Hankook Publishes 2022-23 ESG Report

Hankook, the premium tyre manufacturer, has released its 2022/23 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report, detailing its sustainability initiatives and strategies for the current year. Notably, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has validated Hankook's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, committing the company to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 according to the SBTi Net Zero standard.

This marks Hankook's 14th ESG Report, following its ESG vision, "Innovation for a Sustainable Future" introduced in 2010. The report encompasses the company's sustainability activities and its medium- and long-term strategies across environmental, social, and governance areas. It places equal emphasis on three key priority areas: Eco Value Chain, Sustainable Product, and Responsible Engagement.

Hankook has been progressively strengthening its commitment to sustainable management, enhancing its ESG management system. This journey began in 2009 with the establishment of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) organisation, followed by the formation of the ESG Strategy Committee and Steering Committee in 2010. In 2018, Hankook initiated a strategic effort to implement sustainable natural rubber policies and promote an eco-friendly circular economy system. By 2021, the company established an ESG Committee within the Board of Directors, and in 2022, it unveiled a Corporate Governance Charter, cementing its commitment to transparent and ethical ESG practices.

Hankook has proactively reduced its greenhouse gas emissions, positioning itself as a leader in constructing an eco-value chain. The company has developed a comprehensive climate change response strategy and incorporated a Climate Change Committee into its management activities. It has also undertaken various energy-saving initiatives, including adopting high-efficiency equipment, optimising energy efficiency, and using renewable energy. These efforts have resulted in a 2.74 percent reduction in greenhouse gas intensity compared to the previous year.

With a firm commitment to addressing climate change, Hankook joined the Science Based Targets Initiative in March 2022 and submitted its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. These targets align with the latest climate research findings and the goals of the Paris Agreement. By 2030, Hankook aims to achieve a 46.2 percent reduction in total direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) generated during the production stage, compared to 2019 figures, in compliance with the SBTi validation. Additionally, the company has set a 2030 target to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout the value chain (Scope 3) by 27.5% compared to 2019 figures. This recognition by the SBTi signifies Hankook's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 based on the SBTi Net Zero standard, a responsibility shared by approximately 5,700 companies worldwide.

Hankook is also dedicated to developing eco-friendly tyres using highly functional synthetic rubber, furthering its ESG goal of increasing the use of sustainable raw materials. Recognised for its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, Hankook has received top ratings from multiple global ESG evaluation agencies.

Moreover, the company is actively engaged in intelligent tyre technology, incorporating sensors in the tread to detect wear and developing airless tyres like the i-Flex. To contribute to a more sustainable future, Hankook is actively involved in establishing a sustainable supply chain, implementing human rights management, promoting employee well-being, and participating in social contribution activities.

Hankook has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World, a prestigious sustainability index, for seven consecutive years.

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The ApexTire2025 China Tire Awards took place in Tianjin on 17 March 2026, serving as a premier annual recognition event for the nation’s tyre industry. This year’s programme was structured around key areas including top 10 tyre brands, corporate honours, product accolades and technology innovation awards, showcasing advancements in brand development, product refinement, technical innovation and sustainable practices.

Founded by Tirechina.net, ApexTire has grown into a distinguished annual platform. Beyond celebrating winners, the 2025 edition provided insight into evolving market competition. With categories for new energy vehicle tyres, high-performance products, safety, off-road use, digital intelligence and ESG management, the awards signalled a shift from isolated metrics towards application suitability, user experience and technical strength.

The official top 10 tyre brands include Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli, Hankook, Yokohama, Dunlop, Sailun and Linglong. Eagle Tire and Doublestar were recognised as leading domestic brands, underscoring the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers.

Product winners spanned multiple segments. Hankook iON evo won for new energy passenger tyres, while Guizhou Tire Green Motion GL278a took the commercial vehicle honour. Maxxis VICTRA SPORT 6 earned sport flagship recognition. Mount Everest Tire’s STATICS S1 won for quiet comfort, Eagle TA01 for off-road and Pirelli P ZERO Corsa for racing. CST MR-C5 was named best value passenger tyre, CST CA186 won for fuel-efficient commercial tyres and Double Coin DC211+ received the safe and wear-resistant award.

Guizhou Tire’s ‘Kunuo Zhixing’ platform won the Technology Innovation Gold Award, while Linglong received the Digital and Intelligent Innovation Gold Award. Michelin China and Triangle Tire were named ESG benchmark enterprises. As vehicle demand grows more specialised, the ApexTire awards offer a key reference for brands and consumers, illustrating how China’s tyre industry is redefining competitiveness.

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Goodyear kicks off its latest European Le Mans Series campaign this weekend in Barcelona, where it remains the sole tyre provider for the LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am and LMGT3 classes. The season opener at the 4 Hours of Barcelona will see 37 cars racing on Goodyear Racing Eagle tyres at a circuit infamous for pushing both tyre performance and pit strategy to their limits.

