Social
Procurement

Mission
Global Sustainable Procurement Policy
Management structure
Implementing the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy
Improvement support and auditing for suppliers
Sustainable procurement of natural rubber
Tracing conflict minerals

Mission

Create value for society through sustainable procurement practices

We are committed to creating value and continually working toward a sustainable society to realize long-term environmental, social and economic benefits by incorporating the following into the entire supply chain:

Transparency
Compliance
Quality, Cost, Delivery (QCD) and Innovation
Sustainable procurement practices

Global Sustainable Procurement Policy

Bridgestone’s sustainable procurement initiatives create long-term environmental, social and economic benefits for stakeholders across its supply chain. This work is grounded in its Global Sustainable Procurement Policy and aligns with the Group’s goal of using 100% sustainable materials^* by 2050 and beyond. The policy helps identify and evaluate qualified suppliers, promotes best practices, and serves as a communication and improvement tool for the industry.

Bridgestone’s sustainable procurement mission is important as customers and consumers are ever more interested in the natural rubber supply chain, including issues related to human rights and environmental practices of the rubber the Group sources. The policy was formulated paying close attention to international norms and fundamental principles for human rights reflected in a wide range of recognized commitments, including the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and various International Labour Organization conventions, as well as ISO 26000 and 20400 standards on sustainable procurement and social responsibility.

Under this policy, Bridgestone has identified five key human rights issues for its business: child labor, forced labor, land rights, labor and working conditions, and fair and equal treatment. It has made a commitment to engage with stakeholders in identifying these issues in the future. Working with suppliers, the goal is to contribute to faster realization of a sustainable supply chain for the environment and communities around the world.

* Bridgestone defines sustainable materials as materials 1) that come from resources with a continual supply, 2) that can be used as part of its business over the long term, and 3) that have a low environmental and social impact over the lifecycle from procurement to disposal. For details on sustainable materials, see “Long-term environmental vision (2050 and beyond): Towards 100% sustainable materials.”

Global Sustainable Procurement Policy (11 languages)

Policy revision

Bridgestone updates its Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, taking into account changes in the external environment and expectations and requests from society and stakeholders.

Version 3.0 (January 2024) explicitly stated that Tier 1 suppliers are required to extend/share the policies with their own suppliers, with the aim of reaching the entire supply chain. Additionally, the content of the policy was expanded to address social demands such as environmental and human rights issues.

Bridgestone requests its suppliers to fully understand and implement the policy. It is committed to promoting sustainable procurement activities and striving to meet social demands. It aims to continuously improve and evolve, building better business partnerships in the future.

Policy development and revision process

Focus areas

The Bridgestone Global Sustainable Procurement Policy is organized into four areas, each containing minimum requirements that suppliers must meet to do business with the Group, and preferred practices that are intended to enhance its supply chain.

Transparency – including traceability and good governance
Compliance – adhering to all applicable laws and regulations, including in the countries and regions in which Bridgestone conducts business
Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD) and Innovation – ensuring high-quality materials, products and services are delivered on time and at reasonable cost, while also pursuing innovative technologies that support improvements across global communities
Sustainable Procurement Practices – incorporating environmentally and socially responsible procurement, such as compliance with environmental laws and regulations; respect for human rights, such as observing minimum wages without discrimination, preventing forced labor, and respecting freedom of association and collective bargaining; providing safe, healthy and comfortable working conditions; water use, land use and conservation; disaster prevention and resilience

Management structure

Composed of cross-functional members including senior management procurement/sustainability leaders from around the world, until 2024 the Sustainable Procurement Working Group played the central role in formulating and deploying Bridgestone’s Global Sustainable Procurement Policy and related plans. To further promote sustainable procurement activities and strengthen implementation, in 2024 these responsibilities were transferred from the Sustainable Procurement Working Group to the Global Procurement Committee composed of procurement leaders from each regional strategic business unit (SBU). Related topics are also discussed in a number of thematic Task Forces, in collaboration with related functions. The Global Procurement Committee also confirms the progress of global initiatives and activities that are then reported to the Global Executive Committee (Global EXCO). The Global EXCO includes the Global CEO in its membership and is the highest-level committee overseeing the Group’s business strategy and execution.

Implementing the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy

Since the introduction of the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, Bridgestone has been proactively training hundreds of procurement, legal, technical, and customer-facing teammates, among others, across the enterprise.

