Hankook joins South Korean government-backed project to develop sustainable tire materials

South Korean tire giant Hankook Tire & Technology has officially joined a government-backed R&D initiative aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable tire materials and boosting the use of recycled feedstocks from end-of-life tires (ELTs). The project, announced during a kickoff event on 4 June, is part of South Korea’s 2026 Environmental Technology Development Programme under the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. Hankook emphasized that the initiative builds on the existing Tire-to-Tire (T2T) consortium, launched in 2023 to advance resource-circulation technologies in the local tire industry. By participating in the national programme, Hankook will expand its private-sector research into a broader collaboration involving industry, academia, and research institutions. The goal is to strengthen compliance with tightening environmental regulations while improving the resilience of raw material supply chains. Leveraging its experience within the T2T consortium, Hankook plans to increase the use of circular raw materials derived from ELTs, enhance technology validation infrastructure, and diversify sources of sustainable feedstocks to mitigate global supply-chain risks. The project unites 11 organizations, including lead institution M&B Green Earth, Kumho Petrochemical, HS Hyosung, HS Hyosung Advanced Materials, Solvay, endirection, the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), KAIST, Pusan National University, Kwangwoon University, and Soongsil University. Hankook’s participation aligns with its ambition to commercialize next-generation tires containing more than 85% sustainable materials while reducing carbon emissions by over 50%. The initiative is also expected to validate South Korea’s tire-to-tire circular economy model at scale through product demonstrations and integrated performance assessments. “This national R&D project presents a meaningful opportunity to bring together the expertise of leading industry, academic, and research institutions,” said Bonhee Koo, head of the R&D innovation division at Hankook Tire.