What makes the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya so demanding is the constant dilemma it creates for team strategists. The common practice of running two stints on a single set of tyres offers valuable time savings by reducing pit stops, but that benefit must be weighed against the gradual loss of grip over many laps. Goodyear anticipates this very calculation will once again shape the outcome of the 4-hour contest.

For the LMGT3 category, the hard compound of the Racing Eagle has been chosen specifically to endure Barcelona’s abrasive surface, a tyre previously proven on tough tracks like São Paulo, Austin and Bahrain in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Meanwhile, LMP2 contenders will run Goodyear’s newest Eagle slick, a specification introduced at Le Castellet last season that now becomes the fixed LMP2 tyre for the full 2026 ELMS season and for the 24 Hours of Le Mans this June.

Beyond the dry tyres, each class is also equipped with a Racing Eagle wet tyre whose tread pattern is designed to channel away water and sustain grip in the rain. Goodyear’s presence this weekend extends far beyond Spain, as its Racing Eagle tyres are also competing at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee across three NASCAR series and at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California.

Stephen Bickley, Goodyear Endurance Program Manager, said, “Barcelona is demanding on tyres, with long, high speed corners and a layout that typically places enormous load on the front-left. That high stress is exactly why we’ve chosen the Eagle Hard compound for LMGT3 this weekend: it can withstand the aggressive wear and degradation, giving teams the confidence to plan their strategies and decide whether double-stinting will deliver the best race performance.”

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Kumho Tire USA has announced a significant contribution to the Tire Industry Association’s Tire Industry Scholarship programme, which operates in collaboration with the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF). Over the next five years, Kumho will donate USD 5,000 annually, resulting in a total pledge of USD 25,000 aimed at supporting the next generation of professionals in the tyre and automotive service sectors.

This scholarship programme provides USD 2,500 awards to students who are pursuing higher education or vocational training directly related to the tyre and automotive service industry. By administering these funds through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, the programme seeks to build a stronger talent pipeline for the industry through educational support.

Kumho Tire now joins a growing list of member companies from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) that have chosen to back this scholarship effort. The programme was first established in November 2025, and Kumho’s commitment reinforces the collective drive to invest in future workforce development.

Ed Cho, CEO, Kumho Tire USA, said, "Our five-year pledge to the TIA Scholarship programme reflects KUMHO's broader commitment to developing and supporting the next generation of tyre industry professionals. We are proud to invest in education and help provide greater opportunities for the future workforce who will shape our industry."

Dick Gust, CEO, Tire Industry Association, said, "Kumho Tire USA's generous commitment is a powerful investment in the future of our industry. By supporting the Tire Industry Scholarship programme, they are helping to build a stronger, more skilled workforce and opening doors for the next generation of industry professionals."

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The Dunlop RoadSmart IV has emerged as the top performer in the latest road tyre test conducted by renowned German publication MOTORRAD. This premium sport touring tyre received high marks for its outstanding handling characteristics and its ability to deliver balanced performance regardless of weather or road surface conditions. The victory adds to Dunlop’s growing list of independent testing successes this year, following a similar overall win for the SportSmart mk4 in an earlier sport tyre comparison.

In the test, MOTORRAD fitted three road focused tyres to a BMW R 1300 GS using the specific sizes of 120/70 R19 at the front and 170/60 R17 at the rear. The RoadSmart IV secured first place overall in the road tyre category, demonstrating class leading wet performance while also tying for the best results in the dry sub category. This achievement marks the second time in half a decade that this particular tyre has claimed top honours in a MOTORRAD test.

Testers were especially impressed by the tyre’s precise dry handling and the clear feedback it provides to the rider. They observed that the RoadSmart IV turns in more easily than its rivals, making it highly recommended for motorcycles that tend to have sluggish steering behaviour. On the BMW test bike, the tyre felt stable rather than unsettled, excelling with high cornering speed, solid grip at maximum lean angle and extremely accurate feedback. In wet conditions, the tyre offered easy manoeuvring ability through fast cornering sequences, with its precise communication clearly signalling the limits in a user-friendly manner.

MOTORRAD summarised the RoadSmart IV as an incredible all-rounder that combines excellent handling with top performance in all conditions, even suggesting that riders on a GS could use it to annoy superbike riders. Thanks to its strong showing on both dry and wet surfaces, the tyre also earned the magazine’s coveted Kauftipp, or purchase recommendation, award.

Roberto Finetti, Marketing Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said, “This result for RoadSmart IV reinforces our goal to deliver a perfect balance of outstanding dry performance and exceptional wet grip and precise handling, even after several thousand kilometres. We’re proud to see it recognised once again as a benchmark in the sport touring segment.”

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