A UVM blog Rural Livelihoods in a Globalized World

The Bridgestone Corporation is a multinational truck and auto parts manufacturer that has its roots in Japan. Since their conception in 1931, they have grown to sell products in over 150 countries and establish manufacturing plants in about 140 countries and by doing so, claimed the title of world’s largest tire company. These plants can be categorized by tire plants, raw materials plants, and diversified products plants. A universal thread between all of their locations is the mission of “Serving Society with Superior Quality”. 

The corporation’s operation in Costa Rica is based in San Jose and is focused on tire production. It was established in 1967 as one of the first transnational corporations in the country. Their goal was to serve the market of Central America with quality tire products. They serve a total of 21 markets in Central America and the Caribbean byway of 100 distributors and more than 800 points of sale.  In the 50 plus years of production, the Costa Rica Plant has produced nearly 67 million tires. Bridgestone is also a significant employer for people in the area. They provide 920 people with jobs that are directly involved with the manufacturing process, indirectly employ over 3,000 people through sub-contracting and supply chain positions, and have a Share Service Center in Costa Rica that employs about 230 people. 

Bridgestone Coroportation’s presence in Costa Rica is significant and has impacted aspects of the area’s economy, environment, and social dynamic. The overall boost to the economy through job creation, product supply, exports to the region, and the security of its global network has been positive.

As far as the environmental impacts of the tire manufacturing plant, there are plenty of risks. Bridgestone actively works to minimize their environmental impact by focusing on the development of their Corporate Social Responsibility programs. One of these has been the tire reclamation program where they have managed to collect 10 thousand waste tires and build a total of 34 “B-Happy” parks from the recycled tires. They have also made a commitment to lower their emissions as a production facility. The installation of a biomass boiler in the plant has reduced carbon emissions by 55% in the last two years. Other steps include  reclysing levels have also reached 93% and a reduction in water consumption by 1% each year. 

In my search for negative impacts that Bridgestone Corporation has had in Costa Rica, I surprisingly found very little. I can speculate though that local businesses in the same industry have potentially suffered due to the prominence and success of the corporation. 

To encapsulate the overall impact that Bridgestone Corporation has had on the country of Costa Rica, I have included a statement from Vice President of Costa Rica Ana Helena Chacón Echeverría. 

“We thank Bridgestone for trusting us and maintaining its operations in our country throughout the decades. This inspires us to work harder and strengthen our commitment to consolidate the stability and investment climates. In addition, we continue to invest in building capacities and the integral development of the population to meet market demands,” she said. 

I would argue that the presence of Bridgestone Corporation in Costa Rica aligns with the framework of  neoliberalism. It is a private business that is not controlled or overly influenced by the government. It thrives in a free-market where their products are being produced and sold in efficient and productive ways. 

Sources

• /* inline tdc_css att *//* portrait */@media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1018px){.tdi_70{margin-top:1px !important;}}/* phone */@media (max-width: 767px){.tdi_70{margin-top:1px !important;}}/* custom css */.tdb-post-meta{ margin-bo, Zúñiga, A., By, Zúñiga, A., .tdb-Author-Photo, /* C. C. */.tdb-A.-B., 6, F., 5, F., 4, F., 30, J., & 31, J. (2021, August 4). Firestone announces Costa Rica expansion. The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://ticotimes.net/2021/08/04/firestone-announces-costa-rica-expansion 

• Bridgestone Costa Rica grows and creates jobs. Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2016/bridgestone-costa-rica-grows-and-creates-jobs 
• Bridgestone Costa Rica celebrates 50 years of Business Leadership and Social Investment. Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017/bridgestone-costa-rica-celebrates-50-years-of-business-leadershi 

• Staff, T. N. (2019, March 18). Bridgestone improves energy efficiency in its Costa Rica tire plant. Traction News. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from http://www.tractionnews.com/bridgestone-improves-energy-efficiency-costa-rica-tire-plant/ 

• Bridgestone Logo. (n.d.). photograph. 
• Bridgestone Tires. (n.d.). carlogos.com. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.carlogos.org/reviews/largest-tire-manufacturers.html. 
• B-Happy Park. (n.d.). Bridgestone Americas. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017/bridgestone-and-hylsa-distribuitor-built-new-playground-made-of-waste-tires-in-dominican-republic. 
• 50 Year anniversary. (n.d.). Bridgestone Americas. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.bridgestoneamericas.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017/bridgestone-costa-rica-celebrates-50-years-of-business-leadershi. 

