Bridgestone New Zealand Limited tackles carbon emissions head on with backing of global corporation
In-line with the Bridgestone Group’s refined global Environment Mission Statement, Bridgestone New Zealand Limited has achieved internationally recognised certification to prove it has measured and reduced the carbon footprint for its organisation and one of its flagship products, Ecopia tyres.
Working alongside the carboNZeroCertTM programme staff, Bridgestone has undergone a rigorous process of identifying and verifying its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or carbon footprint. This has created a business-wide plan to manage and reduce its carbon footprint wherever possible, and a carbon credit system to cancel unavoidable emissions.
The Ecopia tyre, Bridgestone’s fuel-efficient, carbon-reducing product, has undergone a similar process that focuses on the GHG lifecycle of the products. The product analysis covers everything from the parts that make up the tyre, production of the tyre, through to freighting to stores – it’s colloquially called “cradle-to gate”, which in this case means from raw material to point of retail.
Ken Oyama, Director – NZ Business at Bridgestone New Zealand Limited, says that resource conservation and carbon reduction are considered top business and operational priorities on a global scale.
“carboNZeroCertTM certification of Bridgestone New Zealand Limited’s operations is a world first within the Bridgestone Group. Ecopia is also the world’s first carboNZeroCertTM certified tyre; both of which are exciting and very pleasing achievements for us,” says Mr. Oyama.
“As a company, and as part of a global network, we are continually striving to make our business as sustainable as possible. carboNZeroCertTM certification has been integral in understanding exactly what Bridgestone New Zealand Limited’s organisational carbon footprint is, and where we can make the biggest savings”.
“By partnering with this internationally recognised certification programme we are ensuring that our efforts are maximised and measurable. We’re proud to lead the world with these activities,” adds Mr. Oyama.
carboNZeroCertTM certification is credible as it is transparent, based on a scientific footprint measurement, aligned with international best practice (ISO14064-1, PAS 2050 and ISO 14067) and developed by the world’s first internationally accredited GHG certification scheme under ISO 14065.
For additional information regarding the carboNZeroCertTM program, please visit http://www.carbonzero.co.nz.
The certification of Bridgestone’s business will cover its National Support Office in Auckland, co-owned retail outlets, warehouses, supply chain and retread factories.
The Bridgestone Group has recently released its revised environmental directives which, broadly speaking, encompass revised efforts across three areas: ecological conservation, resource conservation and the reduction of its carbon footprint.