Addressing Sustainability Issues
As stakeholders and society increasingly hold businesses accountable, Bridgestone proactively integrates sustainability
initiatives into our business models, value chains, management policies, and business strategies. By executing these initiatives,
we strive to generate both social and customer value, building trust with stakeholders.

Respect for Human Rights
Bridgestone fosters an inclusive culture in which all ourfrom third party experts. Although no human rights

entities and locations adopt and applies ethical labor

violations were identified in any of the risk assessments, wepractices, builds trust with employees, and strives tostrive to improve and adhere to human rights standards torespect diversity and human rights.

ensure their proper implementation throughout ourAs part of its dedication to being a true global leader in all

operations

that it does, Bridgestone is committed to respecting humanrights and advancing responsible labor practices throughout
our worldwide operations.
In 2023, we conducted the following two different typesof human rights risk assessments across our own operations:1) Deep-dive human rights issue-specific and site-specificassessments and 2) Human Rights Risk Assessment Survey(HRRAS) targeting regional headquarters and subsidiaries
across the globe. As for the Deep-dive assessments, wechose the three locations for our 2023 assessment sites; anatural rubber farm in Liberia, tire plant in Indonesia, andheadquarter in Japan based on the holistic risk analysis,
previous assessment results, and human rights risk data

Human Rights
Commitment

Human Rights
Risk Assessment- Development of theBridgestone’s Global HumanRights Policy- Embedding commitment withthe Implementation Guidelinefor the Global Human Rights
Policy throughout Bridgestone’s
own operations- Raising awareness througheducation and learning- Identification of salient issues
and the locations that are
exposed to high risk*- Deep-dive human rights issueand site-specific assessments- Risk monitoring with Human
Rights Risk Assessment
Survey (HRRAS) targeting our
regional headquarters, andsubsidiaries

Accountability

Promoting continuous
reinforcementof the foundationfor value creation- Disclosure of humanrights due diligenceprocess and actions in theIntegrated Report andon website- Communication andpartnership with internal andexternal stakeholders

Based on the Bridgestone’s Global Human Rights
Policy, we implement human rights due diligenceacross our operations while continuously improving andreinforcing our risk management process. Ourcommitment to human rights is realized through theleadership of our top management team and thecollaborative efforts by the Human Rights & Labor
Practices Working Group and teammates around theworld. The essence of our commitment is the “glocal”
approach respecting and engaging with internal andexternal stakeholders, including our rights holders andthird-party human rights experts, as well as ourpassion for advancing human rights and responsible
labor practices across our operations.

Nicolas Van Den Steen
President of Human Rights and Labor
Practices Working Group■ Liberia’s ISCC Certification
Actions andMitigation- Implementation ofthe site/issue specificmitigation and prevention
measures- Development and executionof the Implementation
Guideline for the Global
Human Rights Policy- Monitoring and evaluating
mitigation and prevention
measures

Bridgestone is also implementing a portfolio of digital tools
in its natural rubber farm in Liberia to enable data integrityand visibility of the natural rubber farm profile together
with other environmental and social parameters for bothour own farm as well as smallholder operations.
This evolution is not only a reflection of our dedication tosustainability and transparency but also aligns seamlessly
with our journey towards compliance with the EUDR.

*Sites that could be exposed to higher human rights risks due to geographic,
political, social, industrial and operational factors.
Based on “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” that UN has outlined,
Bridgestone is building a process of human rights due diligence and promoting
its initiatives.

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Global Human Rights Policy
www.bridgestone.com/responsibilities/social/human_rights/pdf/global_human_rights_policy.pdf

Firestone Liberia (FSLB), the largest single natural rubber plantation in West Africa, commits
to contributing towards a sustainable society through continual improvement together with
employees, communities, smallholder farmers, and customers. An integral part of our due
diligence process is to have regular dialogues with stakeholders, including internal and external
communities, to effect solutions in a timely manner based on on-site feedback. Recognizing
opportunities on a national scale regarding access to quality education and to safe drinking
water, FSLB strives to meet necessities in terms of basic living conditions and primary educationand to further support improving living standards through providing farming skill trainings forsmallholders, of our surrounding communities.

Rhea Cinco
Head of Compliance and Sustainability at Firestone Liberia, LLC

Natural Rubber Value Chain
Enhancement of Sustainability through Due
Diligence of Natural Rubber Suppliers

collect information on the supply chain and endangered
species. Therefore, we will continuously offer support anddevelop a plan to engage with suppliers to reduce risks andBridgestone has been enhancing its ESG due diligence inmonitor their implementation status throughout its natural

the supply chain and addressing environmental and social

rubber supply chain.

risks. Third-party assessments by

Verisk Maplecroft andGrievance Mechanism for Natural Rubber
Supply Chain

EcoVadis help identify and assess these risks.
95% or more of our spend-basis Tier 1 tire material
suppliers will have completed an EcoVadis enhanced ESG
risk assessment by the end of 2024. (As of March 31, 2024,Bridgestone believes it is fundamental to work with our

97% had done so.) All of natural rubber Tier 1 suppliers willtrusted partners as a team throughout our value chain

have completed an EcoVadis enhanced ESG risk assessment

and co-create value towards society. Especially in theby the end of 2024. (As of March 31, 2024, 94% had done so.)natural rubber industry, which tends to be exposed to theIn addition, we have prioritized targeted suppliers basedrisks of deforestation and child & forced labor, a grievanceon Verisk Maplecroft and EcoVadis scores and conductedmechanism is an effective tool. It allows us to collecton-site ESG audits of those suppliers using a self-voices of stakeholders around our operations, help us toassessment questionnaire developed in collaboration withengage with our suppliers, and enable us to understandWWF Japan. From 2022 to 2023, we completed a total of 54

where our potential risks and opportunities are, to improve

on-site ESG audits of our Tier 1 natural rubber processing

sustainability practices across our value-chain. We thereforefacilities. In the audits in 2023, no human rights as well as

set up a grievance mechanism for the natural rubber

significant environmental impacts were identified.

supply chain and publicly disclose and update grievance

However, there is room for improvement such as in ways tolist quarterly.

Since 2022, Bridgestone has been addressing grievances within its natural rubber supply chain
by implementing a robust grievance mechanism. With the support of Earthworm Foundation,
Bridgestone leverages local insights, tools and technical expertise to identify and addressenvironmental & social issues. Engaging directly with suppliers represents a significant step towards
more transparency, enabling the natural rubber value chains to contribute positively to theprosperity of communities and ecosystems. The approach also favors dialogue and collaboration
with local stakeholders so as to prevent future grievances. Bridgestone is now in the process of
spreading awareness of the grievance mechanism among the grievance mechanism with key supply
chain partners and expanding its scope to encompass other raw materials of which Bridgestone's
tires are composed.

Jeanne Delor
Member Manager at Earthworm Foundation,
Project Leader for Bridgestone

Verisk Maplecroft

EcoVadis

Earthworm Foundation

https://www.maplecroft.com/

https://ecovadis.com/

https://www.earthworm.org/

Bridgestone 3.0 Journey 2024 Integrated Report97