Hankook’s Collaborative Effort To Help Lessen Tyre Waste Generation

In an effort to make the world sustainable, Hankook Tire has collaborated with shoe brand YASE to launch eco-friendly shoes made of recycled tyres.Together, they have got on board the ‘Zero – Leave Nothing Behind’ project which aims to upcycle ELTs to make sustainable shoe products. 

Hankook Tire has always been at the forefront of sustainable practices with having set goals such as achieving 100 percent of sustainable raw material use by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent compared to that of 2018. These initiatives also extend to R&D where the tyre maker has minimised the rolling resistance of its tyres to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company also established an ESG committee to further strengthen its sustainability management efforts. 

Jimmy Kwon, Vice President of Hankook Tire’s Brand Lab, talks to Rajni Jose from Tyre Trends about this collaborative effort.

Q) What are the purpose and goals associated with this collaboration?

Jimmy Kwon: Hankook Tire and YASE embarked on the ‘Zero – Leave Nothing Behind’ project with a commitment to sustainable materials and environmental protection. As sustainability is a core value and key agenda for us, we have taken the topic of tyre recycling as one of the top agendas each year. We are glad to make good use of recycled tyres by turning them into hard-wearing and robust shoes in collaboration with YASE. We also believe this collaboration will offer the MZ generation, who have not had an opportunity to use tyres yet, a chance to experience Hankook Tire since a pair of shoes is a necessity that people use on a daily basis.

Q) What role does Hankook play in this collaboration? What are the processes involved in the upcycling of used tyres into shoes? 

Jimmy Kwon: Hankook Tire will collect discarded tyres and extract rubber from them to pulverise rubber into a powder so that it can be processed into the outsole. Regarding the processes, upcycling itself benefits the environment as it minimises the volume of discarded materials and waste dumped into the landfills. It also reduces the need for production using new or raw materials, which leads to a reduction in air pollution, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Q) Is the company looking to produce products other than shoes?

Jimmy Kwon: Currently, Hankook Tire is focusing mainly on footwear in terms of collaboration items as both tyres and shoes share common traits of playing a crucial role in mobility and touching the ground on a daily basis. They also protect people from possible dangers on the road with durability and stability.

Q) What are the other materials used to make these shoes?

Jimmy Kwon: The upper part of the shoes is made of synthetic vegan leather, whereas the insole is made of OrthoLite and natural latex. 

Q) By upcycling used tyres, how much carbon emissions do we save?

Jimmy Kwon: For this collaboration, we have recycled 50 used tyres to manufacture 2,000 pairs of shoes in total. According to the Korea National Institute of Forest Science, 2.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions is reduced by recycling 50 used tyres which weigh approximately 1.5 tonnes. This is equivalent to planting 425 pine trees. Likewise, around 1.9 kg of carbon dioxide emissions is reduced per kg of tyres recycled. This is not a small amount as a 20-year-old tree consumes 6.7 kg of carbon dioxide emission.

Q)  Does the company have a take-back policy? If not, how can the shoes be disposed of sustainably after use?

Jimmy Kwon: We do not have a related policy so far, but our decision to embark on the project of launching upcycling footwear displays our deep sense of care and commitment towards sustainability and environmental protection. It is thrilling that we are giving consumers an option to choose eco-friendly footwear. Shoes made of our old tyres will not only make a positive social impact but will also be hard-wearing and robust as our tyres are developed with high-quality materials and cutting-edge technologies.

Q) Currently, other brands offering shoes made from upcycled used tyres have priced their products higher than regular shoes. How does the company plan to price the products so that customers prefer this sustainable alternative over regular shoes?

Jimmy Kwon: The collaboration items are not specifically priced high compared to regular shoes sold by YASE. For example, a pair of Hankook Tire x YASE Chelsea boots are priced at KRW 102,000 (USD 86) while a pair of existing 506 5CM Chelsea boots are KRW 98,000 (USD 83). It is 4 percent more expensive, but the prices are different only because their designs are different. Hankook Tire is trying to provide customers with excellent quality products at a reasonable price whether they be tyres or shoes.

