Environment | Reduce CO₂ emissions
Long-term environmental vision (2050 and beyond): Contribute towards carbon neutral

The Bridgestone Group believes the demands of society and customers to reduce CO₂ emissions will continue to increase in the future, given the need to respond to climate change. Toward its goal of carbon neutrality for 2050 and beyond, the Group is working to concurrently enhance its contribution to CO₂ reduction and to minimize CO₂ emissions.

It will contribute to CO₂ reduction in the processes of raw-material procurement, distribution, customer use, and reuse and recycling while providing solutions based on Dan-Totsu Products and Dan-Totsu Service. Together with its customers and partners, the Group will contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in society as a whole and will also differentiate itself and strengthen its competitiveness by helping its customers reduce their CO₂ emissions and become carbon neutral.

Action towards carbon neutral

The Group will offer solutions in order to minimize CO₂ emissions together with society, customers and partners, as well as to maximize energy efficiency, increase renewable energy use, enhance circular economy, and develop innovations, starting with its own operations.

1. Minimize CO₂ emissions
   (Examples)
   
   • Maximize energy efficiency
   • Increase use of renewable energy
   • Promote manufacturing and engineering innovation
2. Enhance contribution to CO₂ reduction
   (Examples)
   
   • Provide solutions that contribute to CO₂ reduction via customers’ use of the Group's products and services
   • Reduce CO₂ emissions across the value chain of products including lightening weight and increasing recyclability.

In Milestone 2020, the Group set a mid-term target to reduce emissions footprint of Bridgestone tires at the stage of customer use to a level that exceeds the Group’s emissions from material procurement until product after-use. The Group achieved this target of 100% reduction in 2019.

With decoupling in mind, the Group has set a goal to reduce its absolute volume of CO₂ emissions from its own immediate production activities. In addition, the Group will accelerate its contribution to the reduction of CO₂ emissions through products and solutions. In this way, the Group will pursue CO₂ reductions throughout its product lifecycle and entire value chain.

Furthermore, previous environmental goals were based on intensity, or emissions reductions as a ratio of net sales. However, focusing solely on intensity could lead to CO₂ emissions increasing in step with business growth in absolute terms, counteracting the work to battle climate change. Therefore, under Milestone 2030, the Group has set targets for absolute results, aiming to reduce CO₂ steadily even as the businesses continue to grow

The Group will contribute to CO₂ emissions reduction during customers’ use, raw material procurement, distribution and reuse/recycle phases of the product life cycle by providing customer value through Dan-Totsu (the clear and absolute leader) products/services. It will also seek to reduce CO₂ emissions from manufacturing. This allows the Group to reduce CO₂ emissions across the product lifecycle and entire value chain.

1. The target covers emissions from production sites excluding discontinued operations. Scope 1 covers all direct CO₂ emissions by a company (from boilers of manufacturing facilities, etc.). Scope 2 covers indirect energy-related CO₂ emissions (from consumption of purchased electricity etc.). Scope 3 covers CO₂ emissions from raw material procurement, distribution, customers’ use, and after-use of lifecycle stages.
2. Base year: 2011
3. Base year: 2020

1. GHG emissions throughout life cycle of one fuel-efficient passenger car tire (195/65R15): 242.5kg-CO₂e
2. GHG emissions from after-use stage: 13.0kg-CO₂e (emissions reduction: 15.2kg-CO₂e) (Source: “Tyre LCCO₂ Calculation Guidelines Ver. 3.0.1”, Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc.)

1. Raw materials and components procurement
While maintaining a firm focus on enhancing product safety, quality and performance, the Group intends to purchase materials with low carbon footprint and develop advanced materials that help reduce the resources used in the products.

2. Manufacturing
The Group will improve manufacturing efficiency through equipment and process improvements to further reduce the energy invested in each product, while further developing products to help minimize impact on the environment and enhance product safety and quality. It will also actively pursue clean energy from renewable sources.

3. Logistics
The Group will strive to increase transport efficiency by implementing better distribution strategies, including routing and delivery fleet performance, optimizing vehicle loading, selecting fleets/fuels with low CO₂ emissions, and implementing solutions that lead to saving fuel and consequently reducing CO₂ emissions.

4. After-use
The Group will continue to focus on extending the life of its tires and expanding retreading (reuse) of truck, bus, aircraft and off-road tires, as well as reducing per-tire weight, to help reduce product waste generation. It will also continue to increase the amount of reduced, reused and recycled materials to achieve resource savings at all stages of the operations.

5. Product development
During the lifecycle of a tire, the Group estimates that 90% of tire-related CO₂ emissions originate from a tire’s use on a vehicle. To help drivers and vehicles reduce emissions, it intends to develop more sophisticated tires with improved/reduced rolling resistance to lower fuel use, while also expanding educational programs on tire and vehicle maintenance and eco-driving.

The Group will also continue to develop other products to help save energy and reduce CO₂ emissions, such as building materials with better properties.

The Group's focus on the environment and determination to achieve the CO₂ emissions reduction targets will advance technologies across the lifecycle of its products, significantly reducing the environmental footprint while also helping customers reduce theirs. The Group is developing and expanding fuel-efficient tires equipped with ENLITEN, an innovative tire technology that combines environmental and driving performance, and mobility solutions that provide fleet management services. The Group's efforts are designed to help address climate change and build a more sustainable society.

