This report discusses labor and environmental sustainability issues at the Firestone Rubber Plantation in Liberia, which is...a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company...

The research...involved an assessment of any ongoing concerns relating to: 1) employees’ rights, including violations of labor laws or international norms,2 and/or undermining the position of trade union workers; and 2) environmental problems, especially regarding pollution of local fresh water resources. The research scope also included understanding steps that Firestone Liberia has taken to respond to any ongoing labor or environmental issues...The main findings of this report center on the issues around labor rights and environmental problems, and were confirmed through interviews with a diverse set of stakeholders and supported by desk research...

Bridgestone says that they had informed all employees that the pension system was going to be discontinued as soon as it was ascertained that NASSCORP was solvent and would be able to provide pensions to Firestone Liberia workers...They also reported that most of the waste from the Firestone Liberia’s plant is dumped in the middle of the night...which they say goes into the Farmington River. Firestone denies this dumping takes place...With regard to polluting the Farmington River, Bridgestone stated publicly in 2008 that Firestone Liberia had built a state-of-the-art water treatment facility...Firestone confirms they are installing a new water treatment system to state-of-the-art levels and using best practices to treat their effluent discharge...

According to Bridgestone, Firestone Liberia tries hard to engage with local communities...Firestone Liberia says that it has multiple people engaged to do community outreach and that these employees make contact approximately once a month with any given community...

Recommendations...Firestone/Bridgestone...should, in conjunction with local civil society and trade unions, engage an independent auditor to perform a comprehensive, independent social and environmental assessment of Firestone’s Liberia’s operations. The results of this assessment should be made publicly available...