BRUSSELS—Bridgestone Corp. has converted 100 percent of its electricity consumption across Europe to renewable resources as part of its pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The initiative, which involves the use of solar and wind power at its various facilities, represents a key step in the company's ambition to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
Bridgestone has stated its commitment to the Paris Agreement and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 by investing in ways to reduce CO2 emissions across the lifecycle of its products and entire value chain.
The renewable energy declaration applies to 10 plants operating under Bridgestone Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, plus the company's research and development center and proving ground in Rome; retreading materials factory in Lanklaar, Belgium; a textile plant in Usansolo, Spain; and its headquarters in Brussels.
"Reducing our CO2 emissions is a key pillar of our long-term sustainability vision, which is why I can't emphasize enough the significance of this milestone," Emilio Tiberio, Bridgestone EMIA's chief technology and operating officer, said.
In North America, Bridgestone has begun the process as well, starting with the installation recently of an array of solar panels at its tire plant Aiken County, S.C. The installation there generates enough electricity to power 200 homes for a year, and reduce the tire plant's carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 1,400 metric tons annually, according to Bridgestone.
