ISCC Plus certification for Firestone Polymer facility

The Firestone Polymer Engineering Pilot Center (PEPC) in Akron, Ohio has become the first Bridgestone facility in North America to gain International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus recognition for sustainable raw material transparency and traceability. PEPC is part of the Bridgestone Americas Technology Center, which serves as a hub for Bridgestone’s entire innovation, research and product development within the Americas region.

“Transparency and traceability are core elements to the success of our company’s sustainability journey and this ISCC Plus certification demonstrates the progress we’re making to deliver sustainable synthetic rubber made with bio-sourced and recycled materials,” says Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president, Bridgestone Americas. “We are reimagining the ways we design and develop products that contribute to a more sustainable mobility future and that includes pioneering changes to the processes at our manufacturing facilities to support material circularity.”

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of synthetic rubber production by Bridgestone in Akron, but Bridgestone Americas intends to replace this substance with a range of bio, bio-circular and circular-based materials as part of its commitment to produce tyres from 100 per cent renewable materials by 2050. The company considers its expertise in polymer development for synthetic rubber production to be an essential element of its ability to deliver on this commitment.