The European Green Deal from 2019 focuses on a decrease of 90 per cent in greenhouse emissions generated in the transport sector, which are compared to the status in 1990. According to calculations from VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool), CO2 emissions of new, heavy commercial vehicles will have to be reduced by 15 per cent as of 2025 and by 30 per cent as of 2030.
Our editors spoke with Christian Fischer, Sales Manager Truck Tyres Germany at Goodyear, about Goodyear’s Sustainable Reality Survey, which was published last year. The survey gives information on measures transport companies can take to reduce their CO2 footprint. The topic of sustainability has been gaining more and more importance, whereby tyres play an extremely significant role.
Climate discussion
As the climate discussion has been carried out in a far more open way, environmental measures have been taken in many different areas. As a consequence of increased awareness on behalf of the end-consumer, more and more companies proclaim a more sustainable handling of resources and stress the importance of environment protection. In the meantime, more investors check whether companies follow a transparent and effective strategy of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).
In the framework of Goodyear’s Sustainable Reality Survey, 75 per cent of the interviewed companies define sustainability as an important or very important topic. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (the DACH region), even 82 per cent of the companies share this opinion. The answers given in this survey are very informative. They stress that environmental sustainability is at the top of the agenda in the transport industry. Due to still increasing prices for Diesel, among others caused by taxation for CO2, and thus continuing highly competitive conflicts, the main focus is on the fuel consumption of the vehicle fleet.
Goodyear interviewed a total of 985 fleet operators of different sizes from 36 European countries. It becomes obvious that bigger companies and fleets already work based on a future-oriented environmental strategy. Christian Fischer explains that fleet operators with more than 500 vehicles have clearly defined environmental goals.
According to Goodyear, one of the most frequently taken measures refers to a renewal of the vehicle fleet. 68 per cent of the fleet operators have already been modernizing their fleet following eco-friendly criteria. Alternative drives have been making progress. At the moment, all the existing possibilities like vehicles with electro, hybrid or LNG drive are being used and tested.
Green tyre future
The topic of tyres has gained far more importance. The use of fuel-efficient tyres stands for a crucial and simple measure, and it has just been boosted by more fleet operators. In that area, Goodyear tries to support commercial end-consumers with its truck tyre Fuelmax Endurance. Christian Fischer highlights that this premium product is able to minimize fuel costs in combination with still high mileage. Nonetheless, secondary brands of the Goodyear group are also supposed to represent a combination of lower operating costs with high mileage.
Retreading stands for a further adjustment screw for a decrease in costs and a reduction of the CO2 footprint. Reusable carcasses are an excellent foundation to produce a reusable truck tyre in a high-quality retreading process. Fleet operators are enabled to act in a sustainable way using fewer raw materials and less energy combined with reduced amounts of waste. At Goodyear, high-quality treads are used in retreading so that retreaded tyres can compete with new tyres. Moreover, a retreaded tyre also offers low rolling resistance and thus similar mileage.
Christian Fischer stresses that specialized tyre trade should intensify the exchange of information on retreading with existing fleet customers. A complete support should include fleet checks focusing on the condition and the pressure of the tyres. These measures could increase customer loyalty. Furthermore, an intensive cooperation during the annually offered de-minimis support programmes should be added too. Specialized tyre dealers having holistic concepts on offer will be able to establish long-term customer loyalty.
