The Bridgestone Group prioritizes engagement with stakeholders as it strives to understand their perspectives and to share its point-of-view as well. For example, in January and December 2020, the Group held meetings on environmental, social and governance topics with investors. Learnings from stakeholders help inform the Group’s business activities as it continues to sustainably grow its business.
Stakeholders Communication
Communication activities of the Bridgestone Group
| Stakeholder group | Bridgestone Group Responsibilities | Primary Communication Channels and Resources | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customers |
|
Responses to Customer Communication Center inquiries | daily |
| Analysis, database compilation and internal utilization of customer input | timely | ||
| Bridgestone Innovation Gallery dedicated to Bridgestone history and innovation initiatives | timely | ||
| Websites and social media | daily | ||
| Daily sales and service activities (retail stores, dealer channels, online commerce) |
daily | ||
| Customer satisfaction survey | timely | ||
| Auto shows and exhibitions | timely | ||
| Shareholders and investors |
|
Annual Shareholders’ Meeting | annually |
| Corporate Governance Report | annually | ||
| Corporate Governance Code Report | biannually | ||
| Financial results review meetings | timely | ||
| Mid-Long Term Business Strategy, Mid Term Business Plan and progress updates | timely | ||
| Investor relations website | daily | ||
| Reports based on International Integrated Reporting Framework | annually | ||
| Individual meetings with investors | timely | ||
| Communications at sustainability-related events | timely | ||
Discussed the Group’s sustainability journey with investors at a January 2020 ESG conference and at a December 2020 ESG conference featuring the global CEO. Also held individual meetings on ESG topics. |
timely | ||
| Business partners |
|
Daily procurement activities | daily |
| Procurement policy explanatory forums/Sustainability seminars | biannually | ||
| Global Sustainable Procurement Policy rollout | timely | ||
| Supplier awards | annually | ||
| Discussions with management (distributor meetings) | annually | ||
| Employees |
|
Bridgestone Code of Conduct, Global Human Rights Policy and Global Anti-Bribery Policy | timely |
| Employee engagement survey | timely | ||
| Personnel evaluation systems and career development consultation | timely | ||
| Talent matching system (job-based employment, open-posting system and job-matching system) | timely | ||
| Participation in The Valuable 500, promote appointment and recruitment of female managers | timely | ||
| Meetings between labor and management | timely | ||
| In-house newsletters and intranet | daily | ||
| Town hall meetings | timely | ||
| Bridgestone Group Awards and other reward systems | Award:annually | ||
| Internal events related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games | timely | ||
| Local communities, NGOs |
|
Donations and social contributions | timely |
| Facility tours | timely | ||
| Environmental and safety education activities | timely | ||
| Sponsorship and aid for local events | timely | ||
| Local community events related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games | timely | ||
| Disaster relief support | timely | ||
| Dialogue and collaborations with NGOs | timely | ||
| Government agencies, industry organizations, and education institutions |
|
Trade association memberships, committees and conferences | timely |
| Dialogue and collaborations with economic and industry organizations | timely | ||
| Engagement with government officials | timely | ||
| Participation in global initiatives on sustainability and environment such as the Tire Industry Project operated under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, Ellen Macharthur Foundation, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and Business for Nature | timely | ||
| Interaction and exchanges of opinion with municipal government agencies | timely | ||
| Communication, coordination, and support of industry-government-academia partnerships | timely |
Establishing and enhancing communication structures
Town hall meeting between Global CEO, Global COO, department heads and employees
The Bridgestone Group's management structure involves "communication," "bottom-up," and "teamwork" focuses. Under this structure, the Group is working hard to re-energize internal communication.
As part of these initiatives, the Group regularly organizes forums at Bridgestone and Group companies outside of Japan where the senior management and department heads meet directly with employees, using the "town hall meeting" format. These meetings aim to bridge the gap between employees and senior management, as well as to share senior management's message across the entire Group. It is also planning and implementing a variety of communication opportunities, including study meetings and small group discussions between department managers and employees.
Direct communication with customers and the general public
The Bridgestone Customer Communication Center gathers and analyzes customer impressions from inquiries and comments as well as assessments from the Internet and disseminates this information internally to corporate officers and other employees. This leads to improved products and services, while the Group reports are used in an attempt to increase employee motivation. Bridgestone is also focusing efforts on communicating Company activities in an easily understandable way to customers and the general public using the Internet and other digital forms of communication incorporating images and video.
Facility tours for the general public
Bridgestone offers tire plant tours to the general public every year in Japan. Visitors can see how tires are made and how the Company contributes to environmental conservation throughout the manufacturing process.
