Is black going green?

Korean tyre maker Hankook has begun mass production of tyres using environmentally friendly, ISCC PLUS-certified carbon black. CHARLEEN CLARKE wonders if this is a sign of green things to come for the tyre sector.

Tyres play an essential role in modern transportation, but they present a major environmental challenge when they reach the end of their life. Millions of tyres are discarded each year and, due to their composition, they are not easy to recycle or break down naturally. Tyres contain complex materials, including synthetic rubber, steel, and carbon black – a crucial ingredient that gives tyres their strength and durability. When tyres are disposed of in landfills or burnt, they can release pollutants, affecting air and soil quality. Additionally, producing new tyres often involves using petrochemical-based materials, which increases demand for fossil fuels and leads to more carbon emissions.

Carbon black: why does it matter?

Carbon black is a fine black powder that is produced by burning fossil fuels. It makes tyres stronger and more resistant to wear and tear. However, creating carbon black traditionally requires significant energy and resources, contributing to pollution. Because it is derived from non-renewable sources, it also adds to the environmental footprint of tyre production.

To tackle this challenge, Hankook – a tyre manufacturer that employs 20,000 people worldwide and sells products in over 160 countries – has introduced a more sustainable type of carbon black that has earned certification from ISCC PLUS. This international certification system stands for “International Sustainability and Carbon Certification” and is a stamp of approval for sustainable materials and methods, indicating that a product is made in a way that is less harmful to the environment. In the case of carbon black, Hankook and its partners use a technique called pyrolysis to create it from used tyres.

The move to ISCC PLUS-certified carbon black is not unique to Hankook; other tyre manufacturers have also adopted it to enhance the sustainability of their products. For instance, Continental has introduced the UltraContact NXT tyre, which incorporates up to 28% ISCC PLUS mass balance certified materials, including sustainable synthetic rubber and carbon black derived from bio-based, bio-circular, and circular feedstocks. This initiative aligns with Continental’s goal of achieving fully circular operations in tyre production by 2050.

Carbon black manufacturer Tokai Carbon CB, meanwhile, has received ISCC PLUS certification for its US facilities in Borger, Texas, and Addis, Louisiana. This certification enables Tokai Carbon CB to produce sustainable carbon black from circular or bio-based feedstocks, which tyre manufacturers can utilise to create more environmentally friendly products. 

Building a tyre circular economy 

Pyrolysis is a process that breaks down used tyres at high temperatures in an environment with no oxygen. This method produces pyrolysis oil, which can be refined and used to create new carbon black. Instead of relying on fossil fuels to produce carbon black, Hankook and its partners use the recycled materials from end-of-life tyres. This process not only provides a second life for old tyres, but also reduces the need for new petrochemical resources, cutting down on overall carbon emissions. It is a step towards making tyre production more sustainable and part of a broader “circular economy”.

Hankook’s initiative is part of what it terms a larger
“Tire-to-Tire Circular Economy Model” that aims to create new tyres from old ones. This model is a collaboration among 13 South Korean companies and research institutions, with Hankook leading the project. By recycling materials from used tyres to create new ones, Hankook is working towards reducing waste and the reliance on raw materials like petroleum. This approach not only conserves resources, but also lowers the environmental impact associated with tyre production.

ISCC PLUS and the path to “Net Zero by 2050”

The ISCC PLUS certification awarded to this carbon black is significant because it provides transparency and assures that the material is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. This certification covers various aspects, including sustainable sourcing, greenhouse gas savings, and recycling standards. By using ISCC PLUS-certified carbon black, Hankook is able to produce tyres that meet global sustainability standards. These tyres contribute to the company’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality and promoting responsible manufacturing practices.

Hankook’s partnership with companies like HD Hyundai Oilbank and HD Hyundai OCI has been essential to this project. Together, these companies have developed three types of certified carbon black by refining pyrolysis oil from waste tyres. Using a “mass balance” approach, they carefully track the recycled materials throughout the production process to ensure sustainability criteria are met. This partnership is a promising example of how industries can work together to develop new methods that benefit both the environment and the economy.

Hankook’s goal is to achieve “Net Zero” by 2050: completely offsetting the amount of greenhouse gases it produces to ultimately reduce its carbon footprint to zero. In addition to using certified carbon black, Hankook is working on developing carbon black made entirely from pyrolysis oil. The company aims to use 100% sustainable materials in its tyre production by 2050, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.

Expanding the use of sustainable materials in tyres

Hankook’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to this carbon black initiative. The company has taken other significant steps, such as obtaining ISCC PLUS certification for its Geumsan plant in South Korea and its plant in Hungary.

These certifications show that Hankook’s production facilities are also committed to using sustainable materials and reducing carbon emissions. In 2023, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved Hankook’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, which means the company’s targets are in line with scientific recommendations for limiting global warming.

As more and more tyre companies make environmentally pleasing moves, and as sustainability gains traction in this sector, maybe the industry’s image will change. Hopefully “black goes green” will soon be more than a catchphrase. Instead, this trend could mark a new era for tyres, where this essential (yet traditionally polluting) product is made with the planet in mind.