Bridgestone defines its suppliers according to the size and frequency of its purchases, as shown in the table below, and promotes initiatives in accordance with these definitions. Of the Level 1 suppliers in the table below, the majority provide raw materials for tire products. The main raw materials are natural rubber, synthetic rubber, steel cord, and rubber chemicals. Bridgestone has business dealings with suppliers globally.

Supplier definition

Confirming that suppliers have met Bridgestone’s Minimum Requirements and have implemented the Preferred Practices stated in the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy.
Confirming that suppliers have the ability to clearly identify and verify where their raw materials and products are sourced from, how they are produced, who is involved, as well as the impact that the sourcing of these raw materials or products has on all involved in the supply chain.

Policy rollout

Bridgestone aims to disseminate the policy throughout the entire supply chain in collaboration with its suppliers. All Level 1 and 2 suppliers of Bridgestone are required to sign a policy receipt acknowledgement. Since the first edition published in 2018, acknowledgement of the policy has been confirmed by more than 99% of Bridgestone’s Level 1 and 2 suppliers. As to version 3.0, revised and published in January 2024, Bridgestone established the goal and KPI of “100% of all Level 1 and 2 suppliers will have acknowledged the revised Global Sustainable Procurement Policy.” (As of March 31, 2025, 74% of Level 1 and 2 suppliers had done so.)

For several years, Bridgestone has held annual conferences for suppliers in multiple regions in which it seeks to ensure full understanding of its Global Sustainable Procurement Policy. During these annual conferences, Bridgestone has communicated with suppliers on the four foundational elements of the policy, which are Transparency, Compliance, QCD & Innovation, and Sustainable Procurement Practices such as environmentally responsible practices and respect for human rights. A total of approximately 340 suppliers in each region were invited in 2024.

Bridgestone’s policy deployment activities for suppliers have been evaluated by EcoVadis, and it was awarded a score of 80 in Sustainable Procurement (overall score of 72) in October 2024

Assessment by EcoVadis

Bridgestone rates suppliers on sustainability, which includes engagement on human rights issues, through EcoVadis. It monitors suppliers’ EcoVadis scores and reports them internally on a regular basis. Working together with suppliers, Bridgestone promotes sustainable procurement and competitiveness based on the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy.

To better understand supplier strengths and vulnerabilities, Bridgestone worked with EcoVadis to conduct enhanced environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk assessments of its new and existing major Level 1 and 2 suppliers (approximately 1,000 suppliers). Consistent with the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, the ESG issues assessed include energy consumption, water, biodiversity, pollution, waste, customer safety, industrial safety, labor practices, human rights, corruption, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and sustainable procurement.

Bridgestone established the following goals and KPIs in terms of the EcoVadis assessment:

95% or more of Bridgestone’s spend-basis Tier 1 tire material suppliers will have completed an EcoVadis enhanced ESG risk assessment (as of March 31, 2025, 98% had done so)
All natural rubber Tier 1 suppliers will have completed an EcoVadis enhanced ESG risk assessment (as of March 31, 2025, 100% had done so)

As of March 31, 2025, 76% of Bridgestone’s tire material suppliers had completed the third-party assessment with EcoVadis. Of the suppliers assessed, 86% scored an overall average of 45 or higher, indicating a commitment to Sustainable Procurement Practices. Furthermore, the percentage of suppliers scoring 44 or below decreased to 14% after follow-up actions and reassessments.

Improvement support and auditing for suppliers

Bridgestone uses third-party assessments as described in the preceding section to quantify suppliers’ environmental and social performance and governance and to promote improvements by advising and supporting suppliers on required solutions.

Bridgestone conducts sustainable procurement seminars or workshops in all business regions for certain suppliers based on the Sustainable Procurement Policy and the results of their ESG risk assessments. In 2024, Bridgestone implemented the following initiatives.

Workshops/Seminars on Carbon Neutrality (Europe, the U.S., Japan, Asia)
Individual support for improving EcoVadis scores (China)

Bridgestone will continue to strive for sustainable procurement activities through further dialogue with its suppliers.

Sustainable procurement of natural rubber

Globalization has brought businesses opportunities to source from diverse locations and has allowed companies to work together despite geographical distance. At the same time, companies face the risks of both affecting as well as being affected by, sustainability issues such as human rights, and climate change, anywhere Bridgestone operates. With the volatile geopolitical landscape, regulatory uncertainty and global aspiration for carbon neutrality in recent years, it has become imperative for companies to respect human rights and prevent deforestation and other sustainability risks, going beyond our own operations, looking throughout the value chain together with our business partners.

