The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has announced it will adopt 100% renewable energy at its Goodyear plants across Europe and Turkey* in the first of a multi-phase plan to procure 100% renewable energy in all its facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2022.
The decision, made in conjunction with the company’s development of its long-term climate strategy, will enable Goodyear to reduce operational impacts and aligns with its goal of reducing carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2023 versus a 2010 baseline. The company already achieved 19% intensity reduction in 2020 as reported in its latest Corporate Responsibility Report.
By purchasing around 700,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, Goodyear can ensure that manufacturing plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and the Netherlands will operate on sustainably sourced electricity. This shift will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by up to 260,000 tons, according to Goodyear.
Goodyear says it will increase usage of renewable energy sources like hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power to achieve this goal. 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,” said Chris Delaney, president, Goodyear EMEA. “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.”
This is one of a number of actions Goodyear is taking to ensure it contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions. Earlier this year the company announced it would construct Luxembourg’s first large scale solar carport which is now operational.
* France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, and the Netherlands will be included in the first phase, other Goodyear locations such as Goodyear in South Africa, and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and UK will be reviewed in a second phase.
