GRANITEVILLE, SC—Bridgestone’s factory here has become the first tire manufacturing facility in America to earn the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS recognition for its use of sustainable raw materials to replace synthetic rubber.

Bridgestone Americas Inc. has set a goal of making its tires from 100-percent sustainable materials by 2050.

“Step by step, we are working to overcome the technological and market barriers to fully sustainable and renewable tires made with bio-sourced and recycled materials,” says Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president of Bridgestone Americas. “This ISCC PLUS certification is an important mile marker in our journey to become a leading sustainable solutions company.”

In 2021, Bridgestone announced that the manufacturing process at the factory would be directly powered by a ground-based solar array. The facility is powered by approximately 8 acres of solar panels that generate enough electricity to power over 200 homes annually, while also reducing 1,400 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

Spanning 2.78 million square feet, the factory employs more than 1,740 people. It has been producing radial tires for passenger cars and light trucks since 1997.