In light of its impact on society and business, Bridgestone is focusing on sustainable procurement of natural rubber. Natural rubber is a key raw material in tire manufacturing and an essential renewable resource for producing high-quality tires. In addition, it provides Quality of Life (QOL) opportunities for as many as 6 million smallholder farmers who are said to be involved in the cultivation of natural rubber around the world. However, as demand for natural rubber continues to rise, it is beginning to be viewed as a threat to global deforestation. Therefore, efforts toward sustainability of natural rubber are recognized as a crucial management issue for business continuity.

Bridgestone considers it a strength both in terms of business sustainability and traceability enhancement to have its own farms. These farms can be leveraged as laboratories for sustainability opportunities and risk management, high-level engagement with trusted partners and close collaboration with them based on a deep understanding of the “reality of the ground” (“Genbutsu-Genba”, Respect for being on-site).

Building Transparent Natural Rubber Supply Chains by Driving Upstream Traceability

Traceability is central to Bridgestone’s commitment to sustainable procurement. It ensures the visibility of where our materials originate, how they are produced, and by whom, mitigating risks associated with procurement.

Bridgestone’s goal is to achieve 100% traceability at the district level^* by 2027. Recognizing the limitations of traditional data collection methods, Bridgestone is increasingly integrating digital tools into its processes. This digitalization enhances the accuracy and reliability of Bridgestone’s traceability data through satellite imaging for land-use analysis, geomapping for jurisdictional tracking, and cloud-based repositories for real-time data management.

As a further challenge, Bridgestone has been working on traceability down to the smallholder farm level. By the end of 2024, Bridgestone achieved approximately 42% traceability for not only the Europe market for regulatory compliance, but also for its global natural rubber volume, based on supplier self-declarations.

For the purpose of EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance, Bridgestone has been continuously working to ensure that it has a robust due diligence process in place, capable of identifying and mitigating risks in compliance with the EUDR requirements within the deadline for products destinated to, and/or manufactured, within Europe.

* Please see here about Geographical classification.

Traceability Enhancement Initiatives for EUDR Compliance

EUDR workshop for smallholders

Field visit

As part of its commitment to ensuring compliance with the EUDR, Bridgestone has implemented comprehensive on-site inspections and traceability enhancement initiatives within its natural rubber supply chain.

Building upon its existing traceability framework, Bridgestone has significantly expanded its engagement with natural rubber smallholders. To further enhance upstream traceability and secure EUDR compliance, Bridgestone partnered with its suppliers to conduct detailed risk assessments of upstream natural rubber farms and map farm boundaries. These efforts, combined with rigorous verification processes, extensive documentation audits, and enhanced monitoring, have strengthened its suppliers’ due diligence practices, significantly improving transparency and compliance readiness.

Bridgestone’s approach integrates multiple field visits with robust verification measures, including stringent document reviews and audits of policies and procedures. These actions have enhanced its suppliers’ due diligence capabilities, enabling them to align their practices with regulatory expectations.

Following the completion of its project on farm-level risk assessments in 2024, Bridgestone is in the process of developing targeted follow-up actions to address identified risks. These actions are planned to be implemented by 2025 and may include the development of tailored mitigation plans in collaboration with its suppliers. Additionally, Bridgestone aims to provide training to selected actors within the upstream supply chain on EUDR compliance requirements and establish monitoring systems to track ongoing progress. These proactive steps are intended to support the adoption of responsible sourcing practices at the farm level and drive continuous improvement in alignment with EUDR standards.

In 2024, Bridgestone also conducted inspections at natural rubber processing facilities and their upstream supply chains, identifying both best practices and potential compliance risks. Following the inspections, Bridgestone developed risk mitigation recommendations and continue to engage with suppliers to ensure the effective resolution of identified issues.

Enhancement of Sustainability through Due Diligence of Natural Rubber Suppliers

On-site ESG audit at plantation

In 2021, Bridgestone started to enhance its ESG due diligence for the natural rubber supply chain, an area where external stakeholders see risk management as the most critical issue. To identify and assess ESG risks in its natural rubber supply chain, Bridgestone has utilized third-party assessments by Verisk Maplecroft and EcoVadis, prioritizing targeted suppliers based on Verisk Maplecroft and EcoVadis scores. Using a self-assessment questionnaire they developed in collaboration with WWF Japan, from 2022 to 2023, Bridgestone conducted a total of 54 on-site ESG audits of its Tier 1 natural rubber processing facilities. In the 2022-2024 audits, no human rights or significant environmental impacts were identified.