Q) What are the marketing strategies adopted to attract customers?

Jimmy Kwon: Not only the shoes themselves but the packaging is designed with sustainability initiative as well. Shoeboxes, tags and pamphlets are made of 100 percent sugarcane material. Hankook Tire expects this will resonate with customers who are early adopters and are conscious about the environment. In addition, we have chosen an online fashion retailer that is popular among the MZ generation as a sales channel in Korea since we have found that this generation is especially environment-conscious and keen to making green purchase decisions.

Q) Where will these be produced?

Jimmy Kwon: These eco-friendly shoes are produced in Korea where the YASE factory is located. 

Q) Is the company looking into exports? 

Jimmy Kwon: Although we are not considering shipping overseas or exports at the moment, we would like to proceed in the future when there is an opportunity.

Q)  What are the further expansion plans of the range?

Jimmy Kwon: Currently, we have unveiled five products through collaboration: four dress shoes and one comfort insole. We plan to continue collaboration with YASE to add special edition running shoes in October. 

Q)  What future do you see for upcycled used tyre products in the fashion industry?

Jimmy Kwon: Consumers are getting more and more conscious of the damaging effects of wastes, which explains why upcycling is becoming increasingly popular in the fashion industry. A tyre is a good resource for upcycling since tyres, especially the ones developed with Hankook’s high-quality materials and cutting-edge technologies, are durable and robust. We believe it’s a kind of collaboration that leads to mutually inspired progressive innovation for both industries and that there can be many opportunities forward. It’s a great way to widen customers’ eco-friendly options and to give old tyres a second life.(TT)

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Tegeta Green Planet recently visited the Georgian-American School in Batumi to mark Earth Day, where a presentation on specific waste management was held for fifth and sixth grade students. The meeting was conducted in an interactive format and included a variety of activities, enabling students to better understand environmental responsibility and the importance of proper waste handling.

Students actively participated in discussions, answered questions and engaged in practical tasks, gaining knowledge they can apply in everyday life about treating the environment responsibly and transforming waste into a resource. At the end of the activity, participants received certificates and symbolic gifts for their engagement, which further boosted their motivation and positive experience.

Established under the corporate social responsibility framework of Tegeta Holding, Tegeta Green Planet aims to raise environmental awareness in society and encourage sustainable behaviour. The organisation’s team actively collaborates with educational institutions by visiting schools and delivering informative presentations, interactive activities and engaging games that help students understand environmental protection through practical examples.

The main goal of the initiative is to raise environmental awareness among the younger generation and develop skills that will help them become more responsible citizens in the future. This activity is part of a broader educational campaign through which Tegeta Green Planet will gradually visit schools across different regions of Georgia.

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The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) has called on the Government of India to introduce customs duty relief on critical raw materials due to supply chain instability from the West Asia crisis. ATMA acknowledged the government’s temporary duty exemption on synthetic rubber and certain resins until June 2026 as a constructive step.

Despite this, ATMA noted that inputs like tyre cord fabric, bead wire, steel cord, carbon black, processing oils and petrochemical chemicals still attract high import duties during price volatility and supply constraints. Crude-linked inputs account for up to 70 percent of raw material costs, with volatile crude prices and stressed shipping routes raising costs, delaying shipments and increasing freight and insurance premiums.

ATMA also highlighted bead wire shortages caused by domestic industrial gas and LPG issues, requesting a temporary waiver from Quality Control Order requirements for imports. The association sought sulphur supplies for tyre manufacturers and urged refineries to sustain process oils while shifting towards high-value materials like Neodymium Polybutadiene Rubber.

ATMA warned that raw material disruptions could affect farm and logistics tyre supplies. The association reaffirmed support for Make in India and self-reliance, stressing continued government-industry dialogue to protect original equipment manufacturers, transporters, farmers and consumers.

Arun Mammen, Chairman, ATMA, said, "We appreciate the Government’s timely support. However, given continued global uncertainties, extending duty relief to other critical raw materials is essential to maintain production stability and cost competitiveness."

