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24th
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AIKEN, SC. -- Bridgestone is a tire company. A big tire company. So big, in fact, that they build and sell just about every type of tire for self-propelled vehicles on this big green earth. Even those used for them giant dump trucks we see on the Discovery Channel.
These tires are big bucks, and so require big bucks. It's no surprise then that some of the largest consumers of these goods are mining companies, including Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural. If you've not heard of these two companies, they are the ones exploiting Canada's oil sands in the North. These oil sands give Canada the title of the third largest oil reserve in the World. Yay, us!
The ever increasing demand for oil brings with it an increase in demand for large rubber, which in turn explains why Bridgestone -- soon to be bar none the most important provider in Off-Road Radial tires (ORR) -- is establishing its first ever ORR tire plant outside of Japan.
This impressive facility is only in its infancy, but it is huge. It represents a $900 million investment from Bridgestone, which includes 545 acres of land across the road from their own Passenger/Light Truck (PSR/LTR) plant.
Although the operations set to take place here will be very industrial, it's the environment in which it will all take place that is especially noteworthy. Get this: Bridgestone will invest lots of money into restoring a local ecosystem that has all but been destroyed by humans on 400 of their 545 acres.
On those 400 acres, Bridgestone people are already hard at work planting the native Longleaf pine which has all but disappeared in the last 150 years. So far, they've planted 14,250 trees on 34 acres and will plant a further 15,100 trees this winter on 36 more acres. You read that right: A big industrial company like Bridgestone is planting trees.
But that's not all. On this site, and the one on the other side of the Bettis Academy Rd, Bridgestone will develop wildflower meadows, wetlands and set up a series of nature trails throughout the entire property. The area is home to beaver ponds, Canadian geese, wood ducks, turtles, the rare fox squirrel, and the blue bird. For this last creature, Bridgestone put together a program to build blue bird boxes to help increase this bird's numbers.
Are you as dumbfounded as I am?
Wait, there's even more. Bridgestone has some lofty environmental goals that it wants to achieve by 2020 through its three objectives which include: 1) In Harmony with nature; 2) Value natural resources; and 3) Reduce CO2 emissions.
Bridgestone uses the following line as one of their mantras: “It's not just what we make that counts. How we make it matters.”
It is clear to me that Bridgestone is a highly environmentally conscientious company. It is heartwarming to see a big business spend large sums of its money on the greater good. They even donated 10,000 acres of land to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources for public access. It's amazing.
As well, they strive to achieve the highest environmental standards for their buildings. The two Bridgestone Americas tire plants, the new Americas Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, and a retail store in Tennessee are all LEED certified. The new ORR manufacturing facility is also being built to LEED specifications. These are the first tire plants in the world to earn LEED certification.
Could Bridgestone be the good guys in the tire industry? I'll let you decide.
These tires are big bucks, and so require big bucks. It's no surprise then that some of the largest consumers of these goods are mining companies, including Suncor Energy and Canadian Natural. If you've not heard of these two companies, they are the ones exploiting Canada's oil sands in the North. These oil sands give Canada the title of the third largest oil reserve in the World. Yay, us!
 |
| Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre |
The ever increasing demand for oil brings with it an increase in demand for large rubber, which in turn explains why Bridgestone -- soon to be bar none the most important provider in Off-Road Radial tires (ORR) -- is establishing its first ever ORR tire plant outside of Japan.
This impressive facility is only in its infancy, but it is huge. It represents a $900 million investment from Bridgestone, which includes 545 acres of land across the road from their own Passenger/Light Truck (PSR/LTR) plant.
Although the operations set to take place here will be very industrial, it's the environment in which it will all take place that is especially noteworthy. Get this: Bridgestone will invest lots of money into restoring a local ecosystem that has all but been destroyed by humans on 400 of their 545 acres.
On those 400 acres, Bridgestone people are already hard at work planting the native Longleaf pine which has all but disappeared in the last 150 years. So far, they've planted 14,250 trees on 34 acres and will plant a further 15,100 trees this winter on 36 more acres. You read that right: A big industrial company like Bridgestone is planting trees.
But that's not all. On this site, and the one on the other side of the Bettis Academy Rd, Bridgestone will develop wildflower meadows, wetlands and set up a series of nature trails throughout the entire property. The area is home to beaver ponds, Canadian geese, wood ducks, turtles, the rare fox squirrel, and the blue bird. For this last creature, Bridgestone put together a program to build blue bird boxes to help increase this bird's numbers.
 |
| Photo: Bridgestone |
Are you as dumbfounded as I am?
Wait, there's even more. Bridgestone has some lofty environmental goals that it wants to achieve by 2020 through its three objectives which include: 1) In Harmony with nature; 2) Value natural resources; and 3) Reduce CO2 emissions.
Bridgestone uses the following line as one of their mantras: “It's not just what we make that counts. How we make it matters.”
It is clear to me that Bridgestone is a highly environmentally conscientious company. It is heartwarming to see a big business spend large sums of its money on the greater good. They even donated 10,000 acres of land to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources for public access. It's amazing.
As well, they strive to achieve the highest environmental standards for their buildings. The two Bridgestone Americas tire plants, the new Americas Technical Center in Akron, Ohio, and a retail store in Tennessee are all LEED certified. The new ORR manufacturing facility is also being built to LEED specifications. These are the first tire plants in the world to earn LEED certification.
Could Bridgestone be the good guys in the tire industry? I'll let you decide.