Environment | Value natural resources
Action2: Recycle resources & use effectively

The materials we currently use in our products can be classified into three categories: renewable materials; non-renewable materials; and recycled materials. In addition to reducing the use of raw materials, we are promoting the use of recycled or reused materials.

As a specific example of this activity, we are working on expanding retread tires globally. A retread tire is one that can be reused by applying a new tread to the existing casing. Using less than one-third of the raw materials needed for a new one, it can help reduce the number of spent or discarded tires by reusing used tires.

We are also promoting the use of recycled rubber in our existing tire products and the development of new technologies like our Air-free Concept, a non-pneumatic tire that is made from recyclable materials.

Not only are Firestone Building Products metal roofing systems 100 percent recyclable at end-of-life, they also include significant amounts of recycled aluminum, copper, steel and zinc. In addition, The Bridgestone Group uses micronized rubber powder as a raw material in producing new, high-performance tires, tires for agriculture and off-road applications, and pre-cured tread for tire retread.

Carrying cargo or passengers, trucks and buses are the lifeblood of the world’s economy. Bridgestone is continually developing new innovative technology for truck and bus tires. With a full line-up of tires tailored to nearly every commercial-use application, we provide high levels of safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for highway, city, on and off-road, and winter driving conditions. The M800 series of truck and bus tires is designed to maintain a high durability in casing and can be retreaded twice ^*.

*Applicable to the following product sizes: 11R22.5 14PR/16PR and 275/80R22.5. The usage or management conditions of the tire and condition of components other than the tread (e.g. casing), may impact the ability for a tire to be retreaded.

The Air Free Concept is a technology that eliminates the need for tires to be inflated with air to support the weight, using a unique structure of spokes stretching along the inner sides of tires. With this technology, there is no need to periodically refill the tires with air, resulting in less tire maintenance, improved safety and eliminating the worry of tire punctures.

The spoke structure is made from resin^* and, along with the rubber in the tread portion, the materials used in the tires are recyclable, contributing to the efficient use of resources. Further, by pursuing extremely low rolling resistance and contributing to reductions in CO₂ emissions through proprietary technologies, we believe it is possible to achieve even higher levels of environmental performance. We are pursuing this technological development, aiming to achieve a “cradle to cradle” process that proactively maximizes the cyclic use of resources from worn tires into new tires and the use of recyclable resources.