In 2024, Bridgestone continued its collaboration with WWF Japan to assess the ESG performance of its Tier 1 natural rubber suppliers. The assessment results found no human rights or significant environmental issues, but Bridgestone carry on with its monitoring activities and thrive for further improvements.

Preparation for EUDR compliance

Bridgestone has set up a global structure to respond in a timely and swift manner to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements and is also actively engaging with industry networks, such as GPSNR and the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), to clarify and compile a common industry view on the content of the regulations and to support smallholders who underpin production.

Bridgestone's primary focus in 2024 was on meeting the EUDR requirements, which mandate enhanced due diligence to mitigate deforestation risks tied to the production and trade of key commodities, including natural rubber.

As ESG inspections remain crucial to its long-term sustainability strategy, Bridgestone has continued enhancing the ESG on-site inspection protocol by integrating an EUDR- specific module. This updated protocol incorporates lessons learned from past assessments, enabling a more comprehensive evaluation of environmental and social risks. By refining its approach, Bridgestone has strengthened its ability to address regulatory requirements while promoting greater transparency and sustainability across the supply chain. Looking ahead, Bridgestone’s aim is to complete ESG on-site inspections for 100% of its Tier 1 natural rubber suppliers by 2025. This commitment underscores Bridgestone’s dedication to assessing and addressing ESG risks across its entire supply chain, while reinforcing responsible sourcing practices and regulatory compliance.

Capacity building

While global demand for natural rubber has steadily increased over the years, farmland expansion is becoming more restricted because of the need to protect forests, whether voluntarily or in accordance with law. Moreover, poor yields can affect the livelihood of smallholders, making it unsustainable for them to continue cultivating natural rubber, and could result in a switch to the farming of other crops. As natural rubber is one of the renewable materials used in tire production, it is important for Bridgestone to make efforts to strengthen the capacity of natural rubber smallholders, increase yields and income, and prevent such farming from causing deforestation and other ESG risks.

In 2022, Bridgestone formed the Capacity Building Task Force, bringing together relevant functions to strengthen capacity building initiatives for smallholders. It provided training and technical support to 11,687 smallholders in 2024. To accelerate these corporate initiatives, the task force has formulated a global strategy with a medium-term goal of providing support for 12,000 smallholders, aiming to achieving forest conservation by 2026. This goal is in line with Group’s strategy and GPSNR standards.

Nearly all of the world’s natural rubber is derived from Hevea brasiliensis, a type of rubber tree found primarily in the rain forests of West Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. These forests are at risk of depletion, so to offset its footprint in these regions, Bridgestone provides Hevea rubber trees to smallholders. It also provides smallholders with technical training and productivity improvement techniques developed on its own rubber farms.

Internal natural rubber manufacturing

Bridgestone owns four natural rubber companies in Liberia, Indonesia and Thailand. Its natural rubber plantations and processing facilities play a crucial role as pilot fields for verifying the technologies and know-how necessary for the sustainability of the natural rubber business. The technologies and know-how obtained through these processes are utilized as bases for providing technical support to local communities, continuously generating indispensable value within its natural rubber business. Bridgestone’s assistance targets productivity improvement covering topics such as planting method, maintenance of immature rubber trees, use of fertilizers, disease control, the tapping method and fire prevention.

For example, our company in Indonesia provides guidance for neighboring farmers on latex handling to improve rubber quality. Sharing our know-how contributes to smallholders’ livelihood and production quality improvement, creating a win-win relationship with smallholders, leading to sustainable long-term procurement of high-quality rubber.

At the same time, the internal natural rubber companies play an important role in the raw-material supply chain representing about 20% of the annual procured volume of natural rubber globally. Therefore, enhancing traceability and other preparations for EUDR compliance are important tasks for Bridgestone’s internal natural rubber facilities.

For example, our processing company in Thailand has been actively working on farm-mapping initiatives and has organized workshops to strengthen engagement and communication with upstream supply-chain partners.

One of our companies in Indonesia has already achieved 100% traceability at the farm level, and another one of our companies achieved 100% traceability at the district level.

Helping smallholders prepare for EUDR

In line with our commitment to serving local communities, Bridgestone operates kindergartens, schools, and medical facilities in Liberia and Indonesia. Bridgestone also provides health, safety, and environmental assistance in Indonesia, including sanitary education, flood rescue, and disaster prevention training.

