Environment | Reduce CO₂ emissions
Long-term environmental vision (2050 and beyond): Contribute towards carbon neutral

The Bridgestone Group believes the demands of society and customers to reduce CO₂ emissions will continue to increase in the future, given the need to respond to climate change. Toward its goal of carbon neutrality for 2050 and beyond, Bridgestone is working to concurrently enhance its contribution to CO₂ reduction and to minimize CO₂ emissions.

It will contribute to CO₂ reduction in the processes of raw-material procurement, distribution, customer use, and reuse and recycling while providing solutions based on Dan-Totsu Products and Dan-Totsu Service. Together with its customers and partners, Bridgestone will contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in society as a whole and will also differentiate itself and strengthen its competitiveness by helping its customers reduce their CO₂ emissions and become carbon neutral.

Action towards carbon neutral

Bridgestone will offer solutions in order to minimize CO₂ emissions together with society, customers, and partners, as well as to maximize energy efficiency, increase renewable energy use, enhance the circular economy, and develop innovations, starting with its own operations.

1. Minimize CO₂ emissions
   (Examples)
   
   • Maximize energy efficiency
   • Increase use of renewable energy
   • Promote manufacturing and engineering innovation
2. Enhance contribution to CO₂ reduction
   (Examples)
   
   • Provide solutions that contribute to CO₂ reduction via customers’ use of Bridgestone's products and services
   • Reduce CO₂ emissions across the value chain of products, including lightening weight and increasing recyclability.

In Milestone 2020, Bridgestone set a mid-term target to reduce the emissions footprint of its tires at the stage of customer use to a level that exceeds Bridgestone’s emissions from material procurement until product after-use. Bridgestone achieved this target of 100% reduction in 2019.

With decoupling in mind, Bridgestone has set a goal to reduce the absolute volume of CO₂ emissions from its own immediate production activities to steadily reduce CO₂ emissions while aiming to grow its business in the future. In addition, Bridgestone will accelerate its contribution to the reduction of CO₂ emissions through products and solutions. In this way, Bridgestone will pursue CO₂ reductions throughout its product lifecycles and entire value chain.

Bridgestone will contribute to CO₂ emissions reduction during the customer use, raw material procurement, distribution, and reuse/recycle phases of the product lifecycle by providing customer value through Dan-Totsu (the clear and absolute leader) products and services. It will also seek to reduce CO₂ emissions from manufacturing. This allows Bridgestone to reduce CO₂ emissions across the product lifecycle and entire value chain.

1. The target covers emissions from production sites excluding discontinued operations. Scope 1 covers all direct CO₂ emissions by a company (from boilers of manufacturing facilities, etc.). Scope 2 covers indirect energy-related CO₂ emissions (from consumption of purchased electricity etc.). Scope 3 covers CO₂ emissions from raw material procurement, distribution, customers’ use, and after-use of lifecycle stages.
2. Base year: 2011
3. Base year: 2020

1. GHG emissions throughout lifecycle of one fuel-efficient passenger car tire (195/65R15): 242.5kg-CO₂e
2. GHG emissions from after-use stage: 13.0kg-CO₂e (emissions reduction: 15.2kg-CO₂e) (Source: “Tyre LCCO₂ Calculation Guidelines Ver. 3.0.1”, Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc.)

Bridgestone's focus on the environment and its determination to achieve the CO₂ emissions reduction targets will advance technologies across the lifecycle of its products, significantly reducing the environmental footprint while also helping customers reduce theirs. Bridgestone is developing and expanding fuel-efficient tires equipped with ENLITEN, a base technology for product design, and mobility solutions that provide fleet management services. Bridgestone's efforts are designed to help address climate change and build a more sustainable society.

* BCMA (Bridgestone Commonality Modularity Architecture）
BCMA supports "ultimate customization" by consolidating tire parts into three modules and shares them among different products, simplifying the supply chain including development and production. It is a Bridgestone base technology for manufacturing and R&D which shortens development and production lead time to agilely provide value to customers while also aiming to reduce business cost including environmental impact.

To reduce CO₂ emissions through tires’ lifecycle, Bridgestone has engaged with its suppliers in various ways.

Bridgestone’s Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, introduced in 2018, has been revised in light of changes in the external environment and the expectations and demands of society and stakeholders. The latest version of the policy outlines the requirements for suppliers to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, formulate a reduction plan, and promote environmentally friendly procurement, including reporting emissions, related to CO₂ reductions throughout the supply chain.

To obtain full understanding and cooperation with the policy, Bridgestone holds briefing sessions for suppliers in multiple regions every year. At the briefing session in 2024, in which over 150 global suppliers participated, Bridgestone called for cooperation in activities aimed at carbon neutrality, such as reducing CO₂ emissions, introducing renewable energy, and setting high goals in line with the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, as a new initiative aimed at building capacity to support the activities of its business partners, Bridgestone held workshops focusing on CO₂ reduction for business partners in Japan, India, and Thailand, where Bridgestone highlighted the background to its goal of becoming carbon neutral, CO₂ calculation methods, criteria for setting scientifically based targets, and best practices.

Every year, Bridgestone conducts a questionnaire on the status of setting CO₂ reduction targets and CO₂ emissions, with the aim of providing feedback on its efforts and monitoring the activities of its business partners. In 2024, we asked all suppliers of raw materials to respond to the questionnaire, and nearly 95%* of them responded.

