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World Biodiversity Day (May 22)Bridgestone Supports Conservation Initiatives Around the World- Company Advances Environmental Education through a Variety of Programs -

Tokyo (May 21, 2012) - In support of World Biodiversity Day, Bridgestone Corporation is highlighting its many global initiatives to help realize a sustainable society.

The Bridgestone 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 reducing carbon emissions. 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.

 

In many ways, every day is biodiversity day at Bridgestone. The following are just a few of the many environmental education activities that the Bridgestone Group has implemented in various regions of the world to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society in accordance with the vision described in its Environmental Mission Statement.


<Examples of Initiatives>
♦Region: Japan / Hikone Plant
♦Activity: Lake Biwa - Sustainable Environment for Local Communities

Bridgestone Corporation is working in cooperation with community members to protect the precious natural habits in and around Lake Biwa. Lake Biwa has a very unique freshwater ecosystem that has been recognized for its importance by global authorities. In order to protect this valuable natural habit, Bridgestone plans nature watching events, assists research related to endangered species, and supports special exhibitions at the Lake Biwa Museum. These environmental preservation activities have been conducted on an ongoing basis since 2004 with the hope that they will help raise environmental awareness among a wide range of people.
Nature watching event
Nature watching event

♦Region: Venezuela
♦Activity: Protecting and Planting the National Tree

Bridgestone Firestone Venezolana, C.A. (BFVZ) is supporting a program to protect Araguaney trees, the national tree of Venezuela. In cooperation with municipal government bodies, the company donates saplings to elementary schools and lends aid to efforts to protect Araguaney in the wild. BFVZ will continue to conduct these activities, aiming to inspire higher levels of environmental awareness among people in this country by protecting and planting their national tree.
Tree planting activities
Tree planting activities

♦Region: the United States
♦Activity: Bridgestone Environmental Education Classroom & Habitat (BEECH) activities

Bridgestone Americas, INC. created the Bridgestone Environmental Education Classroom & Habitat (BEECH) program through a partnership with environmental and community groups. The program is held in Warren County, Tennessee, where a Bridgestone plant is located. In order to help facilitate education on wildlife, the company has established educational facilities bordering its plant, and also conducts classes at local elementary schools and holds field trips at a nature reserve that is located within the grounds of the plant.

Influenced by the BEECH program, one school has begun a recycling program as part of its own unique environmental education initiatives. This recycling program has become a fixture in the surrounding community, and the community has seen a rise in recycling accordingly.


Environmental education class no1
Environmental education class
Environmental education class no2


♦Region: Germany
♦Activity: Supporting Environmental Preservation Activities in Cooperation with WWF*

Bridgestone Deutschland GMBH was conducting a joint initiative with WWF Germany to promote environmental preservation in commemoration of the launch of fuel-efficient ECOPIA EP 150 tires in 2011. Hoping to proliferate an understanding of the Bridgestone Group’s environmental protection policies and initiatives, customers purchasing these tires were given the option to donate a portion of the proceeds to either the Wildlife Fund through Bridgestone or to support other environmental preservation activities through WWF. Aiming to further facilitate an understanding of the Group’s environmental efforts and raise environmental awareness among as many people as possible, reinforcing the fact that we humans are indeed part of nature, Bridgestone Germany will continue to conduct environmental preservation activities.
*World Wide Fund for Nature
Joint press conference with WWF Germany
Joint press conference with WWF Germany

♦Region: South Africa
♦Activity: Supporting Environmental Preservation Program

Bridgestone South Africa (PTY) LTD. (BSAF) supports a Cape Leopard Trust that preserves native mountain leopard. The Trust also focuses on environmental education programs for children. Its teammates conduct nature experience programs and astronomical observation at the neighbor elementary schools. BSAF provides financial supports and engages in the environmental education programs for children as well as promotes awareness toward environmental preservation and biodiversity.
Nature observation at the nature experience programs
Nature observation at the nature experience programs



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.