Social contributions around Bridgestone’s rubber farms

Bridgestone considers the communities and smallholders around its rubber farms to be important stakeholders and part of its inter-dependent ecosystem. Being respectful of local rubber farmers and smallholders is critical to Bridgestone’s commitment to helping protect the environment while creating value for the communities where it operates. These efforts help protect the people and communities Bridgestone relies on. Since 2005, it has provided more than six million saplings to farmers in Liberia and Indonesia, with the budded stumps valued at over USD2.7 million. In addition, Bridgestone has supported dozens of budwood gardens to improve clonal varieties used in replanting in Liberia, while also using genome data to improve breeding technologies and growing methods to make rubber trees more resilient and more productive.

On its farms in Liberia, Bridgestone ensures access to safe and clean water, provides free medical care, operates 18 schools from kindergarten to 12th grade, and employs more than 235 teachers and school administration personnel. It has also introduced renewable energy sources to allow sustainable access to lighting and energy in 40 communities.

To help independent smallholder farmers, Bridgestone hosts Seeding Success to Smallholders workshops in Southeast Asia, providing technical training and productivity improvement techniques developed on its own farms. Every year, hundreds of smallholders participate in sessions to learn techniques such as how to grow quality rubber trees, replant trees, prevent disease, and pursue best practices for tapping trees.

During 2012-2020, Bridgestone and Waseda University launched a project in Indonesia involving rubber tree planting by residents, led by Waseda University and Japan International Forestry Promotion and Cooperation Center (JIFPRO). This was a Waseda-Bridgestone Initiative for Development of Global Environment (W-BRIDGE) project. Bridgestone has drawn on this 8-year project scheme to restart reforestation activity from 2023 as a new business. Many related parties, such as from local universities, governments, JIFPRO, and local communities participate every year in this activity, which is targeting 20 hectares of wasteland per year. This activity contributes not only to reforestation but also to improvement in smallholders' livelihood, in part by means of farm management training and technical guidance for better yields.

As a result of this activity, Bridgestone supported capacity building for 60 smallholders in 2023-2024.

1. Engagement activities by Extension Officers at smallholders' farms (Liberia)

To provide a traceable and transparent value chain, Firestone Liberia recruited and deployed an Agricultural Extension team to ensure direct interaction with smallholder farmers. The Extension team conducts training on agricultural best practices and verification audits on human rights, labor rights, and environmental standards. Individual farmer, production, and procurement data, including GPS coordinates, are collected digitally. Prior to deployment, the Extension team went through an extensive training program based on practical workshops, focusing on productivity and sustainability standards. Currently, there are 24 Extension Officers assigned to seven counties covering a smallholder farmer base of 5,000. The goal is to qualify farmers as sustainable by the end of 2025.

2. Digital Rubber App

Bridgestone developed a rubber-related application to capture rubber farm data and yield information on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP). The app is currently used by rubber farmers to disseminate knowledge about good practices at the farm level; Bridgestone is targeting 50,000 users by 2026.

3. Establishment of Demo Plots

Bridgestone established ten demo plots in 2023 to enhance farmers’ ability to adopt better practices and raise yields by first developing their knowledge and skills through demonstrations. Demonstrations are effective means of deeply engaging an audience, rather than focusing only on audio or visual teaching practices.

4. Farmer awareness program

Bridgestone has carried out an awareness program through Rubber Producers' Societies (RPSs), which are groups that help local rubber famers, to inform farmers about the project.

A total of 37 RPSs are covered, and more than 1,500 farmers have attended the awareness program. The curriculum of the awareness program includes the adoption of GAP, quality improvement, training modules, and other topics covered over several sessions.

5. Firestone Liberia Rubber Sustainability Program (in Margibi and Bong, Liberia)

Engagement in Liberia involved 546 farmers from Margibi and Bong counties, which are in close proximity to the Firestone Liberia facility. Discussions emphasized sustainable best practices, farm registration through data capture, and proper crop handling to meet quality specifications.

Capacity building projects with partners

Sustainable natural rubber: project with WWF Japan

Training for natural rubber farmers to improve yields (Indonesia)

In 2024, Bridgestone, in partnership with WWF Japan, launched a project to disseminate technologies that contribute to the improved yields of natural rubber smallholders in Riau and Jambi provinces in Indonesia. The targeted areas are regions where the switch from natural rubber to oil palm has been particularly marked. By helping to improve smallholders' livelihoods by means of greater productivity, Bridgestone also aims to prevent both this switch and the deforestation caused by the development of new farmland. Bridgestone held four training sessions over about four weeks throughout the year in 2024. During the sessions, experts from its natural rubber plantation in Indonesia (PT. Bridgestone Sumatra Rubber Estate) and Technical Center in Japan supported 11 smallholders from the Kuantan Singingi Rubber Farmers Association (APKARKUSI) in Riau province and five smallholders from Jambi province, helping them to improve tapping skills and the coagulating and collecting of natural rubber latex by cup lump, and to acquire necessary knowledge.

