Bridgestone Corporation today in Singapore announced the development of new tire technologies that will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

These technologies, announced at the World Rubber Summit*1 2012 by Bridgestone Chairman of the Board, Shoshi Arakawa, are aimed at developing world-class tires made from 100% sustainable materials.

The transportation sector has a significant impact on the environment, particularly in terms of resource usage and CO2 emissions. As the world's largest tire and rubber manufacturer, the Bridgestone Group realizes that it has the potential to significantly lessen it impact on the environment. At the same time, the Group has defined its role as responding to the needs of customers around the world by reliably providing high-quality products that are technologically- advanced.

To fulfill its mission, the Group has established long-term environmental goals to guide its pursuit of a sustainable society. The Group has placed a high importance on promoting the usage of 100% sustainable materials. To achieve this goal, Bridgestone will need fully leverage its technical capabilities and diversify and expand the range of renewable resources it uses in the production of tires and other rubber products. To accomplish this, the Group is diversifying the regions in which it produces natural rubber and expanding the range of reinforced plant fibers it uses. Furthermore, in order to