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Bridgestone Americas announced that its Wilson, N.C. tire manufacturing plant recently received three Green Factory Environmental Achievement Recognitions at Honda’s 22nd annual Environmental, Safety and Ergonomics Symposium. The Bridgestone Wilson tire plant, which produces more than 32,000 passenger tires each day, continues to assert itself as a leader in sustainable manufacturing.
Honda recognized the Wilson facility in three categories: energy reduction, natural resources and pollution prevention. “This is a remarkable accomplishment for Bridgestone and our Wilson teammates,” said Michael Darr, Wilson Plant Manager, Bridgestone Americas. “We are committed to practicing sustainable business and have implemented several initiatives to reduce the plant’s carbon footprint. We are honored to be recognized by Honda for our achievements as we work toward our corporate environmental mission of helping to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations.”
The Bridgestone Wilson tire plant earned an energy reduction award for achieving Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Mature Pathway ISO 50001 certification, a management system model of continuous improvement in energy performance. The plant was the first manufacturing facility in the world to attain this certification. Between 2001 and 2011, Bridgestone’s Wilson facility achieved an energy savings of 16.8 percent by switching the primary fuel source to natural gas in boilers, shutting down equipment when not in operation, promptly repairing steam and air leaks, insulating piping across the plant and executing several lighting optimization projects. The Honda award for natural resources was presented to the Wilson team for its community education program that teaches area students about land and wildlife preservation.
Bridgestone designated 350-acres of the Wilson plant site to create the Wilson Plant Freedom Wildlife Habitat and Refuge which is a Corporate Lands for Learning program certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council. In accordance with Bridgestone’s global environmental mission, the land serves as a classroom for many community-focused educational and preservation activities. Pollution prevention recognition was awarded for the plant’s zero waste to landfill achievement, a claim validated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in January 2014.
The Wilson plant is the first manufacturing facility of any kind to receive this validation from UL. The Wilson plant reached zero waste to landfill in early 2013 and has kept that rate intact to date.