Environment | Value natural resources
Recycling and reusing used tires

Proper management of end-of-life tires (ELTs) and their effective use as resources are critical to building a more sustainable society.

Recognizing that laws, regulations, and social systems governing ELTs differ across countries and regions, Bridgestone believes that a multifaceted approach is necessary and tailored to the specific circumstances of each location.

Bridgestone is therefore examining and addressing ELT-related issues by exploring the most appropriate approaches for each region. These approaches may include industry-wide collaboration at the global level, working with regional systems and stakeholders, or taking proactive action as a Group.

For example, at its equity stores worldwide, Bridgestone not only collects used tires from customers but also works to improve product circularity.^*1 This includes utilizing or disposing of used tires^*2 collected at stores in compliance with the laws and regulations of each country and region. As of 2025, 99% of Bridgestone’s 3,400 equity stores worldwide have contracts with processing companies that include beneficial next-use stipulations. Bridgestone continues to create new value through tire recycling, including the effective use of collected used tires.

Bridgestone specifically promotes the following activities globally:

• Effective beneficial next use of used tires collected at stores (material recycling and energy recovery)
• Participation in regional and global initiatives
• Collection of discarded tires to help clean up the environment in collaboration with NGOs

Examples include initiatives in which used passenger car tires and truck and bus radial tires (TBRs) are beneficially recycled and recovered, then used as construction materials, landscaping mulch, floor mats, and crafts.

End-of-life tire^*3 global recovery rates^*4

According to the Tire Industry Project (TIP), facilitated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the world is on course to generate approximately one billion used tires each year. Bridgestone recognizes that reducing the environmental impact of used tires is a critical issue for the entire tire industry.

Bridgestone has been involved in TIP since its launch in 2006. As one of the world’s leading tire and rubber companies, it works alongside other industry members to help create a more sustainable world. TIP aims to develop effective management systems for end-of-life tires by encouraging related sectors and governments to establish proper processing systems and reduce environmental impacts. TIP has published a manual featuring best-practice examples based on a global survey of 45 countries, covering 84% of the world’s vehicles.

TIP continues to pursue global best-practice research in ELT management, facilitating the exchange of expertise to identify key challenges and opportunities. As part of this effort, the project has also conducted several regional workshops to encourage collaboration among stakeholders involved in ELT management, including tire manufacturers, trade associations, waste management and recycling organizations, research institutions, academic organizations, and NGOs.

The first of these workshops were held in collaboration with trade associations in the U.S., Europe, and China, followed by a workshop with the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) of India, which resulted in the production of an India-specific ELT management report.

The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA), together with many other stakeholders in the tire industry, is working to reduce the number of used tires and promote recycling to help build a circular economy. Key measures focus on monitoring the state of tire recycling and preventing the illegal collection and dumping of used tires. According to a JATMA survey, the beneficial next-use rate of used tires in Japan reached 99.6% in 2024. Bridgestone, in collaboration with JATMA, remains committed to further improving this rate and reducing the environmental impact of used tires in Japan.

As a core member of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), Bridgestone Americas is working with USTMA toward a shared vision for the U.S. tire manufacturing industry: achieving safe and sustainable mobility for the future.

This effort includes promoting environmentally and economically sound options for repurposing tires once their on-vehicle use has ended, such as using them as construction materials or fuel. These approaches help maximize the value of used tires and reduce their environmental impact through responsible end-of-life management.

Since its launch in 1990, USTMA has worked with various state agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the tire industry to reduce scrap tire stockpiles and implement regulations that support sustainable used-tire markets. The association also provides technical information on end-of-life tire management and hosts used-tire conferences for regulators, recyclers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.

USTMA members operate 55 facilities across 16 states, support more than 606,000 additional U.S. jobs, and contribute an annual economic footprint of $259.5 billion.

USTMA | End-of-Life Tire Management

As a core member of Tyres Europe, Bridgestone EU, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA) is working with other Tyres Europe members to support the Roadmap: New Circular Economy Action Plan, issued by the European Parliament. The European tire industry envisions a future inclusive economy built on the efficient use of resources, full recovery of the waste streams with minimal loss of material functionality, and the elimination of uncontrolled emissions, all driven by an innovative and sustainable market economy.

To maximize its contribution to a circular economy, Tyres Europe and the tire industry are directly involved in managing end-of-life tires (ELT) in European countries that have adopted the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system.

EPR assigns producers full or partial operational and/or financial responsibility for a product throughout its lifecycle, including the post-consumer phase. Under this system, manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that waste from their products is managed responsibly and in an environmentally sound manner. This has led to the establishment of not-for-profit companies financed by tire producers to manage the collection and recovery of ELTs using the most economical and effective solutions. Reporting obligations to national regulatory authorities provide a strong example of clear and reliable traceability.

For joint projects concerning end-of-life tires, see the “EVERTIRE INITIATIVE” section in “Action 2: Recycle resources & use effectively.”

This project addresses pollution prevention through two key activities and strengthens alliances with the various stakeholders collaborating with the Costa Rica Plant. The first activity, called Llantaton, is an annual campaign promoted by Bridgestone in Costa Rica since 2017. In July 2025, the campaign was held over one week across 15 locations nationwide. This public-private alliance brings together local governments, vendors, clients, the Minister of Health, social media partners, and the press.
The second activity, Compliance Unit, is a program that Bridgestone Costa Rica has implemented since 2015. Through this program, the company has collected the equivalent of 126.9% of the total volume of tires sold in the country during 2025, demonstrating its commitment to pollution prevention. A central component of the program is a vendor responsible for collecting all disposed tires from Bridgestone sales agencies. Customers are offered the opportunity to return their old tires when purchasing new ones. Each Bridgestone sales point stores the collected tires and notifies the vendor, who then retrieves them and transports them to an appropriate treatment facility.

The Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme is a government-supported initiative focused on responsible tire disposal and the sustainable management of ELTs. Bridgestone Australia has been an active member of the scheme since 2015. Through this partnership, Bridgestone works to transform the way ELTs are managed and to help make the tire industry more environmentally sustainable.

Bridgestone Australia | Tyre Stewardship

Bridgestone Tire Solution Japan (BTSJ) operates the Bridgestone Tire Recycle Center Osaka, a facility that integrates both retreaded tire production and the repurposing of used tires in a single location. The center also supports the collection, reuse, and repurposing of tires from Osaka Prefecture as well as parts of Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, and Wakayama prefectures. Through this work, Bridgestone continues to uphold its commitment to achieving sustainable used-tire management.