Top Tire Makers Cut Emissions 36% in Just Five Years

Ten of the world's biggest tire manufacturers just proved that heavy industry can clean up its act fast.

Together, these companies cut their greenhouse gas emissions from 12.6 million tonnes to 8.1 million tonnes in just four years. That's a 36% reduction representing companies that make more than 60% of the world's tires.

The numbers come from the Tire Industry Project, an initiative tracking environmental performance across the industry's giants. The improvements go beyond just making fewer tires.

Each tonne of finished product now generates 29% less carbon than it did in 2021. The companies achieved this by completely transforming their energy sources.

Renewable electricity jumped from powering just 26% of operations in 2021 to 60% in 2025. That means more than half of all electricity used to manufacture tires now comes from clean sources like wind and solar.

Energy consumption fell by nearly 11% overall, even accounting for slightly lower production volumes. Nine of the ten manufacturers now have science-based emissions reduction targets validated by independent experts, up from just three companies four years ago.

Water conservation showed impressive gains too. Total water use dropped 18%, with water withdrawn from stressed areas falling by 35%. Some of that improvement came from reclassifying certain sites, but the overall trend points to smarter water management.

The Ripple Effect

This shift matters beyond the tire industry. Transportation accounts for a massive share of global emissions, and making the components more sustainably helps the entire supply chain move toward climate goals.

The changes prove that manufacturers can adopt renewable energy quickly when they commit to it. Jumping from 26% to 60% renewable electricity in four years demolishes the excuse that transitions take decades.

The industry still faces challenges, particularly around tire wear particles that enter waterways and the environment. Companies invested nearly $2 million in research projects to understand and eventually reduce this pollution.

Waste management remains a work in progress, with waste per tonne of production actually increasing slightly. Researchers attribute this partly to fixed waste generated regardless of production volume.

Still, 90% of participating companies now operate responsible sourcing policies for all materials. The industry created new tools to track end-of-life tire recovery and recycling globally.

These manufacturers are showing that yesterday's polluting industries can become tomorrow's climate leaders when they measure progress and commit to change.