Bridgestone has developed eco-tires for garbage trucks
Bridgestone has announced that it will showcase a prototype tire for waste management vehicles at WasteExpo in Las Vegas, which is made from 70% recycled and renewable materials and will be the first such product available for sale. The novelty is also the first Bridgestone tire in this segment to receive the ISCC Plus certificate, confirming the use of environmentally friendly materials.
The basis for the creation of the tires was the all-position Bridgestone M870 model, developed specifically for use during waste collection in urban streets, which is characterized by increased resistance to wear. In accordance with the so-called "mass balance", the production of the prototype used environmentally friendly synthetic rubber, including butadiene and halobutyl, technical carbon and natural rubber.
As noted by Bridgestone, the "mass balance" method is used to track the flows of alternative materials in complex production and sales chains. In the process of manufacturing tires, certified alternative materials are mixed with traditional raw materials, making them indistinguishable over time. At the same time, using this approach, the company can document and track the exact amount of alternative materials, ensuring that it corresponds to the indicator at the beginning of production.
According to Steve Hoefer, President of Bridgestone's Truck Tires Division, Americas, the debut of the eco-friendly tire is "not a glimpse into the future, but a reality today". "Thanks to the work done with our suppliers, we have created a new version of a proven product that meets the strict requirements of ISCC," he added. "This tire fully confirms that Bridgestone is able to help fleets achieve their environmental goals with premium-class tires."
In the first stage, the tires will be released in a limited batch, which will begin to be used on waste management vehicles before the end of this month.
The WasteExpo exhibition, dedicated to the waste management industry, will be held from May 6 to 9.
Photo: Fleetequipmentmag.com