Global leading tyre company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) has introduced its first EV summer tyre with ISCC PLUS certification (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) with the iON evo. 

The new tyre is derived from the Hankook iON Race tyre, which has been used exclusively on the vehicles competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since 2023 and consists of 45 percent sustainable raw materials. The new iON evo will come as OE fitment on the updated Porsche Taycan electric sports car. This the company claims are the first tyre in the premium vehicle manufacturer's original equipment range with this prestigious certification.

Klaus Krause, VP & Head of Europe Technical Center, Hankook said, “The ISCC PLUS-certified iON evo represents the culmination of our ambition to produce tyres that are truly more sustainable. We are also very proud that our European production plant in Hungary, where the iON evo is produced, is the second Hankook site worldwide to receive the coveted ISCC PLUS certification. The fact that Porsche has chosen the iON evo as original equipment for the new Taycan is of course a big vote of confidence for us. Thanks to our motorsport-proven technologies, the Hankook tyre with its increased sustainability and optimised rolling resistance makes a significant contribution to increasing the range of the high-performance electric sports car.” 

Sustainability at the core

Despite the high content of 45 percent sustainable materials, the developers at Hankook have said to succeed in increasing the iON evo’s sustainability without having to compromise on tyre safety and performance. The engineers used renewable and recycled materials that match the strength, flexibility, and durability of conventional tyre components. These include bio-based silica from grain waste, recycled PET textile cord from plastic waste, bio-circular synthetic rubber from bio-circular feedstocks, recycled carbon black from used tires, and even natural resin. The Hankook team responsible for the development of the tyre were also able to leverage the knowledge gained from Formula E, where a racing tyre with a high percentage of sustainable materials – the iON Race – is used.

The new iON evo with the ISCC PLUS logo on its sidewall is making its debut as original equipment for the Porsche Taycan in the dimensions 245/40 R21Y XL (FA) and 285/35 R21Y XL (RA). Like the other tyres in the iON family, this advanced development uses a tread mixture with plant-based oils. It not only makes the tread more sustainable overall, but also has a positive effect on the durability. For support during especially dynamic driving or sudden lane changes, the Hankook engineers also used reinforced material to increase the lateral stiffness. The engineers also benefited from knowledge gained in previous homologation processes for the premium manufacturer.

Increased range

Hankook states as with the other iON models, the new iON evo with ISCC PLUS certification offers greatly reduced rolling resistance compared to a conventional tyre, which increases the range per battery charge of the Porsche Taycan. 

Porsche itself states that up to 40km more can be possible thanks to the 21-inch aero wheel from Hankook. In addition, the Hankook iON products are particularly designed for the immediately available high torque produced by powerful electric vehicles. All in all, what this means for the electric car driver is more range per battery charge and a feeling of real safety and comfort when driving.

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Taiwan-based performance materials company CHIMEI has secured a distinguished A rating in the CDP Climate Change assessment for the second consecutive year, positioning it within the leading four percent of global organisations evaluated in 2025. This recognition from the prominent environmental disclosure platform underscores the company’s sustained excellence across critical areas such as climate governance, comprehensive risk management and transparent emissions reporting. CHIMEI’s performance demonstrates tangible progress in lowering product emissions intensity, driving self-managed reduction projects and rigorously measuring greenhouse gas outputs in accordance with international standards.

Central to the company’s strategy is its ‘Clean & Green’ vision, which directs a thorough low-carbon transformation. This commitment is operationalised through internal carbon pricing, optimised manufacturing processes and a shift towards renewable energy. CHIMEI further ensures accountability by obtaining third-party verification for the carbon footprints of its entire product range. The pursuit of sustainability extends beyond its own facilities, as the company actively promotes the use of sustainable materials and fosters collaborative decarbonisation efforts throughout its value chain.

Looking forward, CHIMEI is dedicated to engaging with customers, suppliers and partners to advance shared climate objectives, including its ambitious 2050 net-zero target. By continuously investing in innovative technologies and eco-friendly solutions, CHIMEI aims to be a catalyst for industry-wide change, supporting the transition toward a more resilient and low-carbon future for all.

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Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of speciality polymers and high-value bio-based chemicals derived from pine wood pulping co-products, has achieved International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS for its manufacturing facility in Panama City, Florida, United States. This independent certification tracks sustainable materials via a mass balance approach. The achievement allows Kraton to issue a formal ISCC PLUS Sustainability Declaration with shipments of its biobased polyterpene resins, providing its customers with the documentation needed to validate the renewable content in their own products.