To reduce CO₂ emissions through tires’ lifecycle, the Group has engaged with its suppliers in various ways.

In 2018, Bridgestone Group introduced a Global Sustainable Procurement Policy. With regard to CO₂ reduction throughout the supply chain, the Group’s Policy requires environmentally responsible procurement practices, including reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. To ensure the Policy is fully understood, the Group holds annual conferences for suppliers in several regions. At the 2022 conference, the Group asked for suppliers’ cooperation in reducing CO₂ emissions along with setting ambitious targets aligned with the Paris Agreement, introducing renewable energy, toward becoming carbon neutral.

For next steps, the Group worked with EcoVadis to conduct enhanced Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk assessments to the suppliers for monitoring and evaluating their ESG status.

The Group has introduced internal carbon pricing (ICP) for CO₂ emissions reduction since 2011. In the internal carbon pricing, the impact of carbon reduction/increase is taken into account as a factor in the investment decision. The Group makes the ICP a driver to promote investment toward carbon neutrality.

The use of internal carbon pricing in investment decisions is standardized and promoted in each business area and the price of internal carbon pricing is reviewed periodically with reference to the carbon market price and other factors to enhance the ability to make appropriate investment decisions.

As of 2023, with Scope 1, 2 and 3 as the scope of application, the price of CO₂ is set at USD 100 per tonne.

The Group believes that the use of internal carbon pricing in its investment decisions toward carbon neutrality will have a certain impact in terms of accelerating its efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions, along with the investment in energy conservation and shift to renewable energy (electricity).

The Group is promoting co-creation with stakeholders by encouraging open innovation in technology, business models and design, and combining technologies in various fields. For climate change action, the Group is also working with other organizations and businesses to accelerate carbon neutral initiatives. In Japan, Bridgestone is working as a member of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) and the Tokyo Zero-emission Innovation Bay council. In April 2021, Bridgestone endorsed a message by JCI calling for the government of Japan to set ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to realize the goals of the Paris Agreement. The message, which calls for a 2030 reduction target of "going beyond 45% - aiming for a 50% emission reduction", was delivered as an open letter to Japan’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Minister of the Environment, and published by various media outlets.

In 2023, Bridgestone participated in the review of the Revised Act on the Rational Use of Energy, a law related to action against climate change, by submitting an opinion to promote the proper evaluation of electrification technology that contributes to the reduction of CO₂ emissions with electricity from renewable energy sources. Bridgestone also supports Japanese government’s actions to mitigate climate change aligned with Paris Agreement by enhancing its initiative towards carbon neutrality as well as complying with the laws related with climate change.

Moreover, the Group is a major member of the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association, which has been working to achieve 2030 mid-term targets to reduce CO₂ emissions during manufacturing as part of the Japanese Business Federation’s Commitment to a Low Carbon Society, which plays a central role for the industrial sector’s commitment. In Japan, Bridgestone is also participating in the Port of Kitakyushu Carbon Neutral (CNP) Study Group, which is comprised of companies, the national government, and the City of Kitakyushu. The Port CNP Study Group was established by the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the City of Kitakyushu with the aim of creating a CNP that will reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to zero at the Port of Kitakyushu, a node for international logistics and an industrial hub. In 2022, this study developed “The Port of Kitakyushu CNP Formation Plan (Draft).”

Furthermore, the Group has pledged its support for the Challenge Zero initiative launched by the Japan Business Federation in collaboration with the Japanese government, which aims to realize a "decarbonized society" for Japan as a long-term goal in line with the international framework of the Paris Agreement.

In participating in or reviewing climate change-related initiatives and organizations, we periodically evaluate them based on their affinity with our business strategy direction, including our goals toward carbon neutrality, and If there is a large discrepancy, the relationship with them will be reconsidered.

The Group is aware of the physical risks associated with climate change and has established BCPs and other risk management measures at our production sites. The Group also recognizes other potential issues related to climate change and is taking steps to help address them, such as by research and development on diversifying rubber materials and by studying how climate-related impacts might influence the supply chain.

Natural rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) are the primary source of natural rubber today. Currently, more than 90% of the world’s natural rubber supply comes from rubber trees grown in tropical areas of Southeast Asia. The Group is actively researching ways to diversify the world supply of this vital raw material for the tire and rubber industry.

Specifically, the Group is researching methods for extracting and developing tire-grade natural rubber from guayule, a desert shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

For the details of Bridgestone’s research projects involving guayule, see “Action3: Expand and diversify renewable resources.”

The Group supports the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its recommendations, recognizes climate-related risks and opportunities identified in accordance with the TCFD framework, and is working to reflect and disclose such information in its business strategies. The Group formulated long term environmental vision and mid-term targets toward achieving carbon neutrality and contributing to the realization of a circular economy in light of climate-related risks and opportunities. The Group is working to reduce the risks of transition to a decarbonized society by reducing CO₂ emissions throughout its value chain, while at the same time reducing physical risks through adaptive measures such as diversifying natural rubber supply sources through initiatives to commercialize guayule, a rubber-producing plant that grows in arid regions.

Going forward, the Group intends to expand its disclosure of climate-related actions in line with the TCFD recommendations.

For the details of our disclosures on TCFD recommendations, see “TCFD and TNFD Index.”

Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2024 (1.8MB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2023 (471KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2022 (395KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2021 (378KB)
Our response to the CDP Questionnaire “Climate Change” 2020 (374KB)