Hankook Tire Chongqing plant awarded National Green Factory recognition

- Hankook Tire’s manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China recognized for eco-friendliness
- Awarded by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China following strict evaluations
- Highlighting Hankook Tire’s role as a sustainability pioneer and its commitment to green growth

Seoul, Korea, March 21, 2022 – Hankook Tire’s manufacturing plant in Chongqing, China was awarded the National Green Factory recognition as announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. Hankook Chongqing plant is leading the green transformation of industries with the commitment to sustainability at its core.

This award is given to leaders of green manufacturing in line with the industrial green development plan of China after a series of strict assessments including self-assessment, independent third party audits and evaluations from experts and government departments. This year’s list includes 662 green factories, 989 green design products, 52 green industrial parks and 107 green supply chain management demonstration enterprises.

Committed to being a responsible company with goals to minimize environmental impact and foster a healthy community, Hankook Tire has long been advocating green growth. By achieving the National Green Factory recognition with its Chongqing plant, Hankook demonstrated once again its pioneering role in the field of sustainability.

Taking an environmentally-friendly design approach since the early construction stages, the Hankook Chongqing plant facilities were made with non-toxic, environmentally-friendly building materials, and orchestrated in a way to optimize the use of natural sunlight. Promoting low carbon footprint, all the equipment are of high-energy efficiency exceeding the national standards.

Hankook Chongqing plant also established a committee dedicated to eco-friendly operation and management, and set its own green development plan. It includes the implementation of an energy conservation target responsibility system (ECTRS), which works by allocating a mandatory target to each workshop and job and effectively involving all employees to take part. These efforts were well received, with Hankook Chongqing plant having acquired the ISO 14001, a global certification which recognizes excellent environmental management systems.

Energy efficiency maximization is aided by the implementation of an energy management center. It schedules the optimal usage and operational conditions of energy sources through timely and science-based decision-making processes. For the past three years, a total of 21 energy-saving technologies have been adopted. As a result, approximately 2,296 tce of energy, measured by the amount of energy released by burning one ton of goal, is being saved every year.

Throughout its entire manufacturing process, Hankook Tire strives to minimize energy wastes by utilizing of harmless materials, using renewable energy and recycling resources. This affects end-products as well. In compliance with the company's product design guideline "Hankook Tire Green Design Requirements", technologies for improving fuel economy were employed to tire structure design which led to reduced rolling resistance.

Hankook Tire Chongqing plant also actively carries out environmental governance by regularly conducting monitoring on wastewater, noise, greenhouse gases and so on, further qualifying the Chongqing plant for this award.

“We are glad to receive the National Green Factory recognition from Chinese government. As we have been taking proactive environmental initiatives and take the topic of sustainability very seriously, green manufacturing is the ultimate choice for us. Continuing our journey to net-zero, Hankook Tire Chongqing will take on Energy Innovation Project and further accelerate the green transition,” says Seunghyeon Kang, Vice President & Plant Managing Director of Chongqing Plant.