The Panama City site becomes the company’s fourth production plant to gain this certification, building upon a commitment that started with the certification of its Sandarne, Sweden, facility in 2021. By securing these certifications across its network, Kraton strengthens its leadership in supplying circular and renewable solutions. This effort supports broader industry shifts, as customers can now more seamlessly integrate verified, sustainable materials into their supply chains and end products.

Ultimately, the company’s pursuit of such certifications aligns with a larger transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy, demonstrating how specialised chemical producers can enable tangible environmental progress through verified chain-of-custody systems.

Lana Culbert, Kraton Pine Chemicals VP of Marketing, said, “Our SYLVARES™ and SYLVATRAXX™ brands feature a portfolio of high-performance polyterpene resins. They are widely recognised for their use in adhesives and tyre applications, yet their versatility extends to other industries, like agriculture, with more opportunities ahead. While we can measure bio-based content of our pine chemicals using Carbon-14 analysis, certifying our Panama City facility under ISCC PLUS strengthens supply chain transparency, supporting the growth of the circular economy.”

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Solvay has inaugurated its new bio-circular silica facility at its plant in Livorno, Italy, a strategic investment that underscores Italy’s industrial leadership in green innovation. The facility directly anticipates evolving EU sustainability rules for tyres and supports the ambitious environmental goals of Solvay’s customers. By establishing this operation, Solvay positions itself as a proactive partner in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and upcoming product regulations.

The site manufactures highly dispersible silica using an innovative process that transforms rice husk ash, an agricultural byproduct, into a valuable bio-based raw material. This method creates a local circular economy, benefits the agricultural sector, and reduces associated CO₂ emissions by 35 percent compared to conventional production.

This initiative is a cornerstone of Solvay's global strategy to transition all its silica production to certified circular raw materials by 2026. While the Livorno site is the first to use rice husk ash, other global plants will utilise different local waste streams. For the tyre industry, adopting this circular silica already enables tyres to contain up to 15 percent recycled or renewable content, providing significant progress towards the sector’s 2030 material targets.

Beyond compliance, the silica produced is essential for developing energy-efficient tyres that lower rolling resistance, thereby reducing fuel consumption and extending electric vehicle range. The Livorno facility thus reinforces Solvay's market leadership in sustainable silica and highlights Italy’s vital role in the company’s broader portfolio of green investments, including projects in green hydrogen and circular soda ash.

Philippe Kehren, CEO, Solvay, said, “By acting now, Solvay is helping tyre manufacturers prepare for future EU requirements and meet their own sustainability goals. Livorno is a tangible example of how we turn circular economy principles into industrial reality, enabling progress for generations.”

Jana Striezel, Head of Purchasing at Continental Tyres, said, "Solvay has managed to transform an agricultural byproduct into a high-performance material on an industrial scale. We are looking forward to integrating more and more rice husk ash silica as a recycled material in our tyre production and are very satisfied with its performance. We are keen on innovative, renewable and recycled materials because they support our ambitious sustainability roadmap.”

An Nuyttens, President of Solvay’s Silica business, said, “Livorno sets a benchmark for circular innovation in Europe and beyond. Our goal is clear: wherever Solvay produces silica, we will integrate circular materials to reduce environmental impact and support our customers’ sustainability objectives.”

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a Canadian developer of sustainable technology for recycling scrap tyres, has announced that its Hawkesbury facility reached a key operational milestone during the week of 12 January 2026, by successfully completing a record five double processing batches. This progress signifies a major step forward as the company advances towards full commercial production at the plant. Utilising its proprietary Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP) and a new automated Human-Machine Interface system, the facility maintained consistent operations and produced high-quality recovered materials.

The week’s activity led to the recycling of an estimated 9,375 scrap tyres, processing a total of 150,000 pounds (approximately 68,038 kg) of rubber feedstock. From this, approximately 60,000 pounds (approximately 27,215 kg) of recovered carbon black and 75,000 pounds (approximately 34,019 kg) of tyre-derived oil were generated, alongside syngas used to power the process itself.

As a Canadian leader in tyre recycling technology, Ecolomondo views these results as a strong validation of the scalability and reliability of its proprietary TDP system, underscoring the ongoing ramp-up at its Hawkesbury TDP facility. This consistent performance enhances the company's position in the circular economy, turning a challenging waste stream into valuable industrial commodities and demonstrating the commercial viability of its innovative approach.

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