Stakeholders Communication

The Bridgestone Group prioritizes engagement with stakeholders as it strives to understand their perspectives and to share its point-of-view as well. We promote stakeholder engagement based on integrated reporting, and also closely link it to the process of prioritizing sustainability issues and integrating them into business strategy while ensuring alignment. As shown in the figure, the two processes are being rotated as two wheels, and continuous improvement of both processes is being pursued.

Communication activities of the Bridgestone Group

Stakeholder group	Main issues / Key topics	Uses and methods/opportunities of main dialogues	Frequency
All stakeholders	Comprehensively communicating the Bridgestone’s approaches and initiatives for enhancing corporate value over the medium to long term Deepening mutual understanding through dialogue	■ Publishing Bridgestone 3.0 Journey Integrated Report	annually
Customers	Developing appealing products/services Providing timely response and support Providing appropriate information Effectively managing customer information	■ Boosting recognition of the Group’s activities and generating opportunities for co-creation ■ Reflecting customer feedback into products and services
		Responses to Customer Communication Center inquiries	daily
		Analysis, database compilation and internal utilization of customer input	timely
		Bridgestone Innovation Park's Bridgestone Innovation Gallery dedicated to Bridgestone history and innovation initiatives	timely
		Websites and social media	daily
		Daily sales and service activities (retail stores, dealer channels, online commerce)	daily
		Market research/Customer satisfaction survey	timely
		Auto shows and exhibitions	timely
Shareholders and Investors	Providing appropriate and timely information Maximizing corporate value	■ Dialogue-based IR activities and timely, appropriate information disclosure ■ Reflecting shareholder and investor perspectives/feedback into management and IR activities
		Annual Shareholders’ Meeting	annually
		Corporate Governance Report	annually
		Corporate Governance Code Report	biannually
		Financial results review meetings	timely
		Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) and progress updates	timely
		Investor relations website	daily
		Reports based on International Integrated Reporting Framework	annually
		Individual meetings with investors, and ESG dialogue with investors	timely
		Hosting a briefing on Summary of Financial Results for 2023 – Including review of Mid Term Business Plan (2021-2023) Business Plan for 2024 – 1st year of Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026)	Feb. 2024
		Communications at sustainability-related events	timely
Business Partners	Ensuring fair and impartial transactions Communicating Sustainable Procurement Policy	■ Promoting dialogue and mutual understanding to achieve sustainable procurement ■ Encouraging dialogue to improve on-site environments ■ Capacity building and supporting improved yields and income through dialogue with and education for smallholder farmers
		Daily procurement activities	daily
		Procurement policy explanatory forums/Sustainability seminars	biannually
		Global Sustainable Procurement Policy rollout	timely
Employees	Respecting human rights Promoting diversity and inclusion, including diverse working styles Developing and utilizing human resources Promoting occupational health and safety, and health and productivity management Facilitating mutual understanding between management and labor	■ Improving engagement through mutual understanding with employees ■ Objectively analyzing survey results and formulating and implementing action plans to improve workplace environments based on dialogue
		Issuing and revising Bridgestone Code of Conduct, Global Human Rights Policy and Global Anti-Bribery Policy	timely
		Employee engagement survey	timely
		Personnel evaluation systems and career development consultation	timely
		Talent matching system (open-posting system and job-matching system)	timely
		Participation in The Valuable 500, promote appointment and recruitment of female managers	timely
		Meetings between labor and management	timely
		In-house newsletters and intranet	daily
		Town hall meetings	timely
		Bridgestone Group Awards and other reward systems	Award: annually
Local Communities, NGOs	Contributing to local communities Preserving local environments Supporting activities in locations with Bridgestone Group operating sites	■ Understanding issues in local communities, supporting solutions, and building trust
		Donations and social contribution activities	timely
		Facility tours	timely
		Environmental and safety education activities	timely
		Sponsorship and aid for local events	timely
		Disaster relief and reconstruction support	timely
		Dialogue and collaborations with NGOs	timely
Government Agencies, Industry Organizations and Educational Institutions	Contributing to the development of a safe and reliable mobile society Supporting education activities Participating in industry economic impact studies and supply chain assessments	■ Promoting and supporting the formulation of industry standards ■ Revising policy guidelines in line with social and industry trends
		Trade association memberships, committees and conferences	timely
		Dialogue and collaborations with economic and industry organizations	timely
		Dialogue with government representatives	timely
		Participation in global initiatives on sustainability and environment such as the Tire Industry Project operated under the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and Business for Nature	timely
		Interaction and exchanges of opinion with municipal government agencies	timely
		Communication, coordination, and support of industry-government-academia partnerships	timely

Establishing and enhancing communication structures

An active role in industrial initiatives

The Group takes the environmental and social impact of the tire industry seriously and play a leading role in building knowledge and establishing industry standards to better address the challenges facing the industry as a whole.

For more information on the Group's engagement and initiatives with external organizations, see “Partnerships and Collaboration with External Organizations.”

Dialogue-based IR activities and information disclosure in a timely and appropriate manner

Bridgestone has defined a vision of providing social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company toward 2050. To achieve this vision, Bridgestone is moving forward with the implementation of mid-long term business strategy that place sustainability at the core of management. Through quarterly financial results announcements, we also announce the progress of the Mid Term Business Plan. We consider it important for the Global CEO to take the stage at such announcements to engage in direct dialogue with analysts and investors. We work to build mutual relationships of trust by taking consideration of the various suggestions obtained through this dialogue in our management strategies and IR activities.

In March 2024, we announced the Mid Term Business Plan (2024-2026) as a hybrid event which was a combination of offline and online. Global CEO and Global CTO appeared at the presentation and engaged in an open dialogue with analysts on a wide range of strategic and technical interest.

In addition to our regular financial results announcements, we are also expanding opportunities for one-on-one dialogue with investors. The Global CEO and Independent　Directors engage in direct dialogue, provide feedback to the global management team and the Board of Directors on the suggestions and expectations they have gleaned. They are then reflected in discussions and business activities so as to create value for the future.

At Bridgestone there are two parties working together; Global Sustainability Strategy Division which integrate management strategies, business activities and corporate culture to sustainability, and IR department which promote information disclosure and dialogue with analysts and investors. Through these organizations, Bridgestone is improving dialogue with investors on our approach to sustainability issues and the management strategies that will allow us to achieve sustainable growth alongside our customer and society.

In addition to enhancing information disclosure in a timely and appropriate manner, through our integrated report we are also enhancing communication of our unique value creation stories that balance sustainability and business. We exchange opinions not only on ESG investment perspectives, but also on expectations from investors’ perspectives as we grow as a sustainable solutions company.

We will further strengthen information dissemination regarding a roadmap toward our future growth, which is to return to a “strong” Bridgestone capable of adapting to change, move to the “true next stage”, and become a resilient “excellent” Bridgestone.

Direct communication with customers and the general public

The Bridgestone Customer Communication Center gathers and analyzes customer impressions from inquiries and comments as well as assessments from the Internet and disseminates this information internally to corporate officers and other employees. This leads to improved products and services, while the Group reports are used in an attempt to increase employee motivation. Bridgestone is also focusing efforts on communicating Company activities in an easily understandable way to customers and the general public using the Internet and other digital forms of communication incorporating images and video.

Facility tours for the general public

Bridgestone offers tire plant tours to the general public in Japan. Visitors can see how tires are made and how the Company contributes to environmental conservation throughout the manufacturing process.