Earth Day Network Teams Up With Bridgestone for National Mall Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2012 Contact: Bryan Buchanan, EDN, 202-518-0044 x 14 Elizabeth Lewis, BATO, (877) 201-2373

Earth Day Network Teams Up With Bridgestone for National Mall Event

WASHINGTON – Earth Day Network, organizer of the world’s largest civic observance, has teamed up with Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (BATO),the tire arm of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) – the largest subsidiary of the world’s largest tire and rubber company, Bridgestone Corporation. In a partnership announced today, BATO will become a sponsor of the massive Earth Day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on April 22. “The theme of Earth Day 2012 is Mobilize the Earth™, and as Bridgestone is in the business of mobilizing people, we feel this is a fitting partnership,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “By setting clear environmental impact goals for the company and its products, Bridgestone is setting an example for the tire industry. Earth Day Network is pleased to have them on board for our flagship event on the National Mall.” In honor of Earth Day 2012, BATO will be announcing a unique program aimed at improving the environmental performance of the tire industry. Bridgestone Corporation’s environmental initiatives focus not only on natural resource conservation through operational improvements and product design but also environmental education and research. Bridgestone has established a global goal of 35 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from the company’s total operations – raw material and component procurement, manufacturing and logistics – and also its products’ “after-use.” The company is also pursuing a challenging goal to improve tire rolling efficiency by 25 percent, resulting in less fuel use and CO2 emissions from driving, while also extending the life of its tires. The program to be announced on Earth Day will compliment the company’s existing activities while taking the company’s commitments to sustainability even further. “Bridgestone has a long-standing commitment to the environment and to conservation. From award-winning wildlife habitats at our plants to Ecopia, our innovative line of tires that significantly increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions, Bridgestone doesn’t just talk about being ‘green,’ we let our actions speak for us,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and President of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “It’s in that spirit that we’re proud to be a co-presenting sponsor of this year’s Earth Day on the National Mall, and during those festivities to be launching a ground-breaking industry initiative that will set a new standard for environmental stewardship in the tire business.” The event on the National Mall is the centerpiece of Earth Day in the United States and part of a vast network of Earth Day events around the world – from Rome to Rio, Beijing to Beirut.  Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend on the National Mall on April 22, joined by civic leaders, politicians and celebrities to galvanize the global environmental movement. The last Earth Day event on the National Mall, in 2010, boasted over 250,000 attendees and attracted the likes of Sting, John Legend, James Cameron, Rev. Jesse Jackson and scores of other luminaries. For more information about Earth Day 2012, go to archiveedn.wpengine.com/2012. For more information about BSAM’s environmental initiatives, go to  www.OneTeamOnePlanet.com.

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Earth Day Network mobilizes over one billion people in 192 countries through year-round advocacy, education, public policy and consumer campaigns to protect the environment. archiveedn.wpengine.com 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 and commercial tire businesses; and Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world. BATO develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The commercial tire division is focused on retail, wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying tires to passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off road, motorcycle, agricultural and retread markets. Learn more at www.BridgestoneAmericas.com.