Some suppliers responded that they have set new reduction targets, which are reflected in the progress of Bridgestone’s overall sustainable procurement activities and future engagement activities.

Bridgestone also checks the status of compliance with the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy through a questionnaire.

In terms of follow up, Bridgestone worked with EcoVadis to conduct enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk assessments of suppliers to monitor and evaluate their ESG status.

* Based on CO₂ emissions from Bridgestone's Scope 3 Category 1 (purchasing products and services) tire business (2023 results)

In 2011, Bridgestone introduced internal carbon pricing (ICP) for CO₂ emissions reduction. In the internal carbon pricing, the impact of carbon reduction/increase is taken into account as a factor in the investment decision. Bridgestone makes ICP a driver to promote investment toward carbon neutrality.

The use of ICP in investment decisions is standardized and promoted in each business area, and the price of ICP is reviewed periodically with reference to carbon market prices and other factors to enhance Bridgestone’s ability to make appropriate investment decisions.

As of 2024, with Scope 1, 2, and 3 as the scope of application, the price of CO₂ is set at USD 100 per ton.

Bridgestone believes that the use of ICP in its investment decisions toward carbon neutrality will have a certain impact in terms of accelerating its efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions, along with the investment in energy conservation and the shift to renewable energy (electricity).

Bridgestone is promoting co-creation with stakeholders by encouraging open innovation in technology, business models, and design, and combining technologies in various fields. In terms of climate change action, Bridgestone is also working with other organizations and businesses to accelerate carbon neutral initiatives. In Japan, it is working as a member of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) and the Tokyo Zero-emission Innovation Bay council. In April 2021, Bridgestone endorsed a message by JCI calling for the government of Japan to set ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to realize the goals of the Paris Agreement. The message, which calls for a 2030 reduction target of "going beyond 45% - aiming for a 50% emission reduction," was delivered as an open letter to Japan’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister of the Environment, and published by various media outlets.

In 2023, Bridgestone participated in the review of the Revised Act on the Rational Use of Energy, a law related to action against climate change, by submitting an opinion to promote the proper evaluation of electrification technology that contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions with electricity from renewable energy sources. It also supports the Japanese government’s actions to mitigate climate change aligned with the Paris Agreement by enhancing its initiative towards carbon neutrality as well as complying to the laws related with climate change.

Moreover, Bridgestone is a major member of the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association, which has been working to achieve 2030 mid-term targets to reduce CO₂ emissions during manufacturing as part of the Japanese Business Federation’s Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, which plays a central role in the industrial sector’s commitment. In Japan, Bridgestone is also participating in the Port of Kitakyushu Carbon Neutral (CNP) Study Group, which is comprised of companies, the national government, and the City of Kitakyushu. The study group was established by the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the City of Kitakyushu with the aim of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions to zero at the Port of Kitakyushu, a node for international logistics and an industrial hub. In 2022, this study developed the Port of Kitakyushu CNP Formation Plan (Draft).

Furthermore, Bridgestone has pledged its support for the Challenge Zero initiative launched by the Japan Business Federation in collaboration with the Japanese government, which aims to realize a decarbonized society for Japan as a long-term goal in line with the international framework of the Paris Agreement.

In 2024, Bridgestone joined the GX League in Japan, a forum for cooperation between a group of companies and the government, universities, and academic institutions to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets and increase industrial competitiveness, by using Japan’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 as an opportunity for economic growth. Bridgestone will collaborate with members of the forum to advance initiatives aimed at transforming economic and social systems.

In participating in or reviewing climate change-related initiatives and organizations, Bridgestone periodically evaluates these initiatives and organizations based on their affinity with its business strategy direction, including its goals toward carbon neutrality. If there is a large discrepancy, Bridgestone will reconsider its relationship with them.

Bridgestone is aware of the physical risks associated with climate change and has established business continuity planning (BCP) and other risk management measures at its production sites. Bridgestone also recognizes other potential issues related to climate change and is taking steps to help address them, such as by research and development on diversifying rubber materials and by studying how climate-related impacts might influence the supply chain.

Natural rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) are the primary source of natural rubber today. Currently, more than 90% of the world’s natural rubber supply comes from rubber trees grown in tropical areas of Southeast Asia. Bridgestone is actively researching ways to diversify the world supply of this raw material that is vital for the tire and rubber industry.

Specifically, Bridgestone is researching methods for extracting and developing tire-grade natural rubber from guayule, a desert shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

For the details of Bridgestone’s research projects involving guayule, see “Action3: Expand and diversify renewable resources.”

Bridgestone supports the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its recommendations, recognizes climate-related risks and opportunities identified in accordance with the TCFD framework, and is working to reflect and disclose such information in its business strategies. Bridgestone formulated a long-term environmental vision and mid-term targets toward achieving carbon neutrality and contributing to the realization of a circular economy, in light of climate-related risks and opportunities. Bridgestone is working to reduce the risks of transition to a decarbonized society by reducing CO₂ emissions throughout its value chain, while at the same time reducing physical risks through adaptive measures, such as diversifying natural rubber supply sources through initiatives to commercialize guayule, a rubber-producing plant that grows in arid regions.

Going forward, Bridgestone intends to expand its disclosure of climate-related actions in line with the TCFD recommendations.

For the details of Bridgestone’s disclosures on TCFD recommendations, see “TCFD and TNFD Index.”

Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2024 (1.8MB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2023 (471KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2022 (395KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2021 (378KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2020 (374KB)