Bridgestone launches its most eco-friendly tires yet

Phillip Gan of Bridgestone plants a tree at the La Mesa Eco Park during Ecopia's press launch recently

The relationship between a tire company and an environmental advocacy might not be too obvious at first glance. But in a world where living green is turning out to be a must rather than an option, the link becomes much clearer.

Members of the media participate in the tree-planting activity

In a bid to become environment conscious even--or especially--while driving, having a set of tires that delivers the best of both worlds—by being environmentally safe without compromising performance and dependability—is the way to go.

This is why Bridgestone launched Ecopia, the tire company’s latest next-generation product that promises to lessen the adverse impact of motoring on the environment. Ecopia’s key feature is its low rolling resistance, achieved by the use of a new compound that reduces the generation of friction and heat. This effectively lowers the rolling resistance, resulting in better fuel efficiency.

“Over the years, Bridgestone has been driven by the desire to bring innovative technology in line with our environmental vision,” said Mark Tagle, EVP-GM of Philippine Allied Enterprises Corporation (PAEC), the official distributor of Bridgestone in the country.

Another stand-out feature of Ecopia is its state-of-the-art shape that controls tie deformation during driving, which also results in lower gas consumption and lower carbon dioxide emission.

Tagle cited a study conducted by the Japanese Automobile Transport Technology Association, which found Ecopia to deliver an average of 3.1 percent better fuel efficiency.

Ecopia is a fusion of the words “ecology” and “utopia.” In a bid to further solidify its commitment to environmental safety and protection, Bridgestone held its Ecopia launch at the La Mesa Eco Park recently, attended by members of the media and industry friends.

“We, at Bridgestone, believe that these small steps toward environmental safety matters in the long run. We choose to be part of the solution and not a contributor to the problem,” said Phillip Gan, PAEC’s marketing manager.

During the event, PAEC announced its commitment to sponsor the care and maintenance of Manila’s major water source by sponsoring one hectare of the La Mesa Watershed.

Tagle said: “Bridgestone will continuously promote more sustainable solutions in the industry in all aspects—production, services, and operations. More than these, we affirm our commitment to promote the importance of nature by putting significant amount of time and effort into projects that help preserve and recover nature.”

*** This article has been slightly edited for TWIST. You can read the original version, which was published on the Motoring section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 2, 2012, by clicking here. Thanks! :) ***

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