Goodyear to tap renewable energy across European, Turkish plants 

Brussels – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is adopting 100% renewable energy at its plants in Europe and Turkey in the first of a multiple-phase plan to switch to renewable power sources in all facilities across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2022.

At the initial stage, Goodyear plants in France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey and The Netherlands will be included in the project, the tire maker announced 22 Sept.

Other Goodyear locations such as Goodyear in South Africa, and Cooper Tire plants in Serbia and UK will be reviewed in the second phase, it added. 

The process involves the purchase of around 700,000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, to power the Phase 1 plants. 

The move, said Goodyear, will reduce the company's carbon footprint by up to 260,000 tonnes.

The tire maker said it will use a combination of renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar or geothermic biomass power to achieve the “critical shift.” 

To ensure electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources, Goodyear said it procures GoOs (guarantee of origin), which provide information to electricity customers on the source of their energy.

The move is in line with Goodyear’s long-term climate strategy and the commitment to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 25% by 2023 from a 2010 baseline. 

The company achieved 19% intensity reduction in 2020 as reported in its latest corporate responsibility report.

"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.