Energy Transition Planning & Carbon Footprint Reduction

Tire manufacturing is an energy-intensive process. The internal mixing stage, where natural and synthetic rubbers are compounded with carbon black, silica, process oils and chemical additives at temperatures above 150 degrees Celsius, is the single largest energy consumer in a typical tire plant - accounting for 30 to 40 percent of total energy use. The curing stage, where green tires are vulcanized in heated molds at temperatures of 160 to 200 degrees Celsius under pressure, is the second largest. Steam generation, compressed air systems, cooling water circuits and building HVAC collectively account for the balance.

For tire manufacturers with publicly declared Science-Based Targets (SBTi), CSRD reporting obligations in Europe, GRI or TCFD sustainability reporting commitments, or investor and OEM customer pressure on ESG performance, carbon footprint reduction in manufacturing operations is now a board-level priority. Many of the world's largest OEM vehicle manufacturers - who are themselves under pressure to reduce supply chain Scope 3 emissions - are increasingly asking Tier 1 tire suppliers to demonstrate a credible decarbonization pathway. This OEM pressure is cascading downstream to Tier 2 and Tier 3 tire makers as well.