A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT BEGINS AT HOME FOR BRIDGESTONE
At Bridgestone, we understand the importance of giving back to the community and protecting the environment. Our global environmental mission is to help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. To demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, we’ve teamed up with people across the country. It’s our One Team, One Planet environmental program, and we’re proud to say that it starts at home with our manufacturing facilities, research centers and retail stores.
MANUFACTURING
Bridgestone has two manufacturing facilities that are LEED Certified, which means they follow a set of sustainable design, construction and operation ideals determined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Our Aiken County, S.C., tire manufacturing facility, located in Graniteville, is certified LEED Silver, which acknowledges excellent energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and resource stewardship.
Additionally, our Warren County, Tenn. truck and bus tire manufacturing facility became LEED Certified in 2008, after it had already been operational for a number of years. This is pretty special, as retroactive certification is rare. We are proud that these two facilities are the first two tire plants in the world to achieve LEED certification.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
In April 2012, we opened a new, state-of-the-art Americas Technical Center in Akron, Ohio. That facility is LEED Gold Certified, which signals the highest performance in human and environmental health. We didn’t have to look very far to find the right green building materials either. Products from Bridgestone Americas' building products division, Firestone Building Products, were used to help the facility meet LEED’s strict requirements.
LOOKING AHEAD
We’re also thinking forward, building our newest plants and retail outlets in the most sustainable ways possible. Our Aiken manufacturing facility, which will produce off-road radial tires, will utilize state-of-the-art technology to achieve LEED construction certification, and after the opening of our first LEED-certified company-owned retail store (in Smyrna, TN), we now incorporate sustainable building practices into all new retail construction. From low-VOC paints, stains and carpets to ultra low-flow water fixtures and solar panels, our retail experience is designed to be more environmentally friendly. There’s even recycled rubber in our stores’ sidewalks and landscaping.
Finally, we’re dedicated to researching more sustainable ways to make our products. The Bridgestone Biorubber Process Research Center in Mesa, Ariz. explores using the guayule shrub, native to the Southwestern U.S., as an alternative and renewable source for natural rubber.
It’s all a part of our vision for the future of the tire industry: sustainable, smart and focused on creating a better, healthier environment for current and future generations. Join us in the cause and learn more about all of Bridgestone’s environmental efforts, including our green space transformation program and eco-conscious tires here.
