Social | Community
Activities related to disaster prevention and relief

On February 6, 2023, a large earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The earthquake impacted 13 million people across 11 provinces. Recognizing the crucial role of vehicle mobility in humanitarian efforts, the Bridgestone Group, as an industry leader, swiftly responded.

In the first week after the earthquake, Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (BRISA) provided 18 mobile service vehicles offering tire services to various entities, including emergency medical services, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, municipality organizations, gendarmerie, police, and the State Hydraulic Works. To contribute to a lasting solution, Brisa established 21 Lassa boxes; containers that can serve as temporary stores for the dealers whose stores were damaged by the earthquake and were unable to operate at the time. Brisa also provided a warehouse tent for tire supply, removal-installation, maintenance, and repair operations. Its efforts have successfully met the tire-related needs of around 250 heavy vehicles and 6,500 drivers, contributing to the region’s recovery.

Brisa also quickly adapted its operations. Its business unit Mobilfix, initially serving customers in the Aegean region, redirected its efforts to provide services to customers transporting aid to the affected region. In this endeavor, it provided 1,122 services to 234 vehicles carrying crucial aid from the Aegean region to the earthquake-affected areas. Its subsequent initiative involved operating directly in the area of the earthquake’s epicenter where service points were also heavily damaged. To ensure its dealers’ fleets are able to operate uninterruptedly as they continue their vital activities, it is committed to contributing to the removal of debris and revitalizing the local economy in the region. Commencing in Gaziantep Nurdag, its earthquake zone service extended to Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, and Adıyaman, other heavily affected cities in the region.

To support the recovery efforts, the Sabancı Lassa Secondary School was established for affected children with the support of Bridgestone and Sabancı Foundation. The school was opened in Hatay, where the student population is the highest, with the aim of providing continued access to education for future generations. At the school, the Group organized an event with 40 teammate volunteers and our dealers in the region. It provided one-on-one interaction with the students, with activities such as the planting of saplings, wall painting, library construction and team games. It has also implemented mentoring programs (with the participation of more than 20 volunteers) for the university-aged children of our dealers and for female students affected by the earthquake.

The Sabancı Hatay Incubation Center, established with the goal of leading local development in the earthquake-affected region, works toward creating new job opportunities in the area. Its objective is to prevent migration from the region and to reintegrate young people and women into economic and social life. Founded in collaboration with Brisa and partner companies of Sabancı Holding for this purpose, the Sabancı Hatay Incubation Center has quickly reached thousands of potential entrepreneurs and youths. Operating as part of Turkey’s most extensive social responsibility initiative, in just two months the center’s training programs reached 1,250 young people and women. In addition, the Entrepreneurship Marathon, held as part of support activities, provided grant support to three business ideas promoting regional and local development. The center will continue to enhance its impact in the future.

The Group’s efforts were supported not only by entities in the countries affected. 125 teammates from Bridgestone Sales and First Stop in Spain and Portugal, along with their valued suppliers, collaborated in curating a diverse collection of products. The total proceeds of €5,200 were donated to the International Red Cross to provide essential assistance and humanitarian aid to the victims. BSAPIC contributed €100,000 toward the Türkiye-Syria Earthquake humanitarian effort via the Red Cross.

The Bridgestone Group donated JPY10 million to Kurume City, Fukuoka to the Kurume City Disaster Relief Fund, to support victims of the flooding caused by the record-breaking heavy rains in northern Kyushu in July 2023, and to assist in recovery efforts in the affected areas. Employees of Bridgestone Corporation raised a further JPY500,000 through an employee fundraising campaign called BSmile. In connection with this support, a donation ceremony was held at Kurume City Hall in Fukuoka.

In February 2024, we accepted six displaced students from Ukraine for an internship program. The program started in August 2022 with the aim of supporting the humanitarian efforts that form part of our social contribution activities amid the protracted war in Ukraine. 2024 marked the third year of the initiative, and over these three years a total of 22 students have participated in the two-week work experience program.

