In a move that sets a new standard for the tyre industry, Bridgestone has announced its first-ever carbon-neutral tyre manufacturing facility.
The plant, located in Chakan, Pune, India, has been verified as carbon neutral by LRQA, a leading global assurance partner, against the international standard PAS 2060.
The Pune plant underwent a rigorous auditing process in May and June 2023. The verification was carried out according to the international PAS 2060 standard for the year 2022. This certification is a significant step in Bridgestone's ongoing efforts to achieve carbon neutrality (Scope 1 and 2) by 2050 and reduce CO2 emissions from its operations by 50% by 2030, compared to the 2011 benchmark.
The Pune manufacturing facility has an annual production capacity of over 4 million tyres. Remarkably, the plant has managed to reduce its total carbon footprint by 94% through various sustainability measures. These include the installation of solar panels and a carbon-neutral biomass-based boiler plant that uses biomass briquettes made from agricultural waste.
Bridgestone India has purchased Verified Carbon Standard credits from a bundled solar photovoltaic project by Acme, India. This initiative offsets 2,974 tonnes of CO2 emissions at the site. The project aims to generate energy from solar panels and export it to regional power grids in various Indian states, including Telangana, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
As part of the PAS 2060 verification, the Pune plant has committed to further reducing its CO2 emissions over the next three years. Stefano Sanchini, Managing Director of Bridgestone India, stated, "We are continuing to replace diesel-based forklifts with electric-powered ones and using electric power to replace LPG. Our future plans include further increasing the use of green energy and tracking scope 3 emissions."
Olga Rivas, ESG Product Cluster Manager at LRQA, confirmed the reliability of Bridgestone's reported data and praised the company's commitment to decarbonization. "We are delighted to be part of Bridgestone's decarbonization project," she said.
The sustainability efforts at Bridgestone are guided by the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which focuses on eight key areas: Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment. These principles serve as a compass for the company to conduct business sustainably.
The carbon-neutral certification of Bridgestone's Pune plant is a historic landmark in the company's commitment to sustainability. Koji Takagi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Bridgestone EMIA, emphasized that the achievement aligns with the Paris climate agreement and is part of Bridgestone's mission to "Serve Society with Superior Quality."
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, Bridgestone's efforts serve as a beacon for other manufacturers to follow. The Pune plant's carbon-neutral status is not just a milestone for Bridgestone but a significant step forward for the entire tyre industry.
