BMW has become the first car manufacturer to produce FSC-approved natural rubber and viscose fiber tires. The company claims all raw materials come from responsible sources, and the BMW X5 xDrive45e will be the first to get the new footwear.
BMW and FSC have a history of working together. In 2013, the carmaker switched to using responsible sources of natural wood to produce the interior trim of the i3 hybrid. Last year, it found a nature-friendly source of wood veneer for the iX SUV.
Pirelli will be manufacturing the tires for BMW at a factory that should soon receive the necessary approvals and certificates.
With the demand for natural rubber growing year to year, its annual production volume now borders on 20 million metric tons. The constant expansion of rubber tree plantations puts regular forests in danger, and FSC has been created to combat this change.