Bridgestone Americas owns and operates a weather center situated in one of its tire manufacturing facilities in the state of Tennessee. The center includes cameras for spotting weather, a local weather scanner and radar equipment for identifying current weather patterns and forecasting future weather patterns. This facility can alert surrounding areas when inclement weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes is imminent or occurring in the area.

BSIN’s water rescue team was put through its paces in a training session with the SAGARA Karawang team. This training is vital because the most frequent disaster response required in the Karawang and Bekasi areas is to help with floods. The two-day training includes disaster management, medical first responder training, water assistance, evacuation techniques, first aid practice, rescue RTRGT (Reach, Throw, Row, Go, Tow/Carry), sea survival and a disaster response simulation. The team is fully prepared to deliver vital help to communities.

The Bridgestone Tire Indonesia (BSIN) water rescue team (and their training) is vital in the Karawang and Bekasi areas due to the high frequency of flooding disasters. Around 15 school units, 14 health centers and 1,699 housing units were damaged following a 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Pandeglang Regency in Indonesia on January 14, 2022.

Flooding that followed heavy rainfall in March 2022 further exacerbated the recovery efforts in the area and many households were impacted. BSIN activated the Search and Rescue Team, and together with the General Affairs and CSR team, aided the local community. The group provided assistance to the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) including 100 basic food packages, two boats, two outboard engines, safety jackets, as well as 60 signboards that inform people of evacuation routes and assembly points. Food donations were extended to victims who had not yet received assistance from the government or other parties. The total amount of contribution BSIN made to the flood relief was IDR76,818,000 (Appx. US$4,886).

In February and March 2023, BSIN stepped forward to support local communities – and affected teammates – in response to the floods in Bekasi and Karawang. The BSIN rescue team and labor union assisted with food supplies and post-flood cleanups.

BSIN lived up to its reputation for stepping forward in times of crisis for local communities—as well as looking after teammates—with its rapid response to two natural disasters. Following the February floods in Bekasi and Karawang, more than 150 teammates at the local plants received support including food supplies and assistance in post-flood cleanups from the BSIN rescue team and labor unions.

Bridgestone China Asia Pacific (BSCAP^*) was a proud recipient of the Platinum Award for Product Excellence and the Silver Award for CSR and ESG Leadership at the 15th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards (2023). BSCAP was recognized for the launch of Bridgestone’s Electric Vehicle tire (the Turanza T005 EV), as well as its disaster response and relief efforts across the Asia Pacific region. These awards are the 13th and 14th awards BSCAP has clinched at this prestigious event over six consecutive years since 2018.

The TURANZA T005 EV tire spotlights Bridgestone’s pursuit of excellence in advancing innovation of sustainable tire technologies and mobility solutions. Aligned with its mission of Serving Society with Superior Quality, Bridgestone works closely with regional local partners in disaster relief and response efforts with an aim to provide long-term positive impact to society.

* Current BSAPIC (Bridgestone Asia Pacific, India and China)

Following the September 8, 2023 earthquake in Morocco, Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE participated in a social campaign called "Solidarity Caravane" along with the local dealer CPIT and several NGOs.

Bridgestone teammates in Morocco visited the most affected areas and distributed food and clothes to the victims.

In response to the recent Michaung Cyclone that wreaked havoc in Andhra Pradesh, Bridgestone India rallied its forces to provide crucial aid to affected communities in collaboration with local NGOs. Its commitment goes beyond financial support, with active participation from dedicated employees.

Relief measures were focused on the districts of Nellore and Tirupati, where the impact of the cyclone was deeply felt. The relief efforts were aimed at supporting waste pickers, sanitary workers, manual scavengers and sex workers, making a difference in the lives of those who were hit hardest.

More than 12 teammates volunteered, actively engaging in relief operations. Their hands-on involvement exemplifies the company’s dedication to being more than just a corporate entity, playing an active role as an integral part of the community.

BSID distributed survival kits to 1,000 families covering a population of more than 4,000 people. The survival kits contain essential items, directly addressing the immediate needs of those who are affected.