MICHELIN - 2008 ANNUAL REPORT

the route on foot for schoolchildren; sponsorship of road safety
actions with local car clubs, “your road…your security”, actions
“Don’t drink and Drive!”, revamping of homes for disabled people,
organization of sporting events, donations to sports associations
for the handicap, IT equipment gifts, donations to local Red
Cross, blood drives, course for people to reintegrate the job
market, musical event by Michelin choirs at charity associations,
gifts to the Ligue Contre la Violence Routière (road crime league)
for road safety, furniture gifts to a pediatric hospital, tire gifts to
emergency services, charity or health organizations, financing of
medical equipment, defibrillators or vehicles for hospitals, material
support and participation in the life of schools (services such as
board of examiners, follow-up on students with difficulties);
student meetings; participation in “Girls’ Day” operation to
encourage young women to acquire technical training, company
meetings with students, “Outstanding Women” day in Romania;
funding books for local libraries; prizes for contests, raffles,
charity events, advertising in local magazines.
In Clermont-Ferrand, since 1911 at the initiation of Marcel
Michelin, very strong involvement in the ASM (Association
Sportive Montferrandaise) sports club, both through financial
contributions and hands-on contributions by Group managers:
ASM provides its 3,000 members 3 training sites and 15 sports
sections facilitated by 400 persons, paying special attention to
youth training and monitoring of athletes on health plans.
Africa: tire pressure campaigns, financial support for a disabled
people association.
Asia Pacific: In China, donation as a result of climatic disasters,
the earthquake in Sichuan, donation to an orphanage, financial
support for the building of sports facilities in schools, in Vietnam
helmet wearing campaign with the “Asia Injury Prevention
Foundation”, financial support of schools (buildings, school
grants, IT equipment, library), charity donations, local Red
Cross, donations for local public campaign “Drunk don’t drive”
education campaign on climate change, grants for playgrounds
and green spaces for children, gift tires for emergency services.
Michelin’s contribution to road safety
In line with the commitments of its Michelin Performance and
Responsibility approach, the Group intends to contribute to
improving road safety by talking directly to road users. This desire
is reflected in awareness campaigns, education and training
designed to eliminate dangerous behavior. The Road Safety
Project was deployed throughout Europe during 2008 and has
set a global deployment objective by 2010. The renewal of the
European Road Safety Charter signed in 2004 should take place
in 2009 and demonstrate the constancy over time of Michelin
policy in this subject.
On the one hand, Michelin works in collaboration with other
organizations.
Large-scale programs were set up with multiple private and
public and national and international partners including GRSP
(Global Road Safety Partnership), an association of international
organizations and multinational companies and also nongovernmental
organizations. GRSP focuses its actions on the
countries where road safety issues are most acute (Thailand,
Vietnam, China, Kuwait, South Africa, Poland, Romania, Hungary,
Brazil) and extends technical and legal support and prevention
advice to the governments to urge them to address the problem.
In addition, Michelin worked in 2008 to create a global youth
road safety partnership with WHO that will start its activities in
2009 targeting 16-25 year olds.
And on the other hand, Michelin also acts independently through
its campaigns to motorists and local community involvement
around its sites.
Michelin has identified the most accident-prone behavior in
connection with its core business, tires. In 2008, the “Fill up with
air” awareness building campaigns were rolled out in 10 countries
(seven in the European Union and Kuwait, Norway and Turkey),
giving drivers an opportunity to learn about proper tire inflation
pressure. In all, some 9,500 cars were checked: 61% had at least
one under-inflated tire.
To facilitate proper inflation pressure maintenance, Michelin has
installed 76 free Michelin Man inflation stations (equipment for
measuring and adjusting tire pressure in the form of the Michelin
Man) in service areas or parking lots accessible to the public in
ten countries. In France, 51 Michelin Man inflation stations were
installed, of which 17 on Michelin sites, and the other 34 through
a partnership with motorway networks (29 with ASF and 5 with
COFIROUTE). Michelin Man inflation stations were also installed
in Austria, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania,
United Kingdom and USA.
Michelin supported road safety promotion through protection
measures for the more vulnerable populations: the youth, cyclists,
pedestrians.
For schoolchildren, Michelin has developed an outreach program
“The safest path” deployed in several countries, e.g. Brazil “Na
pista do melhor Caminho”, Fossano (Italy) in partnership with the
municipality. In France, the company organized at Montceau-lès-
Mines, Bassens, Avallon and La Roche-sur-Yon “Michelin Junior
Bike” operations, where young cyclists learn through fun road
traffic rules. Eight similar operations were conducted in Italy (la
Spezia, Pistoia, Santa-Maria-Maggiore, Sauze d’Oulx, Treviso,
Carpi, Padova, Verona), affecting more than 7,000 young people
from 8 to 12 years old. Since 1998, in Italy alone, more than
184,000 children have participated in Junior Bike events.
For adolescents, helmet awareness campaigns were organized
to educate adolescents on the dangers that exist when driving
motorcycles, particularly in emerging countries. Michelin, in
a 6 year partnership with the German automobile club ADAC,
continues the program “Achtung Auto” for 14-15 year olds. The
program has already involved one million children.
For young adults, Michelin distributes materials in driving schools
on tire safety for new drivers.
12. SUPPLIER RELATIONS
Michelin considers it to be the company’s responsibility to
implement sustainable development with its suppliers, particularly
because of the amount of purchases, representing 63% of its net
sales. By establishing a dialogue, the company intends to select
its suppliers not only based on the value of their products and
services, but also in terms of their overall performance, including
social, environmental and ethical activities.
Other Information
Additional Information Consolidated Financial Statements The Managing Partners’ Report Michelin at a Glance
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