Bridgestone investing to increase rubber harvest volumes

Bridgestone Corporation owns almost 24,000 hectares of natural rubber plantations in Indonesia and has approved plans to increase yields there to ensure a sustainable supply of natural rubber for its tyre production. The company will invest US$26.7 million by 2030. The aim of these investments is to enhance the plantations’ productivity, with Bridgestone setting a goal of doubling harvest volumes (compared with 2022 projections) in a given area in 2035.

Initiatives to achieve this end include the introduction of ‘elite’ trees, selected by genome analysis technology, that deliver a stable harvest volume. The plantation areas in Sumatra and Kalimantan will also benefit from ongoing, systematic afforestation programmes, aiding efforts to manage Bridgestone’s rubber plantations according to tree age and afforestation cycle. A further initiative will utilise artificial intelligence-driven image analysis to diagnose and detect disease in Para rubber trees. Big data will also be employed to implement optimal plantation for higher yields.

Sustainable & community initiatives

This investment will be accompanied by a bolstering of sustainable operating initiatives that focus on circular economies and carbon neutrality across the entire value chain. Through the sustainable operation its natural rubber plantations, Bridgestone says it is currently contributing to the maintenance of approximately 5.9 million tons of CO2 it fixates in trees.

Moreover, Bridgestone shares that the operation of these plantations requires it to “promote harmony with communities.” At owned plantations in Southeast Asia, Bridgestone offers local communities access to its clinic and supported the COVID-19 vaccination programme. It also contributes to local schools through the donation of computer equipment.

Efforts also include distributing Para rubber tree seedlings to small-scale farmers and teaching them techniques for improving productivity, promoting employment in local communities.