Aiming to further expand the impact of these efforts, Bridgestone started a Farmer-to-Farmer training program in 2025, in which the farmers trained in 2024 become instructors and conduct technical training for surrounding smallholders, using the standardized yield improvement guidelines developed with the local farmers. Bridgestone also plans to introduce agroforestry, which involves intercropping with other crops during the replanting of natural rubber, to support income diversification for smallholders. To measure the outcome of this project scientifically from a nature positive perspective, Bridgestone has attempted to set KPIs and targets through a SBTN Land disclosure trial in collaboration with WWF Japan and Deloitte. The full report on this trial can be found on the website.

Syoffinal,
Advisor of APKARKUSI
(Kuantan Singingi Rubber Farmers Association)

Most of our member farmers are self-taught and have not had an opportunity to learn appropriate skills to produce natural rubber, including taking care of young rubber trees, tapping, coagulating and collecting cup lumps, and fighting disease. I really appreciate Bridgestone and WWF for providing the training for the farmers to learn such skills. It gives us understanding in Good Agricultural Practices of natural rubber production. With regular, continuous, and comprehensive follow-up training in efforts to maintain the existence and development of natural rubber, we expect the training will ultimately increase the income and livelihood of rubber farmers as well as sustainable natural rubber production in Kuantan Singingi Regency.

Rian Satria,
Rubber Field Coordinator,
WWF Indonesia

Training for sustainable rubber farmers conducted in 2024 has had a very positive impact on the farmers. For example, they now understand how to increase productivity and the quality of rubber raw materials through proper tapping techniques and cup lump collection, which will directly improve their livelihoods. In addition, this project aims to improve their understanding of sustainability. Our activities in 2025 will reach more farmers, thus scaling up the impact of this project with Bridgestone. I believe that our activities will help to achieve sustainable rubber production without harming nature and people.

(From left)
Kazuto Uchijima,
Sustainable Technology Strategy & Research Department Agriculture & Biotechnology Research Section

Hajime Kondo,
Technology Specialist
Sustainable Technology Strategy & Research Department
Agriculture & Biotechnology Research Section

We have begun providing support on how to improve productivity and quality according to each farmer's situation, utilizing the experience gained while working at our natural rubber farm in Indonesia and the plantation technologies obtained from other natural rubber-producing countries.

We were very impressed by the participants' eagerness to learn, and we hope to continue to provide guidance correspondingly. We are also planning to standardize the teaching methods and create a system that is tailored to each farmer's situation, with the aim of further expanding on the results of this guidance. We will continue to work diligently to achieve both a stable supply through increased productivity and an improved standard of living for farmers.

Projects with the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is a truly multi-stakeholder and inclusive network, and serves as an effective platform for collaboration, sharing resources and knowledge, and uniting Bridgestone’s efforts in enhancing the sustainability of the natural rubber industry with those of other tire makers, automakers, smallholders, processors and producers, and NGOs in tackling this vast and complicated issue.

Bridgestone donated USD60,000 to GPSNR to support initiatives GPSNR led for smallholder capacity building to be conducted in 2023, and was recognized by GPSNR as an important donor. With the donation, GPSNR organized a series of agroforestry and income diversification projects, involving a series of agroforestry workshops and training for smallholders in Indonesia, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast, with the participation of a total of 99 smallholders between 2023-May 2024.

In addition to providing the donation to GPSNR’s capacity building projects, Bridgestone is a member of GPSNR’s Smallholder Representation and Capacity Building Working Group, which aims to provide effective support for smallholders and promote their voices in GPSNR. To support the enhancement of smallholder capacity (increasing yield per hectare in a sustainable manner), Bridgestone is actively involved in the discussion around GPSNR’s Shared Responsibility Framework, discussing ways in which to build the most equitable financial distribution mechanism, share resources and knowledge, and recognize and award members’ efforts in enhancing natural rubber’s sustainability.

Together with Solidaridad

Topic: Project Unnati (sustainable natural rubber project in Kerala, India)

Project Unnati is one of Bridgestone’s initiatives to build a sustainable natural rubber supply chain in two districts of Kerala (Idukki and Kottayam), India. The project aims to support 5,000 smallholders by 2027, helping them enhance rubber cultivation capacity and improve their livelihoods and enabling them to cultivate rubber with respect for human rights and the environment.

