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Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Plant Named Outstanding Business For Positive Environmental Impact Aiken County, S.C., plant environmental program receives “Spare the Air” award from South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (Dec. 8, 2009) - When it comes to reducing pollution, the principle in practice each day at the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations(BATO) Aiken County, S.C., plant is “think globally, act locally.” The plant’s innovative efforts to reduce pollution helped the facility earn the “Spare the Air” award for positive environmental impact from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

“We are very proud of this recognition,” said John Stewart, Plant Manager, Aiken County, BATO. “Environmental stewardship and a strong commitment to the community are major initiatives of our facility and of our company, and we ask each teammate at our facility to take a direct role in helping improve our impact on the environment. These steps benefit our neighbors, families and those across the state.”

Aiken County teammates help call attention to environmental issues through public service announcements and volunteering at community environmental events. Additionally, teammates are encouraged to carpool, ride motorcycles or drive hybrid vehicles in order to take advantage of the preferred parking available only to those who help minimize fuel consumption.

Some of the plant’s innovations include the use of cementless technology known as Innovative Tire Building Technology, which results in about 60 percent fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The plant is also home to an array of other environmentally friendly features and initiatives that include hydrogenpowered forklifts that generate zero emissions, bio-diesel powered maintenance equipment, and 33,000 recently planted longleaf pine seedlings.

Opened in 1998, the Aiken County plant is LEED (U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certified, a designation that acknowledges excellent energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and resource stewardship. The Aiken County plant and the BATO plant in Warren County, Tenn., are the first two tire plants in the world that have attained LEED certification.

The Aiken County plant is also home to an on-site wildlife habitat and nature education area. The area is recognized by the international Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) for its wildlife habitat management and is certified as a WHC Corporate Lands for Learning site, through which the Aiken County team educates the community on the importance of ecology.

About Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. Reporting into the BATO business unit are the company's Latin American tire operations, the U.S. and Canadian consumer tire businesses and the U.S. and Canadian commercial tire businesses. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The business unit is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in the Americas. In addition, through its Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions unit, retreading customers have access to industry-leading research and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales expertise, providing them with a total tire solution.