Bridgestone India to Support 1,00,000 Rubber Farmers in Kerala
· Partnership with Solidaridad Aims to Elevate Livelihoods of Rubber Farmers
· This project is intended to be sustainable, scalable and replicable
Bridgestone India, part of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions, today announced a commitment to adopt and support one lakh smallholder rubber farmers in Idukki and Kottayam districts in Kerala. In collaboration with the Netherlands-based NGO Solidaridad, Bridgestone India launched "UNNATI – a Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative," a visionary project aimed at driving positive change within the rubber industry. The initiative aims to promote a sustainable supply chain of natural rubber while enhancing the livelihoods of 5,000 smallholder rubber farmers. Moreover, it seeks to build capacities for 95,000 smallholder farmers in better rubber cultivation over a span of 4.5 years, commencing from 1st October 2022. The program will involve various elements, including sustainable practices, community development, capacity building and Research and development.
This unprecedented move underscores Bridgestone's commitment to sustainable sourcing and community development, while also fostering a positive impact on the livelihoods of local rubber farmers.
"We are excited to partner with the smallholder farmers to facilitate mutual learning that would help elevate their practices, enhance the quality of rubber production, thereby improving livelihoods and contributing to the growth of the local economy. This initiative is born from our commitment to the environment and communities we serve, and we look forward to further seeing the improvement it brings." said Stefano Sanchini, Managing Director Bridgestone India.
The project is aligned with the guidelines of Rubber Board of India’s essential topics such as field establishment, nutrient management, pest and disease control, latex harvest technology, wastewater management, and occupational health and safety.
The implementation of Project Unnati will be spearheaded by Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC), a registered not-for-profit trust with a mission to eliminate poverty through sustainable production practices. "We are excited to partner with Bridgestone India on this transformative initiative," Through our collaborative efforts, we aim to build capacities, improve livelihoods, and create lasting positive impact for rubber farmers in Kerala, said Monica Khanna, Country Manager, India SREC. Solidaridad.”
Media information: Monika Jain | 8976490166 | monika@integral-india.in
About Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa
Bridgestone in Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (Bridgestone EMIA) is the regional Strategic Business Unit of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tyres and sustainable mobility solutions.
Headquartered in Zaventem (Belgium), Bridgestone EMIA employs more than 20,000 people and conducts business in 40 countries across the region.
Bridgestone offers a diverse portfolio of premium tyres, tyre technologies and advanced mobility solutions. The company’s vision is to provide social and customer value as a sustainable solutions company. The Bridgestone E8 Commitment is a broad, global corporate commitment that clearly defines the value the company is promising to deliver to society, our customers and future generations in eight focus areas; Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease and Empowerment. These provide a compass to guide strategic priorities, decision making and actions throughout every area of the business.
For more information about Bridgestone in EMIA, please visit www.bridgestone-emia.com and press.bridgestone-emia.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Bridgestone India:
Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd started its operations in 1996. In March 1998 with the setup of its manufacturing facility in Kheda, Madhya Pradesh, Bridgestone achieved its objective of running Indian manufactured Bridgestone tyres on Indian Roads. It expanded its facilities by setting up one more facility in Chakan, Pune in 2013. In a short stint of more than 20 years, Bridgestone India Pvt. Ltd has become one of the leading tyre companies in both the OEM & Replacement market.
About Solidaridad
Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC). SREC is a registered not-for-profit trust with its head office in New Delhi. The SREC is a part of the Global Solidaridad Network (an international civil society organization) and focuses on eliminating poverty in all forms. It is a major international driver of sustainable and fair production and consumption practices in different agri-food sectors like Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Fruit & Vegetables, Cotton, Textiles, Gold & Industrial Minerals, Soy, Palm Oil, Sugarcane, Leather, Castor, Dairy, Aquaculture et al. Solidaridad interventions seeks to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations to social, environmental, and economic shocks. SREC works across 10 states in India with close to 250 experts operating from different offices. It serves as a catalyst for better food production, a safe workplace, access to clean water, and a better standard of living by working together with small farmers, workers, local authorities, the private sector, and research organizations.