3rd consecutive EcoVadis Platinum rating for Bridgestone EMEA

Bridgestone EMEA has once again attained the prestigious Platinum rating from EcoVadis, a renowned sustainability assessment platform. This achievement marks the third consecutive time Bridgestone EMEA has received the highest accolade since 2021, positioning the organisation within the top one per cent of the 130,000 companies evaluated globally across 220 industry sectors by EcoVadis.

Initially awarded a Silver rating and positioned in the top 12 per cent of global businesses upon first assessment in 2015, Bridgestone EMEA steadily ascended to the top seven per cent by the following year, followed by the top four per cent in 2018. The organisation achieved Gold status in 2019 before attaining Platinum status for the first time in 2021.

Significant sustainability milestones

Aligned with its global corporate sustainability framework and the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, Bridgestone is advancing towards becoming a sustainable solutions company by 2050. The Platinum EcoVadis rating for 2023 coincided with a year of significant sustainability milestones for Bridgestone EMEA, including:

• The installation of 21,000 solar panels at Bridgestone’s Burgos plant in Spain, which now generates 10-14 per cent of the facility’s electricity requirements directly from solar power.
• Continued sustainability initiatives across the supply chain, notably through Bridgestone EMEA’s innovative Sustainable Supply Chain Financing initiative, which incentivises suppliers to enhance their EcoVadis sustainability ratings. Since inception, 20 per cent of participating suppliers have improved their scores, with 36 per cent achieving advanced levels.
• Publication of Bridgestone EMEA’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Report, outlining the company’s strategies to enhance inclusivity and representation.
• Various initiatives under the Bridgestone Global Road Safety Program, aimed at enhancing road safety and supporting the United Nations goal of halving road-related fatalities and injuries by 2030. EMEA activities encompass tyre check events, road safety training, and education programmes benefiting over 20,000 individuals.

Rigorous assessment

“In the increasingly regulated and complex world of corporate sustainability, this is a great achievement,” says Laurent Dartoux, group president, Bridgestone EMEA. “We have huge respect for the importance of independent verification – especially in sustainability – and the EcoVadis assessment has only become more and more rigorous as we’ve progressed over the years. Today, the process involves people representing all corners of our business, from HR to IT, and from Environment and Health & Safety to Procurement and Finance; and all led by our dedicated Sustainability Office team.

“Maintaining our Platinum EcoVadis rating reflects our ongoing commitment to all areas of sustainability and the progress we’re making as an evolving company, guided by the Bridgestone E8 Commitment,” Dartoux continues. “We may be among the top EcoVadis performers globally, but as ever, there are still a lot of positive steps that need to be made on the road to 2050.”