Hankook Tire begins mass production of tires using first certified carbon black through Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model consortium

- The achievements were realized through a Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model consortium collaboration, involving 12 other Korean companies and institutions.
- The company secured certified carbon black materials suitable for mass production by refining pyrolysis oil from waste tires.

Seoul, Korea, October 29, 2024 — Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has commenced the mass production of its tires utilizing three types of ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) PLUS certified carbon black. The carbon black, derived from end-of-life tire pyrolysis oil, was developed through the Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model consortium.

This commercialization marks the company’s first achievement following the launch of the Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model consortium in November 2023. The consortium, a project launched by Hankook Tire, has focused on continuous collaboration along with research and development to create sustainable materials suitable for mass production. The project aims to create a circular economy model for producing new tires from end-of-life tires in South Korea. Together with 12 other Korean companies and institutions, Hankook Tire is striving to meet global market demand for carbon neutrality and the use of sustainable materials.

Hankook Tire has achieved this outcome through collaborative research with consortium partners HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai OCI. HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai OCI developed the three types of certified carbon black by applying refined oil obtained from the pyrolysis process of end-of-life tires using a mass balance approach and received ISCC PLUS certification, a voluntary international certification system for sustainable materials and product circularity. Hankook Tire is now ready to apply these materials for mass production.

This collaboration contributes not only to the transition of the tire industry toward a circular economy by replacing existing petrochemical-based raw materials with circular materials, but also helps reduce reliance on petroleum resources, conserving natural resources and lowering carbon emissions.

Starting this year, Hankook Tire will apply certified carbon black to its products, leveraging the material to meet global sustainability requirements. Additionally, the company will continue to work closely with consortium partners to develop carbon black made with 100% pyrolysis oil, aiming for 100% use of sustainable materials by 2050 and thereby accelerating the development of circular materials through the consortium.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire continues its unwavering efforts to enhance sustainability within the global tire industry. In 2021, its Geumsan plant in Korea became the first in the tire industry to obtain ISCC PLUS certification. This was followed by its plant in Hungary, which received the same certification in 2023, establishing a foundation for incorporating sustainable materials into mass production.

Additionally, in August 2023, Hankook Tire became the first company in the Korean tire industry to have its mid to long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals for achieving “Net Zero by 2050” approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This demonstrates the company’s commitment to implementing tangible measures that aim to reduce carbon emissions. In 2024, Hankook Tire was awarded the Three-Star Environmental Accreditation by the Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA), the highest level of sustainability certification awarded by the organization.