Michelin has set out plans to ensure all of its tyres will be made using 80% sustainable materials and to recycle 100% of its tyres by 2048.

Michelin’s plans set out that its tyres will made of 80% sustainable materials (recycled and renewable resources) and 100% will be recycled by 2048

The plans were announced at the Movin’On 2018 sustainable mobility conference and will see the tyre giant look to build on the world-wide recovery rate for tyres of 70% and the 50% recycling rate.

Michelin tyres are currently made using 28% sustainable materials and the drive to increase this to 80% will be achieved through research programmes into bio-sourced materials like Biobutterfly, which was launched in 2012 with Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles to create synthetic elastomers from biomass such as wood, straw or beet.

Michelin is also investing in high technology recycling so that by 2048 tyres are 100% recycled for the vehicles of the future. This will also be achieved through partnerships and identifying new ways to recycle tyres or new outlets for recycled tyres.

Achieving both ambitions will equate to saving 33 million barrels of oil per year.