18 March 2015, 00:00
Bridgestone Americas today announced its Tires4ward program will be a featured topic at the 2015 Tennessee Environmental Conference in Kingsport. Debra Hamlin, Retail Environmental Manager, Bridgestone Retail Operations, will discuss the innovative program’s success and results, and how Tires4ward contributes to improving the environment and public health through smart choices as part of the conference track highlighting innovation. Hamlin was instrumental in the development of the Bridgestone Tires4ward program, which received a 2014 Tennessee Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Excellence in Sustainable Performance and has a vision of creating a waste-free tire industry.
Established in 2012, the Bridgestone Tires4ward program works to assure that for every new tire Bridgestone sells in the U.S., one used tire is recovered and put to valuable new use. To date, the Bridgestone Tires4ward program has recycled more than 20 million used tires recovered through the company’s nationwide network of tire and automotive service retail stores. The Tires4ward program also includes a community clean-up component conducted in partnership with the Portland, Oregon-based River Network. Through this aspect of the program, Bridgestone has supported hundreds of volunteer organizations and assisted numerous communities in the proper recycling of tires collected in organized clean-up events of public spaces, rivers and waterways.
“Sustainability and being a responsible steward of our resources is a fundamental part of doing business today,” said Hamlin. “I am honored to have the opportunity to present to an audience of environmental leaders about Bridgestone’s Tires4ward program. When we work together, we broaden our reach, maximize our impact and can be far more effective with our sustainable programs and initiatives.”
In its 14th year, the Tennessee Environmental Conference represents academic, industrial, government and community organizations that have a vested interest in improving the state’s environment and economy.
Source: Bridgestone