Sustainability Channel

Let’s focus on the reduction of CO2

The challenge of climatic change is probably the most complex that humanity has ever had to face. With the Kyoto Protocol, Europe has established ambitiousobjectives (the 20-20-20 policy) which commits it to achieving these values over those of 2005 by 2020:

20% reduction in the emission of greenhouse gasses;
20% increase in the use of renewable energy sources;
20% improvement in energy efficiency.

That constitutes an important opportunity for European companies. The development of innovative new abilities leading to the creation of new resources in an ever-conscious perspective of sustainable growth. A motto of the Energy Week is ‘Decarbonise our Future’: in other words, reduce our energy dependence on combustible fossils, which are directly responsible for CO₂ emissions.

Pirelli has supported this common effort by monitoring its own greenhouse gas emissions since 2002 and developing increasingly accurate calculus models. In the future, carbon governance will become an ever more important instrument, together with those that already exist, in the decision-making process concerning the creation of sustainable value.

In that context, Pirelli has purposely fixed objectives to reduce  greenhouse gas specific emissions* by 15% over 2009 levels by the end of 2015. Under this scheme, 2010 emissions were just under 5% less, due especially to initiatives adopted for increasing energy efficiency. And, still on the subject of sustainability, a specific action plan is now being developed to further reduce emissions.

You’ll find more information on http://www.eusew.eu/

*by specific emissions we mean those normalised on annual tyre production: this data is an indicator of the real quality of the transformation process, unconnected with the values of the annual variation in quantity produced.

This week let’s speak about energy

The European Union Sustainability Energy Week is a key event for the more energy-sustainable future of the Old Continent. Between 11 and 15 April, hundreds of initiatives taking place around Europe with the objective of promoting, discussing and sharing the intelligent use of energy resources. At the events, organised by the European Commission, energy consumers and producers will actively participate in conferences, workshops and educational activities that will include the opportunity of visiting companies and factories that generate or use renewable energy and technology for energy efficiency. In addition, there will be a series of conventions in Brussels, the headquarters of the event, which will involve not only research but also schools with the objective of making future generations aware of the need to respect the environment.

This week Pirelli will also take part in this important initiative.

Pirelli’s energy

Pirelli mostly uses electricity in its industrial activity, as it constitutes almost half of its total energy consumption; of that quantity, it is estimated that no less than 40% comes from renewable sources. The other half is thermal energy, obtained from the combustion of natural gas or purchased.

In that context, every year Pirelli responsibly undertakes action plans aimed at further reducing consumption in a world in which the connection between energy consumption and environmental impact is more than evident.

• The improvement of energy management systems through the precise measurement and daily attention paid to technical indicators.
• Improvement of the quality of energy transformation, optimising resources and plant.
• Improvement in the efficiency of the distribution system.
• Recovery of energy for further use.
• The application of maintenance plans with a view to reducing waste.

Faced with the industrial plan’s objective of reducing energy specific consumption* by 15% in the five years 2010-2015 compared to that of 2009, these targeting initiatives ensured a reduction of over 5% in 2010.

You can find more information on: http://www.eusew.eu/

(*) Specific consumption means that which is normalised on annual tyre production: this data is an indication of the true quality of the transformation process, unconnected with the value of annual variations in quantities produced

Pirelli for the 10th year in the Financial Times sustainability indices

Pirelli has been reconfirmed by the Financial Times share indices – FTSE4Good – FTSE Global and FTSE4Good Europe – for socially responsible investment for the 10^th consecutive year.