Environment | Reduce CO₂ emissions
CO₂ reduction across our operations

Reducing CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2)
Reducing Scope 3 CO₂ emissions from raw material, distribution and after-use

CO₂ reduction and renewable energy introduction to non-production site

Reducing CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2)

CO₂ emission (Scope 1, 2) reduction target in manufacturing

The Bridgestone Group has set a new target in Milestone 2030 to reduce its absolute CO₂ emissions (Scope 1 and 2^*1) by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2011).

In 2020, the Group continued our efforts to improve energy efficiency and introduce renewable energy sources, and has achieved 31% reduction compared to 2011. This result was also affected by the decrease in production volume due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the Group will continue to make further efforts.

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.

ISO 50001 certification

ISO 50001 certificate of San Jose Plant

In May 2012, Bridgestone Europe Technology Center in Rome was the first to acquire ISO 50001 certification in Italy. In the Europe, Russia, Middle East, India and Africa (EMIA) region, each plants has been working on obtaining ISO 50001 certification to improve energy management and efficiency. As a result, all new tire plants in the EU are now certified, with the Bari Plant (Italy) receiving ISO 50001 certification in 2020. In addition, the certification was obtained by the plants in Izmit and Aksaray (Turkey). The certification was also acquired by Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd. in the Rangsit Plant and in the Nong Khae Plant in 2015, by Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. in the Huizhou Plant in 2016, and by Bridgestone de Costa Rica S.A. in the San Jose Plant in 2018.

The Group is working to improve energy management by identifying the major causes of energy consumption, defining effective indicators, implementing continuous monitoring in real time (as per the “Smart Energy” project in Europe), setting targets, promoting awareness among employees, improving the skills of technicians involved with equipment and engaging in initiatives including forming specialized energy conservation teams.

Transition to renewable energy sources

As one of its efforts towards carbon neutrality, the Bridgestone Group is working to minimize its CO₂ emissions by maximizing energy efficiency and expanding its use of renewable energy at manufacturing and other facilities. Three of its tire manufacturing facilities (Bilbao, Puente San Miguel and Burgos) and one tire cord facility (Usansolo), all in Spain, sourced 100% of their electricity from renewable sources in 2018. Five facilities in Europe (Tatabanya in Hungary, Stargard and Poznan in Poland, Lanklaar in Belgium, and Warwick in United Kingdom) are also powered by 100% renewable electricity in 2020. Additionally, the Bari Plant (Italy) has also switched its power supply in the same way in 2021, and 100% of the electricity consumed in the European new tire plants comes from renewable resources.

Through these efforts, the Bridgestone Group's renewable energy ratio (electricity) reached 11% in 2020.

It will continue to expand the use of renewable energy and addresses its aim to increase this ratio to more than 50% by 2023 in the Mid Term Business Plan.

Utilizing solar energy

Wuxi Plant (China)

Aiken Plant (United States)

Wuxi Plant (China) and Pune Plant (India) began using electricity generated by large-scale, solar power generators installed on the facilities’ roofs with electricity suppliers in 2018.

In addition, large-scale solar power generation (2MW) has begun operating at Aiken Plant (United States) in December 2020.

In Japan, since 2019, four Bridgestone Group tire manufacturing facilities (Torisu, Tochigi, Kitakyushu and Kurume), Chemical & Industrial Products Technology Center (Yokohama) and Global-Manufacturing Education Center (Tokyo) have introduced solar photovoltaic power generation systems.

Biomass boiler to halve CO₂ emissions

New biomass boiler

Wood pellet biomass fuel

Bridgestone Costa Rica (BSCR) introduced a biomass boiler to produce heat for its San Jose Plant in 2014. The company successfully reduced CO₂ emissions for the facility by approximately 50% by replacing oil with wood pellets as fuel for the boiler. This BSCR initiative is helping the Republic of Costa Rica achieve carbon neutrality.

In addition, Bridgestone India Private Limited Pune Plant installed and started to use Biomass boiler to cover 100% of the Plant’s steam demand in 2021.

Group-wide energy survey to identify energy losses

Energy survey at a tire plant

Even as the manufacturing volumes grow in response to demand, the Bridgestone Group will continue to work to reduce its energy consumption to achieve the CO₂ emissions reduction goals. Since 2009, Bridgestone’s Technology Center have proactively conducted energy surveys to identify energy losses and areas for improvement at plant facilities. The Group is also continuously developing the ability of the personnel to recognize and implement energy-saving opportunities. In Milestone 2030, the Group aims to improve our energy efficiency by 0.5% per year, and it will continue to promote these activities throughout the Group.

Reducing Scope 3 CO₂ emissions from raw material, distribution and after-use

The Bridgestone Group is working on minimizing CO₂ emissions across operations and achieved 37% reduction per net sales from operations and products’ after-use^*1 in 2020 compared to 2005.

Bridgestone’s CO₂ emissions are verified by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance, a third-party institution, to ensure the accuracy and transparency of this information.

Actual calculation (155KB)
Independent Assurance Statement (476KB)

*1 Includes CO₂ emissions reduction activities and exchange rate fluctuations on sales.

CO₂ emissions reduction by life cycle stage (2020)

Raw materials	Reduced by about 31%
Manufacturing	Reduced by about 36%
Distribution	Reduced by about 25%
After-use	Reduced by about 56%

Note: Rates of reduction per unit of sales in comparison to 2005

For detailed emissions data, see “ESG data.”

CO₂ reduction at logistics in Japan

Promoting modal shift between Kanto and Kyushu

As a large shipper, Bridgestone Corporation is working with logistics companies, including its affiliated company Bridgestone Logistics, to reduce annual CO₂ emissions per energy intensity by 1% on average. For trucks, the Company adopted low-emission vehicles such as hybrid cars, introduced eco-driving and increased the size of vehicles to enhance transportation efficiency, as well as expanded round-trip use of containers and vehicles by reducing the return of empty containers and using a comprehensive vehicle allocation system to shorten shipping distances by improving logistics routes. The Company is also working to reduce CO₂ emissions associated with shipping from plants to distribution centers through modal shift, such as by switching to rail and ship transportation.

CO₂ reduction and renewable energy introduction to non-production site

Bridgestone America headquarters

In 2018, the Bridgestone Americas headquarters tower in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Many Bridgestone products used in the 48,588 square-meter, 31-story building helped secure the LEED certification.

In Europe, EMIA's head office in Belgium, and R&D center and Proving Ground in Italy have switched 100% of their electricity use to renewable energy, and the Group is promoting CO₂ reduction and the introduction of renewable energy at non-production sites as well.

Environment | Reduce CO₂ emissions
CO₂ reduction across our operations