Mar 2012: Bridgestone Leads the Way with Unique Water Conservation Initiatives

Leading Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone tyres has implemented a series of water management initiatives in its plants across the world. On the occasion of World Water Day (declared on 22nd March, by the United Nations), Bridgestone will highlight these initiatives, successes achieved by them and also share the Group’s future plans in this direction.

The Bridgestone Environment Mission Statement

The Bridgestone Group has in place an Environment Mission Statement through which the company works to play an important role in creating a sustainable environment. The focus of the Environment Mission Statement is to enable the Group to achieve its environmental objectives in the areas of resource (including water) conservation, ecological conservation and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions into the environment.

Details of the Bridgestone Water Management Initiatives

An official press release has revealed that the company’s water management initiatives will focus on efficient utilization of water and adequate management of waste water in various Bridgestone plants in a bid to conserve this liquid resource. Bridgestone has managed to achieve significant water conservation results due to the use of various measures like installing cooling towers to recycle the coolant, use of more efficient piping systems and equipment that decrease or eliminate water wastage and adopting manufacturing process improvements (such as reduction in vulcanization time) which result in reduction of coolant usage. Efforts are also being expended to ensure rigorous and regular maintenance of water using equipment.

Results Achieved So Far

The water conservation efforts initiated by Bridgestone have achieved impressive results so far. In the European region, by optimising the water supply, Bridgestone was able to reduce volume of water usage by 52%. Further the company added that across all 7 Bridgestone Europe plants, the water input volume has fallen by 30% in 2010 as compared to the figures in 2003. Also the water input volume improved by 47 per cent per unit of production.

The Future Direction of Water Conservation Efforts

Bridgestone is looking at implementing a range of water conservation initiatives in the near future.

At the Kitakyushu Plant in Japan, the company is introducing a unique water recycling system that will be able to monitor water usage volumes in real time. The company expects to recycle 80% of waste water with this system and by introducing a closed drainage system.

In Thailand and the United States, Bridgestone has undertaken rainwater harvesting projects. In Thailand, rainwater will be utilized in the plant manufacturing processes. In the United States, Bridgestone will use the harvested rainwater for the Project Butterfly Garden, through which the company intends to inculcate in young children the importance of water conservation and instil in them a sense of responsibility towards the environment.

Importance of Water Conservation

The increasing population and climate changes are expected lead to global water shortage, leading to an increase in the number of people worldwide without access to clean and safe water.

Therefore it is the responsibility of every individual and corporation to take steps that will facilitate water conservation by efficient utilization of water resources and maintaining and preserving water based ecosystems throughout the world.

And Bridgestone is taking the right steps towards fulfilling this responsibility.