Hankook Tire Joins Suppliers Partnership for the Environment to Advance Sustainable Practices in U.S. Automotive Supply Chain

Tiremaker joins automotive association committed to positive environmental change for industry

Nashville, Tenn. (August 1, 2023) – Leading global tiremaker Hankook Tire today announced it has joined the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP), the association of automakers and their suppliers working toward a positive environmental impact for the U.S. automotive industry.

Formed in 2002, SP provides a forum for automakers and their suppliers to advance sustainability across three core areas: operations, materials and suppliers. SP members work in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to share best practices and increase collaboration towards these needs and priorities.

“Sustainability is at the core of Hankook’s business,” said Rob Williams, President, Hankook Tire America Corp. “Our efforts to source sustainable raw materials, achieve ESG certifications and research eco-friendly tires with industry partners have been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for seven consecutive years. Joining SP allows us to collaborate more closely with U.S. automakers and suppliers to achieve our common goal: an automotive industry that leaves a positive impact on our environment.”

SP membership will provide Hankook with additional resources and insights from its peers in the U.S. automotive industry to further enhance its environmental, social and government (ESG) management efforts at its Tennessee Plant in Clarksville, Tenn., and North America headquarters in Nashville. Through the partnership, Hankook will be able to engage with fellow industry leaders on environmental best practices, collaborate through working groups to address sustainability needs, and enhance relationships with strategic stakeholders in government and the non-governmental organization community.

“Strong relationships with suppliers are key to SP’s mission,” said Kellen Mahoney, Director, Suppliers Partnership for the Environment. “Working with leaders in the tire industry on sustainable practices allows for the advancement of our environmental goals across the automotive value chain. We’re pleased to welcome Hankook Tire to SP and look forward to their contributions as a market leader in sustainable tire production.”

Hankook Tire has a rich history of ESG activities aimed at improving sustainability throughout the process of tire production. The company is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), a global sustainable natural rubber collaborative platform, and formulated and published a natural rubber policy in line with the GPSNR’s guidelines in 2021.

“As a global leader in ESG, Hankook Tire strives to make a positive environmental impact in the world,” said Eric Shirley, Vice President of Sales, North America OE. “Sustainability is core to Hankook Tire’s strategy, and we are proud to partner with the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment to collaborate on new initiatives with our OE customers towards these goals.”

In recognition of its efforts, Hankook was the first company in the tire industry to obtain the prominent ISCC PLUS eco-friendly certification. The company’s community engagement and ESG management efforts have also been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) – the world’s most prestigious sustainability index – for seven consecutive years.