Hyuncheol Kim, Executive VP, Hankook Tire China Headquarters CEO & Kaisa Nikulainen, ROTOBOOST CEO
Partnership aligns advanced methane pyrolysis innovation with circular-economy goals to accelerate sustainable tire materials
November 20, 2025 — Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire), and ROTOBOOST, an innovator in Thermo-Catalytic Decomposition (TCD) of natural gas, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop low-carbon, high-performance carbon for next-generation tires—advancing both companies’ commitments to circularity and rapid, measurable decarbonization.
Hankook Tire brings decades of compound and reinforcement science across tread and case applications, plus a proven roadmap in sustainable sourcing, renewable energy at plants, and LCA-driven product design. That foundation enables fast integration and scale-up of ROTOBOOST’s TCD carbon in real tire programs.
ROTOBOOST contributes a production-ready TCD platform that splits methane into hydrogen-rich gas and high-value solid carbon with no process CO₂ formation from the methane-splitting step. Its modular, scalable systems are engineered for on-site or near-site deployment. In May 2025, ROTOBOOST became the first TCD company to receive TÜV SÜD certification verifying the low-carbon footprints of both its hydrogen and carbon products, establishing an independent benchmark for industrial adoption.
Scope of Collaboration
- Co-development targets: Integrate ROTOBOOST’s TCD carbon into Hankook Tire’s compounding toolkit for selected SKUs, targeting ≥50% GHG-intensity reduction versus conventional routes while meeting or exceeding mechanical and dynamic KPIs (reinforcement efficiency, abrasion/tear, hysteresis).
- Industrialization track: With production-grade TCD carbon, Hankook Tire completes compound and on-tire validation for targeted SKUs.
- Quantified sustainability:Implement shared LCA/EPD-ready protocols to transparently measure cradle-to-gate carbon reduction and other impact indicators.
- Compliance by design: Develop to REACH, EU Green Deal-aligned requirements, and other global standards from the outset.
Industry Impact
By pairing third-party-certified low-carbon carbon products with world-class tire engineering and a defined path to launch qualification, Hankook Tire and ROTOBOOST aim to de-risk scale-up, compress time-to-qualification for OEMs, and deliver a practical, standards-aligned route to decarbonize tires—without compromising safety or durability.