In 2017, the Yokohama Rubber Group celebrated its 100th
anniversary, which marked an important milestone in our
development. 2017 was also the final year of implementation
of the Group’s Grand Design 100 (GD100) medium-term
management plan, which was launched in fiscal 2006, and
which has enabled us to achieve steady growth and to put
ourselves firmly on the right track. Looking back over the
implementation of GD100, what I am particularly struck by is
how important it is to ensure that business operation
provides all stakeholders with a sense of security. In addition
to our high-quality manufacturing, the ESG (Environmental,
Social and corporate Governance) measures that we
implement in order to realize a fair, harmonious relationship
with society and with the natural environment also
constitute important foundations for the Yokohama Rubber Group, and it is vitally important
that we continue to implement ESG measures in the future as an integral part of core
business activities.
In light of the above, in 2017 we adopted “Caring for the Future” as our CSR slogan. This
phrase embodies our commitment to aiming for harmonious coexistence and mutual
prosperity with all of our stakeholders – including our customers, our suppliers, local
communities, and the global environment – as we move forward into the future. It is very
important that “Caring” be more than just a word, but rather something that is reflected in
practical, meaningful action. Given that we will be continuing with the global expansion of
our business operations, the stance that we adopt in relation to CSR will be the target of
ever-more rigorous scrutiny in the future.
What is especially important is that all Yokohama Rubber Group employees should think of
CSR as representing an extension of their day-to-day work activities. Today, the relationship
between the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – which are a major focus of
attention for the international community – and employees’ activities is becoming steadily
more important. We, all of us need to think about how we can contribute towards the
realization of the SDGs through our work, and to recognize on a deeper level that this is
something of direct personal relevance to each and every one of us. For example, there are
steadily rising expectations regarding the need for environmentally-friendly manufacturing;
we need to view this as more than just responding to customers’ needs, but rather as a sign
of major changes to come, and we need to recognize the importance of getting serious
about tackling the problems affecting the global environment.
By implementing the types of actions outlined above, we will be raising awareness
throughout the Yokohama Rubber Group and making steady forward progress, so that the
Group can continue to enjoy the trust of society as a whole and so that we can achieve a
further 100 years of continued growth.
Tadanobu Nagumo
Chairman and Representative Member of the Board