Bridgestone Americas Inc. has received a 2015 Edison Gold Award for Innovation in Automotive Solutions for its work aimed at diversifying the world’s natural rubber supply using rubber derived from guayule, a woody desert shrub native to the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
Bridgestone is researching how to develop guayule-derived natural rubber for use in various tire applications.
The Edison Awards, inspired by Thomas Edison’s persistence and inventiveness, recognize innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy. The awards program is conducted by Edison Universe, a charitable organization dedicated to fostering future innovators.
The awards steering committee consisted of more than 3,000 professionals from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing and education.
“The work we are doing at our Biorubber Process Research Center in Arizona is important to diversifying the world’s natural rubber supply and identifying sustainable and renewable resources,” says Bill Niaura, director of new business development for Bridgestone Americas.
“This work is one of many ways we are using innovation to achieve our long-term vision of manufacturing products from raw materials that are fully renewable and sustainable by 2050. We are honored to be recognized.”
In 2014, Bridgestone began rubber production at the Arizona-based research facility. The company says that with all of the world’s natural rubber currently derived from rubber trees native to Southeast Asia, developing a tire using guayule will stimulate new economies, growth and opportunities in the United States.
Through this innovation project and others like it, Bridgestone says it is positioning itself to meet anticipated growth in demand for natural rubber, while also moving closer to achieving its long-term vision of manufacturing products from raw materials that are fully renewable and sustainable by 2050.
The environmental mission of Bridgestone is to ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. All of the company’s sustainability initiatives are aligned under the One Team, One Planet sustainability platform.
For additional information about the company’s One Team, One Planet environmental activities or the environmental mission of Bridgestone, visit www.BridgestoneAmericas.com.