With the support of Solidaridad, an international civil society organization, Bridgestone works to improve the quality of rubber, smoke houses, and rubber sheet preparation. This intervention is based on a needs assessment conducted in Kerala and is expected to yield the following outcomes:

A 5-7% improvement in the overall quality of rubber sheets supplied by rubber producers.
Improved access to quality services, facilitated by four members of the Rubber Producers' Society (RPS).
Identification and strengthening of 10 entrepreneurs for existing smoke houses and sheet preparation to support smaller cultivators.

The summary of Project Unnati for 2024 is as follows:

Key activities to improve the productivity of natural rubber:

〇: Details of projects are featured below

	Activities	Purpose	Farmers supported
#1	Mobilizing farmers through the Rubber Producers' Society (RPS) for mapping farms	Farm/farmer mapping	1,011 farmers
#2 〇	Promoting ancillary income and crop diversity through intercropping	Income diversification, Biodiversity	159 farmers (56 hectares)
#3	Covering crops for preventing erosion and reducing the need for labor intensive weeding and harmful chemicals.	Biodiversity, Work stability	10 farmers
#4 〇	Introducing beekeeping to women’s rubber farmer group	Income diversification	35 female farmers
#5	Restoring soil health after indiscriminate application of fertilizer	Productivity increase, Biodiversity	108 farmers
#6 〇	Strengthening farmers’ entrepreneurship through agroforestry and better use of land	Agroforestry, Income diversification, Biodiversity	10 farmers
#7 〇	Establishing demo plots for regenerative agricultural practices	Agroforestry, Income diversification, Good Agricultural Practice	NA (10 demo plots)
#8	Training rubber farmers on intercropping and pest and disease management	Good Agricultural Practice, Productivity improvement	Intercropping: 159 farmers Pest and disease management: 1,011 farmers

#2: Promoting ancillary income and crop diversity through intercropping

To support selected rubber farmers, Bridgestone helped introduce the practice of intercropping and crop diversity to their rubber farms this year.
As part of this activity, over 28,000 cocoa and coffee saplings were distributed among 159 rubber farmers affiliated with 28 Rubber Producers’ Societies in Kottayam and Idukki districts, covering a total area of 56 hectares. This activity aims to enrich soil health and increase crop diversity, which will significantly contribute to biodiversity conservation through the integration of perennial crops within rubber plantations.

#4: Introducing beekeeping to a women’s rubber farmer group

This activity exemplifies the leadership of Bridgestone India Private Ltd. (BSID) in supporting the establishment of beekeeping groups and providing technical guidance to women rubber farmers. A total of 35 women farmers (20 in Idukki and 15 in Kottayam) were trained under this initiative. They received comprehensive support, including guidance on establishing beekeeping groups, setting up honeybee colonies, and accessing essential equipment such as hives, tools, and protective gear. Beekeeping (apiculture) offers numerous benefits for farmers in Kerala, providing a sustainable, low-cost farming option with high returns.

#6: Strengthening farmers’ entrepreneurship through agroforestry

A key focus of this project is helping farmers utilize unused areas of rubber plantations to increase their income and adopt sustainable farming practices. The project supports farmer entrepreneurs engaged in activities like honey processing, livestock rearing, and poultry farming.
Ten entrepreneurs from Kottayam and Idukki districts were selected for these activities. The initiatives aim to empower rubber farmers by diversifying their income sources, improving product quality, and promoting sustainable farming practices. They also create opportunities for rural entrepreneurship, strengthen community-based collaboration, and enhance the overall resilience of the rubber farming ecosystem.

#7: Establishing demo plots for regenerative agricultural practices

To showcase regenerative agricultural practices for rubber farmers, ten demonstration plots were established during Phase 1 of this project, to engage in intercropping with coffee/cocoa, new rubber planting, newly opened tapping, controlled upward tapping, and cover cropping, among other practices.

Fighting against rubber tree disease

In Southeast Asia, where over 90% of the world’s rubber tree plantations are concentrated, white root rot disease (WRD) is growing more acute, killing trees by infecting and rotting their roots. The disease can be difficult to detect, especially in the early stages when treatment is more successful. Bridgestone has developed techniques to diagnose the disease early on using drone photography and AI image analysis. Bridgestone has initiated research with Kyushu University and Indonesia's BRIN^* to contribute to improving productivity at natural rubber plantations. The goal of the research project is to develop technology to prevent WRD in Para rubber trees and contribute to greater productivity at natural rubber plantations.

