News

News

Earth Day (April 22, 2012)
Initiatives to Realize a Sustainable Society
- Advancing Social Contribution Efforts Around the World-

Tokyo (April 16, 2012)- Bridgestone Corporation today announced initiatives to ensure the Bridgestone Group plays a proactive role in efforts to realize a sustainable society.
The Group has clear long-term aspirations for environmental activities through its Environmental Mission Statement, which focuses on three important objectives: ecological conservation, resource conservation, and carbon emissions reduction. In accordance with this mission, the Group is promoting a wide variety of projects and business processes that benefit the environment on a global scale.

The following are examples of social contribution activities that the Bridgestone Group will implement in conjunction with Earth Day, on April 22*, to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society in accordance with the vision described in its Environmental Mission Statement.

 

As a global leader in the tire and rubber industry, the Bridgestone Group is working to maintain a state of harmony with the natural environment. To accomplish this, the Group will conduct environmental preservation initiatives as part of its business efforts as well as by instilling a spirit of environmental care into all areas of its corporate activities.

* Earth Day was established by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as a day to recognize the importance of preserving our natural environment. The designation of Earth Day was based on the belief that it is vitally important for us to work to achieve harmony with the environment. In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day.

<Examples of Initiatives>

·Region: Japan
·Activity: ECOPIA's Forest project

Bridgestone Corporation is working to protect the forests of Japan by utilizing a portion of the proceeds from the sales of fuel-efficient ECOPIA brand tires to conduct forestry activities. In conjunction with Earth Day, the Group has scheduled a series of "Spring Forestry Activities" at six of its plants throughout Japan. The first of these activities, which involves weeding and thinning forests, was conducted by Bridgestone's Hofu Plant employees on April 8, 2012.

Plant (Forest) Activities/Event information Date
Hofu Plant (ECOPIA's Forest Hofu) Woodworking workshop April 8 (Sun)
Kumamoto Plant (ECOPIA's Forest Kumamoto) Woodworking workshop April 21 (Sat)
Hikone Plant (ECOPIA's Forest Hikone) Weeding, nature watching April 21 (Sat)
Yokohama Plant (ECOPIA's Forest Yokohama) Forest thinning, nature watching, woodworking workshop June 2 (Sat)
Tochigi Plant (ECOPIA's Forest Nasushiobara) Weeding, nature watching June 16 (Sat)
Shimonoseki Plant
(ECOPIA's Forest Shimonoseki)
Weeding, nature watching, woodworking workshop Late June

 transplanting trees

Forestry activities conducted at the ECOPIA's Forest Hofu on April 8, 2012

(Left) transplanting trees

(Right)Nature watching event for children

Nature watching event for children

·Region: The United States
·Activity: Supporting an environmental event

Bridgestone Americas Inc. is working in cooperation with the Earth Day Network, organizer of the world's largest civic observance, to hold a massive Earth Day event in Washington D.C. The theme of Earth Day 2012 is Mobilize the Earth. With focus on this theme, Earth Day events are scheduled to be held around the world to spread awareness of environmental issues such as renewable energy and the development of a sustainable society.

For more details:
http://www.earthday.org/press-release/earth-day-network-teams-bridgestone-national-mall-even


·Region: Canada
·Activity: Supporting local river preservation

Bridgestone's Joliette Plant continues to be integral in the advancement of the Water Fostering project being conducted at the rivers surrounding the plant. This project aims to engage the full community in preserving the rivers in this area. Teams conduct ecosystem and water quality investigations as well as environmental preservation activities The Joliette Plant is supporting the project over a four-year period that began in 2011.

The plant also holds a number of events to promote environmental education and encourage children to think about the environment and biodiversity, and includes various scholars from relevant fields to participate in these events.
Saint-Jean River running nearby the Joliette Plant
Saint-Jean River running nearby the Joliette Plant

Environmental event held for local children
Environmental event held for local children

·Region: China
·Activity: Protecting a nature reserve

Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (BSCN), works together with local NGOs to protect the wildlife on the Nianbaoyuze plateau*, which is home to many endangered species.
BSCN has agreed to work in cooperation with the Chinese government as well as with local NGOs and communities; protecting the wildlife, supporting studies by young biologists and film producers who will awaken people's consciousness about environmental issues in the region. It lends its strength to the effort to protect this irreplaceable nature reserve for the next three years from 2011.

* A plateau that spreads across the border between Qinghai Province and Sichuan Province
Beautiful natural environment at Nianbaoyuze plateau
Beautiful natural environment at Nianbaoyuze plateau
Local youth helping preserve the environment
Local youth helping preserve the environment

·Region: Spain
·Activity: Facilitating environmental education

Bridgestone's Burgos Plant in Spain is facilitating environmental education for children in the region surrounding the plant. It holds various events to get children thinking about the environment from a young age, including interactive workshops on the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) as well as tree-planting activities. In March of this year, employees and their families participated in tree-planting activities. Also, several environmental workshops are scheduled for April.

Tree-planting activities in March
Tree-planting activities in March
Environmental Workshop
Environmental Workshop

related link:
·Environmental mission statement




About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.