Achieves CDP Climate Change top rating for the second consecutive year, demonstrating globally recognized ESG capabilities
Strengthens climate change response competitiveness through an enhanced carbon-reduction roadmap and governance framework
Expands ISCC PLUS certification across global production sites and advances sustainable material development through open innovation

Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook Tire) has earned the highest ‘A’ rating in the Climate Change category of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the second consecutive year.

CDP is a globally recognized sustainability assessment organization that evaluates and discloses the climate change performance of major companies worldwide, and is widely regarded—alongside the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)—as one of the most authoritative ESG benchmarks. In this latest assessment, Hankook Tire demonstrated industry-leading climate change response capabilities across key evaluation criteria, including climate governance, greenhouse gas reduction targets and performance, and the transparency of information disclosure.

Most notably, Hankook Tire was highly recognized for its systematic and advanced efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain, spanning raw material sourcing, tire manufacturing, production, transportation, use, disposal, and reuse. As part of its consistent implementation of a mid- to long-term carbon management strategy aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the company received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023 for both its 2030 near-term greenhouse gas reduction targets and its 2050 net-zero commitment.

Hankook Tire continues to enhance its climate change governance framework, centered around the Climate Change Committee under the Board of Directors. The company has strengthened governance across key areas, including initiative establishment and target-setting, the integration of climate considerations into management decision-making, the monitoring of greenhouse gas reduction progress based on life cycle assessment (LCA), and the disclosure of relevant information to external stakeholders. Through these efforts, Hankook Tire systematically manages climate change response as a core element of its long-term corporate value creation strategy.

Building on these efforts, Hankook Tire is expanding its sustainable material–based production system across its global manufacturing network. The company obtained the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for its Geumsan Plant in 2021, which marked the first achievement of such certification in the tire industry, followed by its Hungary Plant in 2023 and its Daejeon Plant this year. Through these certifications, Hankook Tire has established a sustainable product manufacturing framework covering original equipment, replacement tires, and motorsports applications.

Hankook Tire is also accelerating the development of next-generation low-carbon materials through open innovation–based technical collaborations. This year, the company has been advancing joint technology initiatives with ROTOBOOST to develop turquoise hydrogen-based carbon black and with Solvay to develop circular silica as alternative materials. Hankook Tire is also actively participating in government-funded national research projects and domestic consortia to validate carbon reduction technologies and expand the commercial viability of alternative materials.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire continues to advance technological innovation centered around its proprietary circular economy strategy, E.Circle, with a focus on reducing reliance on fossil-based resources, preventing the depletion of natural resources, and steadily lowering carbon emissions. Through these efforts, the company is contributing to enhanced sustainability across the tire industry.

In recognition of these efforts, Hankook Tire received the highest level of environmental and sustainability accreditation, the ‘3-Star Environmental Accreditation,’ from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) last year. The company was also listed in TIME and Statista’s “World’s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024” ranking, further solidifying its position as a globally recognized ESG leader.

Featured Image: Hankook Tire Headquarters, Technoplex

Achieves CDP Climate Change top rating for the second consecutive year, demonstrating globally recognized ESG capabilities

Strengthens climate change response competitiveness through an enhanced carbon-reduction roadmap and governance framework

Expands ISCC PLUS certification across global production sites and advances sustainable material development through open innovation

Tagged: Net Zero 2050

Hankook Tire Achieves CDP Climate Change ‘A Leadership Rating’ for the Second Consecutive Year