Nokian tracking sustainability goals

Nokia, Finland – Nokian Tyres has progressed with its sustainability targets, having further improved the energy-efficiency of tires and its emission levels in 2018.

In 2017, the company already met its goal to reduce the rolling resistance of its tires by 7% compared to the 2013 baseline, with the aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 500 million kilograms by 2020.

In 2018, Nokian further reduced the rolling resistance of its products by another 1%, achieving a reduction of 128 million kilograms in CO2 emissions, the company announced in its sustainability report.

The Finnish tire maker also lowered energy consumption and CO2 emissions from production by 2.5% and 38% respectively, compared to the year before.

As part of its efforts to improve supply chain sustainability, Nokian said it had set a goal to audit all major rubber processor partners, including at least 80% of natural rubber purchasing volume, by 2020.

The company audited four natural rubber processors, together with an external auditor, and conducted four follow-up audits last year.

“These audits guarantee that our requirements are followed in the best possible way, as well as providing an opportunity for the audited companies to improve their activities and occupational safety,” said CEO and president Hille Korhonen.

According to Nokian the rubber processors showed “clear improvement”, especially in the labour rights in follow-up audits.

The Finnish tire maker also noted that 72% of its raw material suppliers had the ISO 14001 certification in 2018.

Nokian's waste utilisation rate remained at 100% at its production facility in Finland, while the figure stood at 88% in Russia.