Contribute to carbon neutral society as a sustainable solutions company

Bridgestone Corporation

Outline

The Bridgestone Group has set the Long-term Environmental Vision (for 2050 and beyond); “Contribute to globally agreed target (towards Carbon Neutral society)”. To archive the vision, the Group set the Milestone 2030 and promote two actions: minimize CO₂ emissions in manufacturing and enhance contribution to CO₂ reduction throughout its product lifecycle and entire value chain.

In addition to development and dissemination of fuel-efficient tires, the Group will accelerate its contribution to CO₂ emissions reduction through its Tire Centric Solutions business and Mobility Solutions business, which create new “value” by leveraging tire- and mobility-related data.

Description

The Bridgestone Group is promoting “zero challenges” towards carbon neutral society through two actions: Minimize CO₂ emissions in manufacturing and enhance contribution to CO₂ reduction throughout its product lifecycle and entire value chain. In particular, about 90% of CO₂ emissions over the life cycle of tires are emitted as vehicle exhaust gas during the use stage. Then, the Group’s fuel-efficient tires contribute to greater vehicle fuel efficiency and meet a variety of customer needs, including superior levels of low-rolling resistance, lighter weights and other performance metrics. The Group achieved a 23% reduction (from a 2005 baseline) in tire rolling resistance, equal to a contribution of approximately 13.4 million tonnes CO₂ reduction in 2019 through development and sales of fuel-efficient tires such as ECOPIA. (*1)

To accelerate these activities, the Group set a focused target of Milestone 2030 : Contribute to global CO₂ emissions reduction across the lifecycle and value chain of our products and services exceeding five times our operation’s CO₂ emissions by 2030 (Based year: 2020). To archive the targets, in addition to the development and dissemination of fuel-efficient tires, the Group will accelerate its contribution to CO₂ emissions reduction through Solutions businesses which create new “value” by leveraging tire- and mobility-related data.

1. Development and dissemination of fuel-efficient tires

- Weight-savings technologies: Enliten

ENLITEN Technology tires demonstrate a rolling resistance that is up to 30 % lower than a standard premium summer tire.(*2) This contributes, in a combustion engine vehicle, to a reduction of fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, and significantly extends battery life in an electric vehicle.

-Next Generation Tire Technology for Fuel Efficiency “ologic^TM”

The Bridgestone Group’s fuel-efficient tire technology, named “ologic,” produces superior fuel efficiency with large tire diameter, high inflation pressure and narrow tire width to reduce aero-dynamic resistance. In addition, by optimizing rubbers and other materials of reinforcement layers, tire structures and tread patterns, a 30% reduction of rolling resistance coefficient along with a 10 % improvement of braking on wet road has been achieved compared with a conventional tire.(*3)

2. Reduction of CO₂ emissions through the dissemination of Solutions businesses

-Tire Centric Solutions business: Business to provide value-added products through products and tire-related data to help prevent performance issues, allowing customers to benefit from maximum use of their tires. By developing and deploying digital technology, such as the Group's Tirematics system that measures tire pressure and temperature and provides remote monitoring in real time, the Group can monitor and analyze data on the full lifecycle of each tire. Using its unique algorithm, this information allows the Group to accurately evaluate the condition of a tire, predict its remaining durability, determine required preventive maintenance, and prevent downtime from tire damage.

-Mobility Solutions business: Business to provide new value through products, tire-related data and mobility-related data. By creating and providing new value as it connects the real and digital worlds, the solutions help optimize operations and introduce damage prevention measures that avoid downtime.

For example, the WEBFLEET service from the Group's Webfleet Solutions business supports transportation operation and contributes to improved safety, efficiency and productivity of drivers and operators by managing various data related to vehicle operations. By combining vehicle operations data with the Bridgestone Group’s knowledge of tire wear and durability, it can provide a wider range of solutions, including products and services based on customers’ unique operating conditions and needs.

For customers, the Group’s solutions that maximize tire performance help optimize operations and introduce damage prevention measures that avoid downtime, improve vehicle performance and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO). In addition, the value the Group co-creates with customers and partners reducesCO₂ emissions throughout the product lifecycle and entire value chain and helps realize a circular economy.

The Group will work to achieve milestone 2030 and 2050 long-term targets through technological development of fuel-efficient tires and promoting the diffusion of solutions.

*1 Calculated based on Tire LCCO2 Calculation Guidelines Ver. 2.0 (April 2012, The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc.).

*2 Based on Bridgestone internal data comparing Bridgestone premium summer tyres with and without ENLITEN Technology in the same tyre size (92Y 225/40R18 XL).

*3 Based on a comparison between a tire with the ologic technology (tire size: 155/70R19, inflation pressure: 320kPa) and a conventional tire with an equivalent load capacity (tire size: 175/65R15, inflation pressure: 210kPa).