Social | Community
Activities related to education

Believing that education is essential for improving people’s quality of life and developing their professional skills, Bridgestone supports inclusive and accessible education in the local communities in which it operates. With a particular emphasis on primary education and technical and vocational training, Bridgestone applies its strengths in tire manufacturing and sales to offer a variety of training programs that foster the next generation of automotive maintenance professionals. In addition, Bridgestone is helping to improve the educational environment for young people who will lead the next generation and providing opportunities for learning from a business perspective.

In 2024, Bridgestone undertook 286 initiatives^*1 related to education in 18 countries and regions, including 263 initiatives with outside partners,^*2 involving 2,364 employee volunteers,^*3 reaching 25,049 people^*4 from local communities.

Counting of “initiatives” varies by country or region.
Counting of “partners” varies by country or region.
The number of volunteers is the total number, including estimates for some activities.
The number of people who directly benefited from the activities, which vary by country and region and only include those activities whose status has been confirmed.

Green IT Classroom (China)

In China, the Green IT Classroom initiative, in partnership with Zhonggu Charity, addresses critical challenges rural schools face, including a lack of opportunities for computer literacy and the substantial waste generated from disposed computers, with 50% of them being recyclable. Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (BSCN) has implemented several solutions to overcome these challenges.

The initiative involves donating and recycling computers from BSCN and its partners, establishing IT classrooms in rural schools, and providing computer training for students in these communities. Bridgestone plays a vital role by creating collaborative opportunities for internal and external stakeholders to donate computers jointly. Bridgestone employees also engage in volunteer activities, including computer recycling, classroom setup, and training sessions, while providing financial support for the project.

Through this initiative, Bridgestone aims to enhance computer literacy in rural areas, reduce electronic waste, and foster a culture of sustainability and education among the youth.

From School: Bridgestone is a responsible company with love. The classroom created opportunities for students to learn more about the world through the internet.

From Distributors: Tianli Group is honored to work with Bridgestone to hold this meaningful event. Through this aid construction activity, we hope to bring better learning experiences to children in rural schools, help them better integrate into the digital age, and achieve comprehensive development.

Output	Donated 780 computers. Of which, 392 computers were recycled, resulting in 176.4 tons of CO₂ reduction. Set up five classrooms, benefitting more than 3,000 students and teachers. 210 employees, 14 distributors, and 12 suppliers participated in the program.
Impact	An impact assessment was conducted for 11 employees who participated in the initiative. After engaging in social contribution activities, 100% of employees felt a greater sense of belonging both to Bridgestone and to the community. Additionally, 100% of employees perceived positive changes in their work-related skills, attitudes and behaviors in life, as well as their overall well-being.

Women empowerment, development, and technical driving training (India)

This project is aimed at supporting individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. An Indian government report shows that only 11% of women in India drive a vehicle, and the main livelihood of women residing in urban settlements is through manual work. These women earn only about Rs. 3,000-4,000 (USD 40-50) per month through housekeeping work or other menial tasks. Having no other skills and education, they are unable to adopt other means of livelihood.

This initiative provides opportunities for non-conventional types of employment that involve driving as a profession. This initiative supports women’s efforts toward self-reliance, mainstreaming, justice, and equality. With the growing demand for female drivers, especially from female commuters, families with children, and the elderly, this initiative creates a greater sense of safety among customers, resulting in a stronger sense of trust and loyalty. A total of 278 women had been trained as of 2024 and placed in different transport-related organizations. The training consists of two modules:

Driving Training Module (90 Days):
Training starts with induction training where the basics of the project are explained, and participants are encouraged to complete the training. It also emphasizes the socio-economic impact of women getting into technical employment like driving.
Women Empowerment and Development Training, including:
a. Map reading skills, communication skills, and GPS tracking skills;
b. Skills of first aid, self-protection, and defense techniques;
c. Women-related laws, the Motor Vehicle Act and the Insurance Act; and
d. Women’s health and reproductive health.

Output	A total of 278 women had been trained as of 2024 and placed in different transport-related organizations.
Impact	Social return on investment: For every Rs. 1.0 funded, the women’s driving program generated Rs 9.11 95% of women desired to stay in the program 75% felt the program had enhanced their economic independence 87% felt the program was effective in empowering women

Hibarigaoka Gakuen Summer Camp (Japan)

Bridgestone held a Summer Training Camp at Bridgestone Innovation Park in Kodaira City, Tokyo, with the students from Hibarigaoka Gakuen junior and senior high schools and Bridgestone employees. The event’s purpose was to help students, who will be responsible for the future, develop their thinking, judgment, and expressive abilities by thinking about social issues, solutions, and proposals, and by putting these together as deliverables.

In the second year of the camp, under the theme 'What sustainability should we cherish? Please propose a sustainable tire that makes people want to buy it!', 12 students and 29 employees divided into the materials development, product planning, and sustainability teams worked on new tire proposals. On the final day, the students competed in a performance using the prototype remote-controlled tires they had developed and presented their results to employees.