I recently had the opportunity to spend time on the lush and culturally abundant island of Puerto Rico. The small country has endured centuries of Spanish colonization, and to this day, is still not an independent nation. Despite the brief period of autonomy that Puerto Rico held in the late 1800’s, victory on behalf of the United States in the Spanish American War put an end to it. The Treaty of Paris in 1898 granted the US control over the island and has remained a provincial state since then. During my time there, I recognized the lasting impact that Spanish Colonization and current US power have on the island while simultaneously experiencing their cultural roots. 

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and therefore the US has control over much of the nation’s function including the penal system, transportation, infrastructure, trade, and education. Perhaps the most obvious manifestation of US presence on the island that I experienced is their currency. I was able to use the United States Dollar at every establishment. The most striking example was when I was able to use my credit cards on the island with no fees or penalties, which is something I learned the hard way is not typical when leaving the country. 

Even with commonwealth status, Puerto Rico has governed themselves for decades. In 1950, US President Harry Truman signed Public Act 600 and gave the island an opportunity to draft a constitution of their own. This gave PR autonomy over all local affairs and a thread of independence that they had been without for hundreds of years. This dynamic became apparent to me during my trip specifically in regard to COVID-19 protocols that were drastically different from what I was used to in the US. Masks were a social expectation even when walking on the street, vaccination cards were checked when entering coffee shops, and curfews were spontaneously put into place by the governor halfway through my trip. 

Over one hundred years since Spanish colonizers ceded the Caribbean island, it is evident that they were there. The primary motive of Spanish colonization in Puerto Rico was to turn the island into a military outpost. Given its position, it was seen as the entrance to the Caribbean and parts of South America and therefore a valuable asset to the Spanish Military. This is most evident in Old San Juan, where numerous forts connected by a towering stone wall around the city are still standing. The forts and militaristic focus were successful in protecting the island from numerous attempts of conquest by the Netherlands, France, and Britain. The unique architecture of these forts, especially the garitas, are significant symbols of Spanish occupation that have become commonly associated with the island’s imagery. 

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The wall itself, standing 45 feet at its highest, is itself a constant reminder of Spanish colonization. Its impact beyond militaristic protection can be seen in the Old San Juan neighborhood of La Perla. Recently put on the map by Puerto Rican artists byway of their global hit song Despacito, the small community of now just 300 people has consistently faced incomparable oppression and segregation. It was orginially made to house slaves that were brought over from Africa in the 16th century to fufill labor demands for later elaboatred on commodity porudction. The wall acted as an impenetrable divide between groups of people on the island and even now, is perceived as a drug ridden and gang controlled slum that can only be accessed through three points in the wall. 

In addition to the militaristic transformation during Spanish Occupation, the Spanish established a sophisticated agricultural system on the island. The main commodities that were produced for export were cattle, sugarcane, tobacco, ginger and coffee. As these sectors of production grew, so did the need for labor. The Spanish satisfied this need by importing slaves. To quantify this, the number of slaves in PR increased from 1,500 in 1530 to 15,000 by 1550. 

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Spain maintained power in their colony primarily through military force and decree. As far as governing the population of the island, Capitan Generals of the military dictated “leyes especiales”, or extraordinary decrees. In terms of maintaining power on the island in the face of interested other European nations, the military was successfully used. Exports of agricultural goods and cheap labor was how the economy was sustained throughout the colonial period. 

There is not much justification to the colonization of Puerto Rico apart from the fact that Spain was one of the largest colonizing nations in the world. Expanding their territory and power was the main motivation. Chrisopher Columbus’s arrival in 1493 began Spain’s exploitation of the country’s location and arable land. It is probable that they saw value in their presence because of the idea that they were protecting the western islands of the Caribbean from other colonizing nations. Spain was rather neglectful to the people of PR though because of the island’s lack of mineral richness. 

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Perhaps the “good” that was brought to the island by the Spanish, though not intentional, is the culture that was created by their presence. Mixed bloodlines of African, Spanish, and indegenious Taíno and Carib Indians resulted in an incredibly dynamic and diverse population with a unique culture. As a tourist in 2021, I was able to acknowledge the roots of the different demonstrations of religion, architecture, food, music, and language I witnessed. 

Sources

• Dhara. (2020, May 2). A guide to visiting El Morro, the historic fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico (+ photos and tips!). It’s Not About the Miles. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://notaboutthemiles.com/guide-to-visiting-el-morro-san-juan/ 
• History. Discover Puerto Rico. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/island/history#!grid~~~random~1 
• History.com Editors. (2017, September 28). Puerto Rico. History.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/puerto-rico-history 
• Photos by me except for the flags, which is cited above

Want a piece of the Osa? Here are some products you can find from the community.

