Hankook begins mass production of tyres using first ISCC PLUS certified carbon black

The Hankook Technodome is the new global R&D-Center of the premium tyre maker. © Hankook

The achievements were realised through the “Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model” consortium collaboration, comprised of Hankook and 12 other Korean companies and institutions.
The global tyre company secured certified carbon black materials suitable for mass production by refining pyrolysis oil from waste tyres.

Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook has commenced the mass production of its tires utilising three types of ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) certified carbon black. The carbon black, derived from end-of-life tyre pyrolysis oil, was developed through the “Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model” consortium.

This commercialisation 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 initiated by Hankook, has focused on continuous collaboration alongside research and development to create sustainable materials suitable for mass production. The project aims to create a circular economy model for producing new tyres from end-of-life tyres in South Korea. Together with 12 other Korean companies and institutions, Hankook is striving to meet global market demand for carbon neutrality and the use of sustainable materials.

Taking a collaborative approach to the circular economy

Hankook has accomplished this next step towards carbon neutrality thanks to its collaborative research efforts together with consortium partners, HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai OCI. The two partners developed the three types of certified carbon black by applying refined oil obtained from the pyrolysis process of end-of-life tyres using a mass balance approach. Their developments have received ISCC PLUS certification, which is a voluntary international certification system for sustainable materials and product circularity. Hankook is now ready to apply these materials for mass production.

This collaboration contributes not only to the tyre industry’s transition toward a circular economy by replacing existing petrochemical-based raw materials with circular materials: It furthermore helps reduce reliance on petroleum resources – conserving natural resources and lowering carbon emissions.

Starting this year, Hankook 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.

The goal: “Net Zero by 2050”

Parallel to its work with the consortium, Hankook continues its unwavering efforts in improving sustainability within the global tyre industry. In 2021, its Geumsan plant in Korea became the first in the tyre 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 became the first company in the Korean tyre industry to receive approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its mid-to-long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals for achieving “Net Zero by 2050”. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to implementing tangible measures that aim to reduce carbon emissions. In 2024, Hankook was awarded the Three-Star Environmental Accreditation by the Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA), the highest level of sustainability certification awarded by the organisation.