Bridgestone Underlines its Commitment to the Environment

With green policies and procedures the subject of widespread debate in the global tyre market, Bridgestone has reiterated its commitment to achieve the highest possible standards of environmental performance.

The global corporation, including Bridgestone UK, is vowing to continue improving its eco-impact through a series of measures ranging from manufacturing tyres containing more environmentally-sound ingredients through to reducing levels of waste, replenishing natural rubber supplies and reducing the carbon footprint of its global production, sales and logistics network.

All tyres manufactured by Bridgestone are certified to the international ISO14001 standard, which specifies requirements for an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). To this end the tyre major has implemented its own Product Orientated Environmental Management System (POEMS).

“By applying the POEMS approach, Bridgestone ensures that the environmental impact of its tyres is strictly controlled from the beginning of the product concept right through to its end life, when the rubber may be retreaded, recycled or shredded for alternate use,” said John McNaught, managing director of Bridgestone UK.

“Eco-design and ingredient choice is a key element of this Life Cycle Assessment, and we are continually developing new materials that have a lower environmental impact. This includes eradicating the use of extender oils, also known as aromatic oils, ahead of a European directive banning their use after 1 January 2010.

“Waste and emission levels across the Bridgestone network are gradually falling year-on-year, with energy and water usage also substantially lower over the past twelve months than in previous years,” he added.

“We are committed as a group to sound environmental stewardship, and we are ready and willing to tackle future challenges in this important area. This desire to continually reassess where we stand is a fundamental element of our global environmental policy.”

As well as improving its in-house eco performance, Bridgestone also conducts consumer education programmes informing how end users can improve the environmental impact of their tyres.

These programmes form part of the company’s global Think Before You Drive campaign, which highlights the importance of regularly checking tread depths, air pressure and the condition of tyres. Bridgestone remind motorists that even small oversights, such as driving on rubber that is incorrectly inflated to under the recommended PSI, means a vehicle uses more fuel and is subsequently more damaging to the environment. Damaged tyre can also increase the vehicle’s rolling resistance and in turn fuel usage.

A full copy of Bridgestone’s latest environmental policy can be found on the www.bridgestone.co.uk web site under the ‘Bridgestone Corporation’ header within the ‘Corporate’ folder.