Goodyear moves forward in pursuit of sustainability goals
Continuously focused on building a better future to keep the world moving, Goodyear has committed to reducing the environmental impact of tire production. Of course, all tires take energy to manufacture but there's plenty that can be done to minimize this, alongside reducing the production of CO2 in the process.
Energy
Goodyear's dedication to reducing its energy usage is a long and winding road, but it's achieving results through improved efficiency; in 2019, this culminated in its energy usage being reduced by 18% compared with the 2010 baseline. For EMEA, that reduction stood at respectable 26%. The aim is to reduce worldwide energy use by 25% come 2023, which will require a stronger focus than ever on energy reduction and renewable energy opportunities.
Goodyear reduces energy consumption by keeping a close eye on energy usage in all plants to ensure each facility is as efficient as possible. In the Fürstenwalde facility, LED lighting, mixer efficiency, and leak repair products are also used to save energy. On top of this, renewable energy plays a role in Goodyear's efforts to be more sustainable, with two photovoltaic power stations being built in Luxembourg, and a number of other plants already using solar energy and hydropower.
The most impressive thing is that Goodyear's tires keep becoming more and more complex in terms of how the production process has evolved, meaning their creation consumes more energy, yet the company has continued to actually reduce its energy usage.
Greenhouse gas and other waste
Energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions are intrinsically linked; Goodyear's efforts to reduce energy consumption has led to a 19% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions since 2010. The formula is simple – the less energy the company uses, the lower the emissions.
This means that Goodyear is well ahead of its goals when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as the worldwide goal for the company is a reduction of 25% by 2023. In the EMEA region, Goodyear's greenhouse gas emissions are already down by 24%.
In terms of other types of waste, Goodyear established a zero waste-to-landfill expectation at its tire and chemical plants back in 2006, and has improved its efforts every year since; for example, last year, it also began measuring its waste by type and disposal method.
Water
While tire production doesn't, generally, use a lot of water, Goodyear's efforts towards lessening its use of water is focused on high-stress locations where it's a more valuable resource. It tracks its water use and water withdrawal data across 43 facilities, with a goal to be as efficient as possible so as not to use a burdensome amount of water in these high-stress areas.
In 2019, global water usage was reduced by 15% from the 2010 baseline, and, currently, Goodyear is drawing up new water reduction goals for the next five years. EMEA is the leading area in reducing water use, having reduced water consumption by 33% since 2010.
Goodyear's commitment to responsible tire production, with the EMEA region making progress for the rest of the world to follow, is an ongoing, inspirational journey that will continue to evolve along with the science that enables it.
