Bridgestone Tyres, the largest manufacturer of tyres and rubber products worldwide, has become the first industry partner to the Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme (LCRS), injecting additional momentum into the scheme.

The partnership agreement will enable the development of a series of annual low carbon awards and a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the business benefits for operators who join the scheme.

The LCRS was launched in 2010 as a means for the logistics sector to demonstrate the contribution it is making to achieving UK targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.  The scheme, which is managed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), is open to all operators of HGVs and vans to join.  Scheme participants provide data on fuel used by their fleets which is then aggregated by FTA to form a picture of the progress the sector is making.

Bridgestone Tyres is the first supplier to the logistics sector to back the scheme.  Its involvement highlights the role that tyre selection and management can play in supporting businesses’ efforts to make improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency.

As part of the partnership agreement, Bridgestone Tyres will sponsor an LCRS fuel efficiency award at FTA’s annual Logistics Carbon Reduction Conference in May 2013.  John Folliss, Commercial Sales and Marketing Director for Bridgestone Tyres said: “The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme provides a natural opportunity for Bridgestone Tyres to underline its commitment to improving the carbon footprint of the logistics sector as well as its safety record.  The tough commercial environment operators currently face means that getting tyre choice and management right can make a telling improvement to a carrier’s bottom line.  We are delighted to be able to support the LCRS, which is at the leading edge of thinking on how carbon emissions from the logistics sector can be reported and reduced.”

The Logistics Carbon Reduction Scheme was launched in July 2010 and currently has 64 participants, operating around 15% of the HGVs in the UK as well as a large number of vans. 

Left to right: John Folliss of Bridgestone Tyres and Theo de Pencier, FTA’s Chief Executive, at the Commercial Vehicle Show in April.