MONTREAL — A sustainable natural rubber (NR) supply is key to sustainable mobility, a General Motors Co. executive said at Movin'On, Group Michelin's advanced mobility conference.
"We have the opportunity to leverage our resources and our footprint to make a difference for our planet," said Bill Kopicki, director — brakes, tires and wheels for GM's Global Purchasing & Supply Chain, about his company's May 15 announcement that it is collaborating with its rubber and tire suppliers to promote environmentally sustainable NR production.
"We want to lead — we want to make a difference," Mr. Kopicki said at a Movin'On workshop on responsibly supplied NR. "It's in our DNA. But we can't do this on our own. We want to transform the natural rubber supply chain."
In an interview after the workshop, Mr. Kopicki said GM's sustainable NR program arises from the strong, open relationship the auto maker has with its tire suppliers.
"Not one supplier pushed back on this," he said. "We had an open dialogue, and everyone was willing to work together."