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Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited have unveiled India’s first official F1 Sim Racing Championship, marking a milestone for motorsport in the country. Under an agreement granting Mumbai Falcons rights to host an F1 sanctioned virtual competition, the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 establishes a national platform for emerging talent. The championship creates a structured transition from simulated to professional motorsport, offering young drivers a credible entry point. This marks the first time Formula 1 has introduced such a program exclusively for India.

The announcement arrives amid growing momentum to bring Formula 1 back to India and rising fan engagement. With esports now recognised under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act of 2025, the championship connects the country to Formula 1’s global driver pathway, tapping into an expanding motorsport ecosystem.

The competition will be conducted on F1 25, the official game of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, featuring identical circuits, formats, and liveries as the global series. Registrations open 30 April 2026 on the MFRL App. Participants can compete via PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox. Online qualifiers will lead to city-based simulator rounds, culminating in a national final in Mumbai in November.

Mumbai Falcons has previously supported the early careers of drivers who reached motorsport’s pinnacle, including Jehan Daruvala, Kush Maini, Arthur Leclerc, Dino Beganovic, Sebastian Montoya, Rafael Camara, James Wharton, Freddie Slater, Kean Nakamura Berta, Oleksandr Bondarev, Kimi Antonelli, Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman. This proven foundation positions Mumbai Falcons to deliver India’s first scalable motorsport pipeline.

Narain Karthikeyan, India's first Formula 1 Driver, said, “India has long been central to global growth story of Formula 1. With 78.8 million fans and a generation raised on F1 gaming, the time is right to introduce an official, competitive Sim Racing Championship here. Mumbai Falcons are the ideal partner, having invested years in building India’s motorsport pipeline. This initiative is unique, globally exclusive and will set a new benchmark for talent development.”

Ameet Gadhoke, Managing Director, Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, said, “When we founded Mumbai Falcons in 2019, our ambition was to place India firmly on the global motorsport map and build a pipeline for world-class talent. Mumbai Falcons became the first Indian team to win an FIA-accredited international racing Championship. We have also supported the early careers of future Formula 1 stars. Partnering with Formula 1 to bring the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 to life is yet another significant initiative in that direction.”

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The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has gained a new technology partner, AKIN Solutions, which is pioneering advanced material recycling methods for end-of-life tyres through its developing platform known as Rubber BioRefine. This biotechnology-driven system applies enzymatic processes originally refined in the plastics industry to rubber recycling for the first time, marking a significant step forward in the tyre circular economy. The central innovation focuses on converting previously hard-to-recycle tyre components into high-quality raw materials that match the quality of primary resources, thereby addressing a long-standing challenge in waste tire management.

At the core of the Rubber BioRefine approach is the selective cleavage of rubber polymer chains at the molecular level, which produces defined polymer fragments while preserving their structural integrity. Unlike conventional mechanical recycling methods that typically lead to a reduction in material value, this enzymatic technique enables a much higher grade of material reuse. It opens new possibilities for demanding rubber applications. The technology is specifically designed to integrate with existing recycling systems, particularly in combination with devulcanisation processes.

Another essential element of the platform is high-resolution molecular imaging using MALDI-MSI, a technique that allows AKIN Solutions to analyse the composition of rubber samples and create precise spatial maps of the compounds present. For the first time, this provides detailed insights into which substances exist in specific areas and at what concentrations, enabling more targeted assessment of material flows. Such precision is a key prerequisite for significantly more efficient recycling processes and for achieving high-quality circular economy management.

The technology remains in the development phase, with the ultimate goal of achieving industrial scalability and enabling large-scale economic application. Through this innovative combination of precise molecular analysis and enzymatic recovery, AKIN Solutions aims to fundamentally improve the material recycling of scrap tyres, reduce waste and emissions and help close material cycles. The partnership with AZuR is expected to strengthen the creation of future-proof, sustainable solutions for the entire tyre recycling value chain.

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