• Bridgestone applauds the action of the New Zealand Government with the introduction of a regulated end-of-life tyre scheme.
• Adoption of the Tyrewise scheme is the culmination of advocacy by Bridgestone and industry counterparts.  
• Support of the Tyrewise scheme is underpinned by the Bridgestone E8 Commitment towards a sustainable society.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (21 June, 2022) — Leading tyre brand, Bridgestone has welcomed today's announcement of the introduction of New Zealand's first nationally regulated product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres (ELT) from 2023.  

Bridgestone is fully supportive of the Tyrewise scheme announced today by Minister for the Environment, David Parker, and the 3R group, and welcomes the action being taken by the New Zealand Government.

The tyre company has been heavily involved in the decade-long consultation process throughout the development of the scheme and is confident that the introduction of a regulated approach to end-of-life tyre management will drive positive and sustainable outcomes.  

"We are thrilled with the outcome of this announcement. After years of input, we are beyond pleased see action being taken when it comes to end-of-life tyre regulation," said Bridgestone's Director of New Zealand Business, John Staples.

"As the market leading tyre company in New Zealand, we place considerable importance on the responsible handling of end-of-life tyres because of our global and local commitment to sustainability, which is why we welcome the introduction of the regulated scheme from next year."

It is estimated approximately 6.5 million tyres are removed from vehicles in New Zealand each year. The new scheme, known as Tyrewise, will cover end-of-life tyres, ensuring a positive environmental outcome. Once the regulated scheme is up and running, Tyrewise will be funded through an advanced stewardship fee, proposed to be charged to tyre importers by New Zealand Customs.

Tyrewise was originally established in 2012 beginning the co-design of the product stewardship scheme for ELTs. The grouped worked together with the common interest that mandatory regulation was necessary under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, to ensure whole of industry participation.

"This action from the New Zealand Government will see all tyre importers on a level playing field when it comes to contributing financially towards responsible end-of-life tyre management. It will ensure that all tyres brought into New Zealand contribute to the development of sustainable end-of-life tyre solutions," Mr Staples added.

"Bridgestone has been a long-term supporter of the Tyrewise initiative and we're glad to see that whole industry will be playing their part into the future."     

The tyre company's support of the scheme is underpinned by the global Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which is Bridgestone's platform for value co-creation towards a more sustainable future.

Through the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, the company is working towards its long-term, 2050 vision of providing social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company through the values of: energy, ecology, efficiency, extension, economy, emotion, ease and empowerment. 

Bridgestone's contribution to the development of the Tyrewise scheme is directly in line with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment's value of ecology, which is a commitment to advancing sustainable tyre technologies and solutions that preserve the environment for future generations.

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