Nokian Tyres' factory in Dayton, Tennessee, is now one of the most eco-friendly in the tire industry worldwide after reaching another key environmental mark Tuesday.
The Dayton facility's solar-powered administration building has landed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Gold certification, according to company officials. Already, the plant that makes tires for the auto industry received LEED v4 Silver certification for its production facility from the U.S. Green Building Council.
"This achievement is another proof point in our efforts to make high-quality tires that protect drivers and the environment," said Dayton Factory Operations Director David Korda. "LEED v4 Gold certification is a testament to our team's hard work carrying out Nokian Tyres' core value of sustainability at a life-driven workplace."
Inspectors highlighted the administration building's innovation in design, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality as key drivers of the high certification level, the company said.
Design innovations include solar power, low-emitting building materials and a high level of natural lighting throughout the facility, according to Nokian.
Company spokesman Wes Boling said the new designation coupled with the earlier Silver certification makes the Dayton tire complex one of the most eco-friendly in the industry.
Boling said that while the sustainability efforts require added investment by the company, officials believe the efforts are worth the money.
While there are energy savings and efficiencies for the facility, "it's worth it to us to match the standards we set for ourselves," he said.
The 26,000-square-foot administration building is fueled by solar energy and stocked with amenities that promote employee well-being, the company said. The company is currently hiring nearly 150 workers there in the first half of 2021.
Nokian expects to have about 300 employees when the current round of hiring is complete, Boling said. When full production is reached, the plant is to employ about 400 people.
A bank of solar panels anchored in the parking lot provides power to the administration building and generates energy for a portion of the production process. The three-megawatt panels can generate about 4,000 megawatt-hours of solar energy each year, which would be enough to power more than 500 homes, according to the company.
The administration building, in addition to offices and meeting spaces, includes a workout area, mothers' room, canteen and a sauna, Nokian said. Employees also have more than two acres of green space in front of the building.
Nokian opened the Dayton factory in 2019. When full production is reached, it will produce about 4 million tires per year.
Nokian has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for four straight years, ranking it among the most sustainable publicly traded companies in the world, the company said.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.