Output	12 students participated in the three-day camp, and 29 employees were involved as volunteers
Impact	An impact assessment was conducted for 15 employees who participated in the initiative. After engaging in social contribution activities, 100% of employees felt a stronger sense of belonging to Bridgestone; 93% felt a greater sense of belonging to the community. Additionally, 53% of employees perceived positive changes in their work-related skills, attitudes and behaviors in life, and overall well-being.

Output

12 students participated in the three-day camp, and 29 employees were involved as volunteers

Impact

An impact assessment was conducted for 15 employees who participated in the initiative. After engaging in social contribution activities, 100% of employees felt a stronger sense of belonging to Bridgestone; 93% felt a greater sense of belonging to the community. Additionally, 53% of employees perceived positive changes in their work-related skills, attitudes and behaviors in life, and overall well-being.

Educational classes for elementary and junior high school students (Japan)

Bridgestone offers various educational classes to children and students attending elementary and junior high schools near its factories to deepen ties with the local community and contribute to the development of the next generation.

Bridgestone offers a field trip program for elementary school students to visit the Bridgestone Innovation Gallery. This facility that showcases Bridgestone and provides an opportunity to learn about the company, tires and rubber, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), which are essential values for its corporate activities. Employee volunteers take part in this program, which raises awareness of social contribution activities and contributes to employee human resource development. The “Environment & Manufacturing Class,” held on-site at schools that originated in 2004, offers an opportunity for students to think about the relationship between environmental issues and business, aiming to foster awareness to bring about a sustainable society.

For junior high school students, Bridgestone offers a “Global Communication Class,” a program held on-site at schools where employees of Bridgestone, a global company, draw on their experiences from around the world to convey the importance of communication with a diverse range of people. This program aims to build a foundation for cultivating the next generation of leaders with an international outlook. Bridgestone aims to foster the ability of students to take an active part in the global society of the future.

Bridgestone will contribute to cultivating the next generation through educational support for local children and students and further pursue efforts to realize a sustainable society.

【Educational classes for elementary and junior high school students: Activity highlights for 2024^*1】

Output	Field Trip Program: Held 11 times, 997 participants Environment & Manufacturing Class: Held 21 times, 1,648 participants Global Communication Class: Held 11 times, 1,146 participants
Impact	Field trip: Through learning about DE&I, 92% of students responded that their awareness of the position of people with disabilities changed Assessed 950 participants On-site classes: 96% of students who participated in the Environment & Manufacturing Class responded that their awareness of the environment had increased. Assessed 1,475 participants 78% of students who participated in the Global Communication Class responded that they became interested in working with people from overseas. Assessed 764 participants

Output

Field Trip Program: Held 11 times, 997 participants

Environment & Manufacturing Class: Held 21 times, 1,648 participants

Global Communication Class: Held 11 times, 1,146 participants

Impact

Field trip: Through learning about DE&I, 92% of students responded that their awareness of the position of people with disabilities changed
Assessed 950 participants

On-site classes:

96% of students who participated in the Environment & Manufacturing Class responded that their awareness of the environment had increased. Assessed 1,475 participants

78% of students who participated in the Global Communication Class responded that they became interested in working with people from overseas. Assessed 764 participants

Environment & Manufacturing Class and Global Communication Class sessions spanned 2023 and 2024.

Message from an employee

Hidenobu Mori
Director of Bridgestone Innovation Gallery

We offer field trip programs for local elementary school students to learn about Bridgestone, tires, and DE&I. We are pleased that many children have gained a deeper understanding and interest in Bridgestone and tires. Although this is a modest activity, it resonates with the children. Nothing would make me happier than if they became interested in tires and rubber and thought, "I want to work for Bridgestone in the future.” We want to continue this activity as one way for Bridgestone to contribute to the community.

Performances by the BRIDGESTONE Wind Symphony Orchestra KURUME (Japan)

The BRIDGESTONE Wind Symphony Orchestra KURUME was founded in 1955 as part of Bridgestone's efforts to contribute to the Kurume region. It was founded with the local citizens there to enhance the local music culture and promote cultural activities for employees. Orchestra members are employees engaged in tire manufacturing at the Kurume and Tosu plants.

To deliver the excitement and joy that music brings to many people, the orchestra holds concerts at Bridgestone plant locations and visits facilities and schools to perform. It also focuses on various activities rooted in the community. In 2024, the orchestra deepened its exchanges with more than 1,000 students through the following activities, providing them with musical instruction.

Bridgestone will continue to contribute to the development of the local music culture through various activities.

Output	Educational support: 150 employees took part in musical instrument experiences for children 200 employees took part in musical instrument instruction for junior and senior high school wind orchestras 680 employees took part in performance instruction at a musical workshop^*
Impact	Symphony performances: Over 90% of people responded positively, saying that they had been enriched or that their interest in music had increased. Assessed 344 audience members

*Including some people who are not students.

