Pirelli in Indonesia: From Rubber Plantations to a Model of Social Responsibility
The history of the bond between Pirelli and Indonesia has been over a century in the making. It was in the early years of the twentieth century that the Milan-based company began purchasing hectares of land with rubber-tree plantations in South-East Asia. The company was certainly proud of these acquisitions, as we can see in a poster meticulously drawn in India ink in 1922, which shows all the properties – including production sites and sales offices, as well as plantations – that it had acquired in its first fifty years of operation. The plantations were also photographed by Girolamo Bombelli, whose images of Indonesia are gathered together in two albums now in our Historical Archive. Even then, these snapshots evoked pride and care also in the production of the raw material. In 1963, the plantations became the subjects of another photo shoot, this time by Fulvio Roiter, for Pirelli magazine. And it could hardly have been otherwise, since natural rubber has always been an ingredient of primary importance for the production of Pirelli’s tyres. From the time the business was set up, Pirelli engineers have travelled the world in search of the best rubber plantations. Their quest has focused primarily on quality, combined with care for the environment and sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the product. And it includes respect for people. This has always been a hallmark of Pirelli’s approach and one that is implemented in every country where the company operates.
This commitment to sustainability is as true as ever in Indonesia, starting with the training of the farmers who grow and tap the rubber trees. These farmers have a complex and delicate task, and they are the first link in a quality chain that culminates in the production of tyres. Today Pirelli purchases natural rubber from companies that act as processors, which is to say they buy raw natural rubber directly from farmers and then process it for industrial use. Notably, in 2014, Pirelli entered into a partnership with Kirana Megatara, a company that owns approximately 18% of the natural rubber market in Indonesia. This partnership extends well beyond commercial interactions, for the extra ingredient is corporate social responsibility. The two companies actively engage in sustainability initiatives that help the local farmers and their families, including aspects such as training and the right to education. Scholarships are awarded each year to the children of these farmers, helping them in their intellectual and professional development, and the company’s attention focuses constantly on the environmental impacts of the plantations. All of this without neglecting moments of corporate cohesion, as in the tapping competition – a exciting contest between skilled rubber tree tappers, which not only fosters a sense of competition but also imparts vital knowledge about optimal cultivation and tapping techniques, which are essential for obtaining an ever-purer product.
But there is more to Pirelli’s experience in Indonesia than the production of this raw material of true excellence. Since April 2012, a joint venture with Astra Otoparts has led to the production of motorcycle tyres destined for the Southeast Asian market, making a significant contribution to the worldwide production of Long P tyres.
And then, on 28 October 2021, a three-year project was launched in the Indonesian forest of Hutan Harapan, in collaboration with the BMW Group and BirdLife International. This initiative includes activities to support local communities, forest conservation and the protection of endangered animal species.
Efficiency and sustainability serve as levers of competitiveness, as well as being the foundations of a culture that keeps a watchful eye on every aspect of industrial production. Pirelli in Indonesia clearly proves this.
The history of the bond between Pirelli and Indonesia has been over a century in the making. It was in the early years of the twentieth century that the Milan-based company began purchasing hectares of land with rubber-tree plantations in South-East Asia. The company was certainly proud of these acquisitions, as we can see in a poster meticulously drawn in India ink in 1922, which shows all the properties – including production sites and sales offices, as well as plantations – that it had acquired in its first fifty years of operation. The plantations were also photographed by Girolamo Bombelli, whose images of Indonesia are gathered together in two albums now in our Historical Archive. Even then, these snapshots evoked pride and care also in the production of the raw material. In 1963, the plantations became the subjects of another photo shoot, this time by Fulvio Roiter, for Pirelli magazine. And it could hardly have been otherwise, since natural rubber has always been an ingredient of primary importance for the production of Pirelli’s tyres. From the time the business was set up, Pirelli engineers have travelled the world in search of the best rubber plantations. Their quest has focused primarily on quality, combined with care for the environment and sustainability throughout the entire life cycle of the product. And it includes respect for people. This has always been a hallmark of Pirelli’s approach and one that is implemented in every country where the company operates.
This commitment to sustainability is as true as ever in Indonesia, starting with the training of the farmers who grow and tap the rubber trees. These farmers have a complex and delicate task, and they are the first link in a quality chain that culminates in the production of tyres. Today Pirelli purchases natural rubber from companies that act as processors, which is to say they buy raw natural rubber directly from farmers and then process it for industrial use. Notably, in 2014, Pirelli entered into a partnership with Kirana Megatara, a company that owns approximately 18% of the natural rubber market in Indonesia. This partnership extends well beyond commercial interactions, for the extra ingredient is corporate social responsibility. The two companies actively engage in sustainability initiatives that help the local farmers and their families, including aspects such as training and the right to education. Scholarships are awarded each year to the children of these farmers, helping them in their intellectual and professional development, and the company’s attention focuses constantly on the environmental impacts of the plantations. All of this without neglecting moments of corporate cohesion, as in the tapping competition – a exciting contest between skilled rubber tree tappers, which not only fosters a sense of competition but also imparts vital knowledge about optimal cultivation and tapping techniques, which are essential for obtaining an ever-purer product.
But there is more to Pirelli’s experience in Indonesia than the production of this raw material of true excellence. Since April 2012, a joint venture with Astra Otoparts has led to the production of motorcycle tyres destined for the Southeast Asian market, making a significant contribution to the worldwide production of Long P tyres.
And then, on 28 October 2021, a three-year project was launched in the Indonesian forest of Hutan Harapan, in collaboration with the BMW Group and BirdLife International. This initiative includes activities to support local communities, forest conservation and the protection of endangered animal species.
Efficiency and sustainability serve as levers of competitiveness, as well as being the foundations of a culture that keeps a watchful eye on every aspect of industrial production. Pirelli in Indonesia clearly proves this.