*National Research and Innovation Agency (Indonesian: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, BRIN) of Indonesia. For more information, see “Enhancing contribution.”

Grievance mechanism for the natural rubber supply chain

Bridgestone believes it is fundamental to work with trusted partners as a team throughout the value chain and co-create value towards society. Especially in the natural rubber industry, which tends to be exposed to the risks of deforestation and child and forced labor, a grievance mechanism is an effective tool that allows Bridgestone to collect feedback from stakeholders around its operations; helps Bridgestone to engage with suppliers; and enables it to understand where its potential risks and opportunities are, to improve sustainability practices across the value-chain. Bridgestone therefore set up a grievance mechanism for the natural rubber supply chain in 2022, which covers human rights issues and environmental issues and guarantees the confidentiality and anonymity of people reporting as needed. It is available and accessible to all internal and external stakeholders in Bridgestone’s natural rubber supply chain and aids in resolving issues through cooperation with direct suppliers and other third parties, in accordance with the Global Sustainable Procurement Policy. As necessary, Bridgestone will coordinate with the grievance mechanism of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). To ensure transparency, Bridgestone is disclosing standard operating procedures, grievance consultation desks, and the status of each grievance report on the Group global website below.

Bridgestone received a grievance against one of its suppliers in 2023. With the support of an international NGO, Earthworm Foundation, Bridgestone engaged with the supplier that was the subject of the grievance to confirm status and review the results of an investigation by a third party and the action plan for improvement. Based on this dialogue, Bridgestone published the grievance on the list on its website in June 2023 and has been updating the list quarterly. It will continue to monitor improvement of human rights as well as environmental management and practice. By operating in an appropriate and transparent manner, Bridgestone can encourage its business partners to correct and mitigate risk and support victims. Having a supply chain with low human rights risk will, in turn, lead to a stable supply for Bridgestone.

For more information, see “Grievance Mechanism.”

Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)

Bridgestone is proud of its progress in sustainability, but improvements at scale will only be achieved through industry-wide collaboration. This is why Bridgestone and other global tire companies launched the GPSNR, to transform the natural rubber value chain for the better.

Through GPSNR, tire companies, including Bridgestone, and other stakeholders are harmonizing standards to improve respect for human rights, prevent land-grabbing and deforestation, protect biodiversity and water resources, improve yields, and increase supply chain transparency and traceability.

In order to make impactful and far-reaching contributions toward the enhancement of natural rubber sustainability, Bridgestone has strengthened its participation in all of the main initiatives of and discussions within GPSNR. For example, after GPSNR approved a Policy Framework in 2021, Bridgestone played a central role in developing Reporting Requirements for member companies to report on their progress in implementing the Policy Framework. At the June 2022 General Assembly, GPSNR approved the above-mentioned Reporting Requirements, Implementation Guidance, which supports members in their implementation of the Policy Framework, and the Shared Responsibility Framework, which aims to build a balanced structure for sharing the responsibility for enhancing sustainability of natural rubber appropriately among all the players in the supply chain. From the latter half of 2022 through much of 2023, Bridgestone played a leading role in building the GPSNR Assurance Model, which aims to establish an industry-wide assurance scheme to serve members that publicly report their sustainability level to society. The GPSNR Assurance Model is expected to be approved in 2025 by the various stakeholder members of GPSNR.

Bridgestone has represented tire companies on the GPSNR Executive Committee since GPSNR’s launch and currently serves as Chair.

Bridgestone will continue working with GPSNR, NGOs, suppliers, customers, and others to increase transparency and traceability in the natural rubber supply chain.

Tracing conflict minerals

Bridgestone’s Global Sustainable Procurement Policy covers all materials, including conflict minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold) and cobalt extracted in conflict areas such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. Bridgestone conducts risk assessments throughout its supply chain using the reporting templates (Conflict Minerals Reporting Template CMRT), Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT)) compiled by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an alliance consisting of over 400 global corporations and organizations. Bridgestone Group suppliers whose products potentially contain conflict minerals are required to complete and submit reporting templates annually. If it is suspected or confirmed that a smelter is not compliant with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) , which is certified by RMI, suppliers must make every effort to identify alternative sources or substitute minerals and take appropriate action.

Currently, Bridgestone has traced 100% of the smelters from which it sources tire-product materials globally. All are compliant with RMAP. If the investigations reveal the use of conflict minerals that fund armed groups in Bridgestone products, Bridgestone will promptly take corrective action through communication with its suppliers to promote sustainable procurement activities.

Social Procurement