Automotive training centers (United States)

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is addressing the nationwide shortage of automotive technicians in the United States by providing training on the next generation of automotive maintenance technology and supporting non-profit organizations helping students complete their technical education. Working with organizations like Techforce Foundation, BSAM addresses the challenges facing many young people seeking to enter the workforce. Since partnering with Techforce Foundation in 2022, the industry has seen dramatic changes. In 2024, the number of employees across all sectors of the industry grew by 2.8%, outpacing the overall U.S. labor market by 0.8%.

Driving Great Futures campaign (United States)

BSAM’s Driving Great Futures partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) aims to help families overcome the challenge of getting to and from clubs by providing reliable transportation. Since 2015, BSAM has raised over USD 25 million for BGCA, largely through customer donations across the BSAM nationwide network of more than 2,200 tire and automotive service centers.

At the program’s core are transportation grants, used to purchase BGCA passenger vans equipped with Bridgestone fuel-efficient tires or for existing club vehicles to receive maintenance and repairs. BSAM retail stores also donate company time to servicing existing BGCA vehicles and volunteer at clubs in the local community.

In 2024, BSAM’s donations reached over USD 1.6 million, which was used to:

Purchase 10 new club vans for 10 different clubs.
Provide USD 20,000 in maintenance grants to 10 different clubs.

Global CSR & ESG Award 2024: Empowerment of Women Award and Excellence in Provision of Literacy & Education Award at the 16th Global CSR & ESG Summit Awards 2024 (BSAPIC)

Left: Yann Yann Teo, Manager, CSR, BSAPIC receiving the awards at the 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Awards (2024)

Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India, China (BSAPIC) has received two awards at the prestigious 16th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2024™ for demonstrating positive impact through transformational CSR strategies. BSAPIC won a Platinum Award for Empowerment of Women and a Gold Award for Excellence in Provision of Literacy & Education.

Some highlights include Bridgestone’s Driver Training Program in India, which creates opportunities for women. Others include Bridgestone’s “Green IT Classroom” program in China, Resource Centre in India, and vocational training and apprenticeship programs in Indonesia and Australia, all of which contribute to enhancing literacy, education and upskilling in the community.

The Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards is acknowledged as one of Asia’s most prestigious recognition awards programs for Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance. The program spotlights and honors companies for their commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, and respect for individuals, communities, and the environment in the way they do business. In 2024, more than 250 submissions vied for the top awards in 20 categories.

Message from Paul Choo, Chief Human Resources Officer, BSAPIC

We are pleased to have won the Empowerment of Women Award and the Provision of Excellence in Literacy and Education Award at the Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2024™. These mark the 15th and 16th awards BSAPIC has clinched at this prestigious event for seven consecutive years since 2018. In addition to providing sustainable solutions for our customers, it is our privilege to demonstrate a positive impact on global communities, especially in employment opportunities, education, and literacy, which shape futures. Through the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, we will continue to seek out empowering opportunities to add social value and improve lives.

Some of BSAPIC’s key accomplishments in these areas include:

Bridgestone India’s Technical Driver Training

For details of this project, see the “Women empowerment, development, and technical driving training (India)”

Rural Entrepreneurship

Close to Bridgestone’s Chakan, Pune plant, more than 50 women have been trained in business self-reliance in endeavors such as producing children’s clothes, festive seasonal items, and accessories – and Bridgestone helped them establish corporate supplier contracts. The program sees Bridgestone collaborating with Pune’s Organization for Sustainable Development Foundation.

Green IT Classrooms

For details of this project, see the “Green IT Classroom (China)”

Women in Tech – Empower, Learn, Connect (Italy)

The Women in Tech – Empower, Learn, Connect program at Bridgestone’s Technical Center EMEA (TCE) supports women with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) background in starting their careers in tech to narrow the gender gap in the tire tech sector. These women were invited to experience the technical side of Bridgestone’s expertise.

Since 2023, 28 interns have joined the initiative in Rome to follow a 900+ hour program consisting of training, Gemba (on-site) training, hands-on learning, and exposure to real-world technical challenges. This initiative, supported by the engagement of 100+ employees, strengthens stakeholder relationships and underscores Bridgestone’s commitment to ethical and inclusive operations.

Bridgestone Road Safety Village for children with special needs (Morocco)

Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE partnered with La Main Douce, an NGO dedicated to children with special needs, to organize a Road Safety Village for children with disabilities such as autism, Down’s Syndrome and learning disorders. The event was held in September in Casablanca, Morocco. The activity aimed to teach children the basics of road awareness through three workshops: road safety, tire recycling, and a Montessori workshop. Medical professionals also participated by sharing their expertise and insights into caring for these young individuals.

Project Unnati (sustainable natural rubber project in Kerala) (India)

For details of this project, see the “Procurement” section.

Social | Community Activities related to education