Merityre Southfields achieves Bridgestone e-Centre status

Merityre Southfields in the UK has achieved Bridgestone’s e-Centre status following a rigorous assessment process, with the tyre retailer being accredited for its commitment to environmental responsibility, staff wellbeing, and the customer experience.

Bridgestone says its e-Centre Excellence Programme reflects its vision for the future of mobility, ensuring that tyre retailers adopt best practices while delivering a premium service to motorists.

The programme was developed in collaboration with Ernst & Young, who identified future ESG requirements for tyre retailers.

The Southfields depot earned the sought-after status after successfully completing an extensive assessment based on 80 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, along with benchmarks for customer experience and operational excellence.

As part of its transformation into an e-Centre, Merityre Southfields implemented a wide range of sustainability and employee wellbeing initiatives, setting a strong example for other businesses in the industry to follow. These include:

• Upgrading the entire site with energy-efficient LED lighting and motion sensors to minimise unnecessary energy use
• Ensuring over 95 per cent of waste tyres are collected and processed by certified recyclers, promoting responsible disposal and a circular economy
• Tracking and working to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions, including a transition to electric vehicles, installation of EV charging points, and exploration of solar panel installation
• Developing a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) policy to foster a more inclusive working environment

Gresia Cabrera, Bridgestone business development manager and project lead for the e-Centre programme, said: “Merityre are one of the most progressive retail networks, setting the standard for automotive retail excellence in a number of ways, so it comes as no surprise to see their Southfields depot gaining our e-Centre award.

“The team continues to demonstrate an exceptional commitment to sustainability, customer care and employee development, going above and beyond the levels required to earn our accreditation. Their work is helping to shape a new benchmark for what the future of tyre retail should look like.”

Dene Arnold, director at Merityre, added: “We’re proud to have earned Bridgestone’s e-Centre status, which is the culmination of a great deal of hard work. We’ve worked hard to embed a sustainable way of thinking into everything we do. This ranges from waste management to customer service, and from reducing emissions to looking after our people. This accreditation shows how far we’ve come and encourages us to keep pushing forward.”

Cabrera added: “The Bridgestone e-Centre model is about more than tyres; it’s about reimagining what it means to be a modern mobility solutions provider. From staff wellbeing to environmental responsibility, Merityre Southfields has fully embraced our vision and is helping lead the way for the entire industry.”