Goodyear switching to renewable energy in European & Turkish plants

Goodyear tyre factories in France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Turkey will soon adopt 100 per cent renewable energy in the first step of a multiple-phase plan to solely procure renewable energy in all Goodyear facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2022. The tyre maker will review other locations, such as Goodyear in South Africa and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and UK, in a second phase.

The decision, made in conjunction with the company’s development of a long-term climate strategy, will enable Goodyear to reduce operational impacts and aligns with its goal of reducing carbon emissions intensity by 25 per cent by 2023 versus a 2010 baseline. The company already achieved 19 per cent intensity reduction in 2020 as reported in its latest Corporate Responsibility Report.

By purchasing around 700,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, Goodyear can ensure that manufacturing plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and the Netherlands will operate on sustainably sourced electricity. This shift will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by up to 260,000 tonnes.

Goodyear will increase usage of renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power to achieve this critical shift. To ensure electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources, Goodyear procures GoOs (Guarantee of Origin), which provide information to electricity customers on the source of their energy.

“Switching to 100 per cent renewable electricity at these production facilities fits perfectly with our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Chris Delaney, president, Goodyear EMEA. “Furthermore, this decision shows that we are taking serious steps to continuously reduce Goodyear’s environmental impacts which is vitally important to ensure a better future for us all.”