Bridgestone Americas Kicks Off Four Weeks of Environmental Announcements

Waste reduction, energy efficiency, eco-products and environmental leadership to be featured throughout April in honor of Earth Day

NASHVILLE, TN--April 10, 2013:  As part of its ongoing commitment to ensure a healthy environment for future generations, Bridgestone Americas, Inc., today kicked off a four-week schedule of announcements that highlight the company's commitment to sustainable business practices. The company's first announcement presents its success in significantly reducing the waste it sends to landfills from its tire manufacturing plants throughout North America.

Today, the company announced that two of its nine North American tire manufacturing facilities have achieved zero waste to landfill. Progress to eliminate unnecessary use of landfills started with significant reductions of wastes and continued in 2006 when the company added a focus on finding uses for remaining landfilled materials. This focus included viewing waste streams as valuable resources that have markets, rather than landfills, as their destinations. The company's Aiken, S.C., plant was the first to achieve zero waste to landfill, starting in December 2012. The Wilson, N.C., plant reached the zero-waste-to-landfill mark in early 2013.

"The teams at our Aiken and Wilson plants worked hard, and they take pride in being first to achieve zero waste to landfill. They know that our other plants are close on their heels," said Barry Owens, Vice President, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group. "We get excited about major changes when we see healthy competition between our facilities.  When it comes to recycling at Bridgestone, the race is on. "

Innovation is key to Bridgestone's success in finding beneficial uses for what used to be landfilled waste. The plants' zero waste to landfill efforts include all the waste materials from manufacturing processes such as whole scrap tires, rubber components and packaging, as well as ancillary support processes such as offices and cafeterias. Waste at these facilities is sent to various beneficial-use markets, such as generating energy and recycling into other products, like mulch.

Since adding its corporate recycling focus in 2006, recycling by the company's Aiken, S.C.; Bloomington, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; Joliette, Quebec, Canada; LaVergne, Tenn.; Monterrey, Mexico; Warren, Tenn.; and Wilson, N.C. tire plants has progressed from nearly half going to landfill to less than 15 percent overall today.

"Teammates across our business are always looking for innovative ways to improve our processes and reduce our environmental impact," said Tim Bent, Director of Environmental Affairs, Bridgestone Americas. "Significantly reducing the waste we generate and send to landfills is an important step in our commitment to help preserve our environment for future generations. Our partners, communities and ultimately our customers expect it of us. We are committed to exceeding their expectations and our own."

"One Team, One Planet" is the overarching program for all of Bridgestone Corporation's environmental activities. Bridgestone's environmental mission is "To help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations" with a focus on the company's three major objectives: Being in harmony with nature, valuing natural resources and reducing CO₂ emissions.