead Energy Policy Office, Clean Transportation Washington State Department of Commerce

•    Environmental Concerns
•    Relevant regulations Case studies of technological progress in carbon reduction and decarbonization 
•    Tire Recycling & Manufacturing - Reduced energy use and waste in manufacturing?
•    Improved recycling and reclamation of tire material at end of life (or extension of life by retreading) 
•    General corporate governance towards low carbon footprint

 

In 2023, the two largest tire industry associations( US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA)) partnered to identify, support and promote economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions for recycling tires by convening stakeholders, facilitating fundraising for innovation, supporting R&D, identifying best practices, and providing education and technical assistance as needed to ensure that all tires manufactured are recycled into value added and sustainable products. This session will discuss how the Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF) is assuming a vital role in catalyzing the tire industry toward greater circularity by gathering the resources of industry stakeholders at the highest level.

 
Dick Gust | CEO, Tire Industry Association

•    Overview of Hyundai global sustainability goals and strategies
•    Repurposing scrap tires as a filler in hard plastics
•    Tire design and environmental remediation
 
Amanda Nummy | Senior Polymer Materials Engineer, Hyundai Motor Group

•    Overview of the US retread market, including results from our annual state of the industry survey of our members
•    2024 Forecast for retreading and a mid-year check-in
•    Overview of external issues impacting the US retread industry
•    Financial case study for fleets’ use of retreaded tires 
•    A look at the sustainability benefits of retreading and some of TRIB's and our members’ efforts to highlight sustainability in retreading
•    A discussion on the future of retreading, including technological advancements in the field
 
David Stevens | Managing Director, TRIB

The mission of the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program within California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control is to advance the design, development, and use of products that are chemically safer for people and the environment.  The SCP program utilizes a novel approach to regulate chemicals in consumer products, including the requirement for manufacturers to conduct an Alternative Analysis to evaluate safer alternatives in the products that SCP regulates, such as motor vehicle tires containing 6PPD. This presentation will provide an overview of the SCP program with updates on 6PPD, and other tire-related work.
 
Alyssa Demko | Environmental Scientist, DTSC (California Department of Toxic Substances Control)