Nokian Tyres is developing climate-neutral premium tires for the Polestar 0 project, which aims to create a climate-neutral car by 2030.
The project’s target is that throughout the car’s supply chain, manufacturing processes and end of life, all sources of CO2 emissions will be eliminated without offsetting them.
To achieve breakthroughs, the approach encompasses collaboration across the entire development process and value chain, from suppliers to retailers. Each component must be climate neutral.
Teemu Soini, head of innovation and development at Nokian Tyres, said, “The collaboration, research and results achieved will have broader benefits also outside this project, as new ways of decreasing the carbon footprints of different business activities will be created. Some of them may be available before 2030, where the project goal is set. For example, the tire innovations created during the Polestar 0 project will be utilized in Nokian Tyres’ products as soon as it is possible.”
Last year, the company introduced the Nokian Tyres Green Step concept tire – an ambitious design in which 93% of the materials are either recycled or renewable.
“Nokian Tyres has shown sustainability leadership in the tire industry before, and we’re determined to do it again – this time by developing climate-neutral tires,” said Soini.
This year, Nokian Tyres announced plans of its new factory in Oradea, Romania, which will make history as the world’s first zero CO2 emission tire factory. It will use a holistic approach to sustainability, including the use of solely green energy sources and energy-efficient and highly automated processes. In addition, the factory aims for the same zero waste to landfill standard from production as at the company’s other factories in Finland and the USA. First tires are scheduled to be produced in Romania in 2024, and commercial production is expected to begin in 2025.
“Nokian Tyres has done extensive work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating energy-efficient, sustainable tires. Their proven track record, experience and knowledge will be very valuable for us in the Polestar 0 project, when we together do research on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. I look forward to cooperating with Nokian Tyres in developing the car of the future,” said Hans Pehrson, head of the Polestar 0 project.
