BRUSSELS — Goodyear is planning to convert its tire plants in Europe and Turkey to 100% renewable energy by year-end 2022 in line with the company's goal of reducing its carbon-emissions intensity by 25% by 2023 versus 2010.
Goodyear achieved a 19% intensity reduction in 2020 as reported in its latest Corporate Responsibility Report.
Goodyear's plan centers on purchasing around 700,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity for its tire plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Turkey. This shift will reduce the company's carbon footprint by up to 260,000 tons.
Goodyear includes energy sources hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power among its definition of renewables. 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% renewable electricity at these production facilities fits perfectly with our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint," Chris Delaney, president, Goodyear Europe/Middle East/Africa, said.
"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."
Goodyear did not disclose what impact the plan might have financially.
Other actions Goodyear has taken recently toward its carbon-emissions goal include the construction a large-scale solar carport at its plant in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.
Goodyear said the switch to renewable energy sources will continue in a second phase at its operations in South Africa and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and England. It did not provide a timetable for this phase.
Goodyear's announcement follows by several months Bridgestone Corp.'s declaration that it had converted 100% of its electricity consumption across Europe to renewable resources as part of its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