Sacred Nature: Bespoke Jewelry

Sacred Nature is a local company run by Barabara and Luis Carlos, a couple living in the Osa Peninsula. The products they produce are handmade pieces of jewelry created from collected and salvaged from surrounding areas that are too delicate to be used in any other industry. Among them are scraps of metal, wood, feathers, seeds, and precious stones. Each is unique and is designed to represent “the symbiotic relationship between metal and wood, geometric and organic, feminine and masculine. Methods of manual creation include fretwork, carving, chiseling, and hammering.  

Value is added to these products through the sustainable and creative framework of the operation as well as the opportunity to customize the product. Bespoke Jewelry is sold at various locations, both locally and online. The Carlos partnership is at the Mercado Verde Farmers Market on the Osa to sell their product. Supplemenlly, they utilize Facebook and Instagram to market their digital storefront.

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Cocoa Ethica: Ultra Premium Chocolate

Cocoa Ethics is a well established cocoa processing business on the Osa that pioneers methods of bean fermentation and curing of cocoa pods to produce ultra-premium chocolate products. Their goal is to honor the “wondrous and potentially endless variation of discoverable flavors incubated within the cocoa genome”. Since 2012, their work has created a substantial local network of farmers, processors, and transporters to operate. Cocoa Ethica aims to put Osa chocolate on the map through sustainable farming and business practices.

The value of their chocolate products comes from their partnerships, unique methods of production, and the quality of their goods. The ultimate goal is to promote the belief that “chocolate produced from The Osa Peninsula or “Osa” chocolate will be renowned as the “Champagne” of Chocolate.” Cocoa Ethica’s ultra premium chocolate is sold at Mercado Verde, in stores throughout Costa Rica, and on their expansive website to reach locations abroad. 

Arte Siahua: Coconut Shell Art

The tropical climate of the Osa Peninsula fosters abundant coconuts and therefore, opportunities for their use in product creation. Arte Siahu is another local business that uses coconuts as the foundation of their work. They create unique and personal art on the shells of coconuts and jicaro. Their interest lies in projecting rustic and abstract art on natural objects to preserve their essence, which inherently adds value to each of their products. Arte Siahu draws inspiration from the flora and fauna of the Osa’s Corcovado National Park to shape the 100% renewable material into artful souvenirs. Special design  requests accepted and actualized for consumers for “a little piece of the Osa”. The coconut shell art is marketed on their instagram and facebook accounts and sold at local storefronts on the Osa.

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Osa Natural: Coconut Oil Products

Osa Natural is a local Osa company that utilizes native plants such as coconuts to create sustainable products. They specialize in coconut oil products and take pride in their method of production. It takes an average of 100 coconuts to make 1 gallon of hand pressed organic coconut oil. To ensure sustainability of the fruit, Osa Natural sources all of their supply from local vendors to support their 20 gallon a week use. Products include shampoo, conditioner, sunblock, and soap. Value is added to all of their products by ensuring quality, low impact production, and benefits from use. All of their products are sold at Mercado Verde and on their Etsy shop, a digital platform for small businesses. 

La Eco-granja Productos Orgánicos de Osa:  Food & Beverage Company

La Eco-granja Productos Organicos de Osa is a food and beverage company based on the Osa Peninsula that supplies the area with organic food products. Their specialty is in chickens and eggs that they sell at an Osa farmers market, Mercado Verde.  Their chickens are raised on pasture, not injected, and are raised in an overall healthy environment. To add value to an already invaluable product, they are committed to conscientious packaging that aligns with their sustainable product creation. Handmade, original unique eco farm packaging that is 100% biodegradable is their “traditional way”. La Eco-granja is also a member of Ecological Farming Association which advocates for the healing powers of organically produced produce. This, along with their facebook page, is how they market their business and sell or export their products.

Sources

• Bespoke jewelry. Sacred Nature. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.sacrednat.com/ 
• Single Estate Cocoa Bean Processing & creators of “the whole cacao”. cocoa ethika. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.cocoaethika.com/ 
• Osa Peninsula local products – the land of entrepreneurs. Osa Tourism. (2022, January 17). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.osatourism.com/the-osa-market-place/ 
• Organic produce: The solution to our chronic disease epidemic? Organic Produce: The Solution to Our Chronic Disease Epidemic? | Ecological Farming Association. (2018, October 19). Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://eco-farm.org/conference/2019/session/organic-produce-solution-our-chronic-disease-epidemic