Premier Wen Jiabao proposed in this year's government work report that it is necessary to work hard to build an industrial system and productivity model characterized by low carbon emissions. As the "shoe" of a car, the tire is a very important key component of the car. How do tire companies take a sustainable development path?

Ding Yuhua, chairman of the tire division of the China Rubber Industry Association and chairman of the Triangle Group, believes that if tire companies want to continue development, they must take the path of low-carbon economy and green manufacturing. He emphasized that to create new productivity for the tire industry, Delta Group must do the following: First, people-oriented, innovation and technology, and actively develop and apply "green" tire products. The second is to establish a new manufacturing model of the tire industry - "low carbon, green, environmental protection and high efficiency." The third is to actively focus on consumer demand, vigorously promote "green customers, low-carbon consumption" to better protect the environment. Fourth, vigorously develop the tire industry circular economy.

As for the development of the tire industry in China, such as clean and environmental protection, and circular economy, he suggested that the old tires be resolutely required to be included in the banned import catalogue and to accelerate the development of the "eucommia natural rubber industry" of China's strategic green emerging industry.

Old tyres should be included in the import ban

From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, some companies on the southeast coast imported a large number of used tires, causing many tire blowers to turn over. The industry generally believes that waste tires and used tires are inherently difficult to distinguish. If old tires are not listed as an import ban, old tires will flood into China.

Import of used tires will seriously impact China's tire industry and will greatly squeeze the market space of China's tire industry. At present, the total output value of China's tire industry has reached 300 billion yuan, with more than 800,000 employees. Under the restrictions imposed by the United States tire special security case and the European REACH Regulation, China’s tire exports have always faced great difficulties, and now they must be imported. A large number of used tires will cause major damage to China's tire industry and will also cause serious social problems.

Some importers regard China’s commitment to the WTO as the reason. They believe that China’s trade policy can be used to import old tires. However, referring to the practices of other countries, China’s ban on the import of used tires does not violate WTO regulations. In fact, many WTO members have taken measures to prohibit or restrict the import of retreaded tires or used pneumatic tires, including Nigeria, South Africa and other countries. Although the United States has in principle used old tires, its states have formulated different policies or established special funds to control the harm caused by old tires. In 2007, the EU and Brazil submitted their claims to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and the Appellate Body regarding the ban on refurbishment and the import of used tires in Brazil. At that time, the WTO ruled that Brazil had the right to limit the trade of certain commodities on the grounds of environment and health.

At present, the annual production of tires in China is close to 400 million, accounting for more than 1/4 of the world's total tire production. The annual production of used tires is close to 200 million, or about 3 million tons. In China, waste tires are mainly recycled rubber, and tire retreading has long been lagging behind in China. In recent years, China's tire renewal volume accounts for only 4% of new tires, far lower than the world's 10% renovation rate.

The industry generally believes that China's ban on imports of old cars will help protect the healthy and orderly development of China's auto industry and ensure the safety of people's lives and properties. The country does not have the use value of old cars, can use waste, and ease the shortage of iron ore resources in China. Opening child. Similarly, the import of used tyres should also be prohibited.

Accelerating the Development of Eucommia Natural Rubber Industry

The industry generally believes that the development of the second natural rubber resource has become an important issue that the Chinese government urgently needs to solve. Ding Yuhua suggested: Accelerate the development of the "eucommia natural rubber industry" of China's strategic green emerging industry.

Rubber is an important strategic material in China.

According to statistics from the China Rubber Industry Association, the actual demand for natural rubber in China in 2009 reached 2.7 million tons, while the domestic natural rubber production was only about 600,000 tons, and 78% depended on imports.

Ordinary natural rubber (trilobal rubber) is mainly produced in Southeast Asia. It is a very narrow area in China and can only be cultivated in Hainan Island and Xishuangbanna. The production capacity has reached the limit. At present, all natural rubber producing countries in Southeast Asia form a rubber industry alliance, which controls the price and output of natural rubber in the world. The situation in which natural rubber raw materials are subject to human beings is increasingly serious.

“Eucommia is endemic to China, and gutta percha is the world’s only high-quality natural rubber resource with great development prospects other than Hevea Rubber.” The rubber composition modified with gutta percha is wear-resistant, tear-resistant and corrosion-resistant. Anti-slippery, small rolling resistance, energy saving, etc., can partially replace the ordinary natural rubber, but also a good material for the development of high-quality tires.

At present, China's eucommia ulmoides cultivation area is about 350,000 hectares, accounting for more than 99% of the total planting area of ​​the world's Eucommia, and it has monopolistic resource advantages. According to the development scale of 3 million hectares, the annual output of China's eucommia ulmoides can reach 1.2 million tons, which is twice the current production of natural rubber in China, and the shortage of natural rubber resources will be fundamentally solved. According to the development scale of 3 million hectares of Eucommia high-yield plastic orchard, the annual output value of Eucommia ulmoides and its supporting products can reach 177 billion yuan, which is approximately 8.85 times the current national tea production value of 20 billion yuan, and the industrialization prospect is very broad.

Under the strong support of the relevant state departments, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have conducted long-term systematic research on Eucommia, and made important research progress in resources cultivation, pre-industrial research, and comprehensive utilization, which is the development of industrialization of Eucommia ulmoides. Provides a good foundation.

At this year's National People's Congress, Ding Yuhua appealed on behalf of the rubber industry to include the natural rubber industry of Eucommia in the National Twelfth Five-Year Plan and the medium and long-term development plan, increase support for this emerging industry policy and funding, and speed up the cultivation of Eucommia ulmoides' high-yield plastic resources. And scale, in particular, to increase scientific and technological support for the cultivation of Eucommia ulmoides with high-yield rubber seeds, effectively solve the problem of supply of excellent resources for the development of industrialization of Eucommia ulmoides, increase the research and development of Eucommia gum and its supporting products, and establish an industrial system for comprehensive utilization of Eucommia ulmoides. The comprehensive benefits of Eucommia ulmoides, modern Chinese medicine, etc. will be promoted to promote the healthy, sustainable and stable development of the Eucommia gum industry.

In addition to accelerating the development of the "European natural rubber industry", Delta Group has been actively committed to becoming a leader in the "low-carbon development" of China's tire industry, and has advocated and implemented the concept of "low-carbon economy, green manufacturing". The goal is to promote the joint action of the industry and upstream and downstream industries, create new productivity models, establish new industrial economic standards, and lay a good foundation for the Chinese tire industry to move toward a new future!