DAYTON, Tenn. — Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has joined the Tennessee Green Star Partnership, an environmental leadership program recognizing Tennessee manufacturers for their sustainability efforts.
The program is part of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
A ceremony was held on Nov. 21, with state and local officials joining representatives from Nokian's factory in Dayton.
TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said his group is "thrilled to have Nokian Tyres as our newest Green Star Partnership member. This designation honors the company for its outstanding performance in sustainability, and we are proud to have such a devoted business in this program."
The Nokia, Finland-based tire maker manufactures all-season and all-weather tires at the Dayton facility for the North American market. The company has won awards for its sustainability and workplace culture.
Nokian said the Dayton factory is the only LEED v4 Silver-certified tire production facility in the world, signifying it is fully powered by energy generated from onsite solar panels. The company recycles or reuses 100% of waste generated from production.
David Korda, factory operations direct, said being a good steward is critical for Nokian Tyres, "whether through the tires we put on the road or the practices we use to make those tires. We're honored to partner with other Tennessee manufacturers to help keep our state beautiful."
In 2021, Nokian received the Tennessee Governor's Environmental Stewardship Award from TDEC in the Sustainable Performance category. The factory also holds ISO 14001 certification, which the company said validates its strict environmental standards at the facility.
Accoring to Nokian, the Tennessee Green Star Partnership promotes the health and well-being of all Tennesseans and to help stimulate economic development through avoided operational costs. The tire maker said the public/private partnership has resulted in several successes, including significant CO2e emissions reductions through waste diversion and increased energy efficiency.
To become a Tennessee Green Star Partnership member, a manufacturer must be ISO 14001 certified or operate under an environmental management system conforming to ISO 14001, a voluntary environmental management standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization. The member must have a minimum of three years of exceptional environmental compliance with TDEC.