Hankook Tire to attend Sustainability in Tires 2024 conference hosted by Smithers

- Hankook Tire will participate in the Sustainability in Tires 2024 conference to discuss electric vehicle tires, sustainable development, and other key industry issues
- The company will share its industry-leading technology and achievements, including expanding the application of sustainable materials with a focus on iON
- The company will present key achievements, including accomplishment such as applying sustainable raw materials and establishing a sustainable circular economy

Seoul, Korea, October 14, 2024 — Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) will participate in the Sustainability in Tires 2024 conference, hosted by Smithers, a global testing and standards organization, on October 15-16 in Shanghai, China.

The conference will serve as a platform to explore groundbreaking innovations and trends in tire technology, as well as to discuss electric vehicle tires, the circular economy, and sustainable development. Industry experts will share knowledge and networks for the future of the tire industry while seeking sustainable solutions.

At the conference, Hankook Tire will introduce the latest research and development on the application of sustainable materials, with a focus on its EV-specific tire brand, iON. Through this initiative, the company aims to actively promote its industry-leading sustainability technologies, bolstered by significant investments.

Also, the company plans to announce key achievements such as earning International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification. ISCC PLUS is a voluntary international certification system that promotes the sustainability and circularity of raw materials and products. It holds the highest credibility in sustainable certification, achieved through transparent and thorough auditing and verification of the entire process, from raw materials to production and final products.

Key announcements will include the achievement of ISCC PLUS certification, the company’s sustainable management strategies, sustainable raw material development and application to mass-produced products. The achievements of establishing a circular economy model for end-of-life tires will also be shared.

Additionally, Hankook Tire is undertaking company-wide efforts to strengthen its sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. Based on the ‘E.Circle’ Strategy, which aims to establish a sustainable circular economy, the company applies four principles – recycle, renewable, reuse, and reduce – across all stages of product manufacturing to focus on developing sustainable products.

During the event, the company will explain the status of replacing traditional tire materials with renewable and recycled materials, including ▲bio-based silica ▲recycled PET (polyester) textile tire cords ▲bio-circular synthetic rubber▲ recycled carbon black▲ natural and certified resin ▲certified carbon black and ▲recycled steel cord.

Hankook Tire is dedicated to developing products with the same high durability and performance as those made with conventional materials, even when utilizing sustainable raw materials. The company has expanded the range of sustainable raw materials applicable to mass production and is actively conducting research and development to discover additional sustainable options.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire remains steadfast in its efforts to enhance sustainability in the global tire industry. In 2021, its Geumsan plant in Korea became the first in the tire industry to obtain ISCC PLUS certification, followed by its plant in Hungary, which received the same certification in October 2023. It paved the way for the mass production of products utilizing sustainable raw materials.

Furthermore, 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, the company also earned the FIA Three Star Environmental Accreditation from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the highest level of environmental and sustainability certification.