Inside the net-zero push uniting Korea's tire and auto parts giants

Hankook & Company Group headquarters Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province / Hankook & Company Group

As global carbon regulations tighten and pressure mounts across supply chains, Hankook & Company Group is bringing its key affiliates together in a coordinated push toward its 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

The group said Sunday that it recently held an energy exchange meeting at Hankook Engineering Lab in Daejeon, gathering energy management officials from Korea & Company, Hankook Tire & Technology and Hanon Systems to strengthen cooperation on carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives.

About 20 employees from the three companies participated in the meeting, which took place Tuesday.

The participants reviewed major energy sources and consumption patterns, discussed greenhouse gas management strategies and shared implementation plans for 2026.

They also exchanged views on emissions trading systems, growing customer demands for carbon reduction and anticipated changes to electricity market structures.

A key focus of the meeting was identifying practical ways to expand energy-saving measures and renewable energy adoption across the group.

Officials introduced successful carbon reduction cases from their respective businesses and discussed how those practices could be applied more broadly throughout the organization.

The meeting was organized as companies face increasing regulatory and market pressure to reduce emissions.

Businesses are confronting stricter climate-related requirements, while global automakers are demanding greater transparency and reductions in carbon emissions throughout their supply chains.

Hankook & Company Group said it plans to strengthen cooperation among affiliates through a unified carbon management framework, while advancing renewable energy adoption, emissions permit management and integrated monitoring systems.

The company views carbon neutrality as a core environmental, social and governance priority and has incorporated the objective into its long-term sustainability strategy.

“Carbon neutrality is a critical task that affects corporate competitiveness and the sustainability of supply chains,” a Korea & Company official said.

“We will continue strengthening our execution capabilities to generate meaningful emissions reduction results and achieve our 2050 carbon neutrality target,” the official said.

The group has been promoting sustainability initiatives under its integrated ESG brand, “DRIVING FORWARD, TOGETHER,” launched under Chairman Cho Hyun-bum’s ESG vision.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.