Hankook begins mass production of tyres using first certified carbon black

Hankook has commenced the mass production of its tyres 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 this 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.

According to Hankook, 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 aims to meet global market demand for carbon neutrality and the use of sustainable materials.

Hankook says it 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 states that it is now ready to apply these materials for mass production.

Hankook claims 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 also 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 per cent pyrolysis oil, aiming for 100 per cent use of sustainable materials by 2050 and thereby accelerating the development of circular materials through the consortium.