Sustainability
An easy-to-understand introduction to Yokohama Rubber for individual investors.
We are strengthening our sustainability efforts in order to "become a company that contributes to the earth and earns the unwavering trust of society."
Our ESG-related activities have been highly evaluated by third-party entities
●Selected as constituent stock in ESG stock indices
Yokohama Rubber has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a global ESG stock index, for 21 straight years, the FTSE Blossom Japan Index for nine straight years, and the FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index for four straight years.
●Awarded “Prime” status by major ESG corporate rating agency
Yokohama Rubber received “Prime” status in the ESG corporate ratings by ISS ESG, the responsible investment arm of Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (headquarters in USA), one of the world’s leading proxy advisory firms.
Highly evaluated for Diversity & Inclusion initiatives
Yokohama Rubber received the highest rating of "Gold" in the PRIDE Index 2025, an index that evaluates the efforts of companies and organizations in Japan to create an inclusive environment for sexual and gender minorities, such as LGBTQ+. We also have received the highest "Best Workplace" rating in the D&I AWARD 2025, Japan's largest award that evaluates companies’ efforts to promote diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace. We have received the highest ratings from both organizations for two consecutive years.
Actively participating in climate change and biodiversity initiatives
In 2022, Yokohama Rubber announced its support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and in 2023 the Company joined the TNFD Forum, a global gathering of institutions that are aligned with the mission and principles of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). We are proactively disclosing information related to our efforts to address climate change and biodiversity as we seek to contribute to a sustainable society while achieving sustainable corporate growth. We also have been an active participant in Japan’s 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity since 2023. This alliance is committed to working toward the realization of a nature-positive world by promoting efforts to achieve “30by30,” an international goal of conserving and protecting more than 30% of land and sea areas by 2030. As part of this initiative, Yokohama Rubber is promoting biodiversity conservation efforts within its own production sites, and five sites—our Ibaraki Plant, Mie Plant, Onomichi Plant, Hiratsuka Factory, and Shinshiro Plant—have been certified as "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites" by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (as of March 2026).
Contributing to the procurement of sustainable natural rubber
The Yokohama Rubber Group is a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). In addition, in line with our own “Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber,” we support natural rubber farmers in cooperation with Thailand's Natural Rubber Corporation, participate in joint research with universities and in various international research projects conduct joint research with universities, and conduct supplier exchange meetings.
Survey of natural rubber plantation in Surat Thani, Thailand
Examples of our activities/efforts
●Developing synthetic rubber using biomass
As part of our efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, we are participating in an industry-academia collaboration developing a technology to produce butadiene and isoprene, the core raw materials used in synthetic rubber, from biomass rather than petroleum. In 2024, we entered into an agreement with Zeon Corporation to establish a bench facility at Zeon’s Tokuyama Plant (in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable materials with high efficiency. Yokohama Rubber will then develop prototype tires using the butadiene rubber and conduct driving tests to collect data needed for a more large-scale demonstration of the technology.
Yokohama Landmarks in Deriving Synthetic Rubber from Biomass.
●Developing racing tires made from sustainable materials
Yokohama Rubber has been supplying racing tires made from renewable and recycled raw materials as the control tires for the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship series since 2023. In 2025, we raised the ratio of these materials used in racing tires to around 46%. We are developing tires made from such natural materials as rice husks and naturally derived oil, as well as recycled rubber, as we aim to develop tires that deliver enhanced driving performance while contributing to sustainability.
Racing tires
●Promoting tree-planting activities around the world
Under the Yokohama Forever Forest Activities initiative launched in 2007, we had planted trees at 14 sites in Japan and 21 sites in 8 countries overseas as of the end of 2024. We are continuing to promote these activities as we aim to achieve our goal of either planting or providing saplings for a total of 1.5 million trees by 2030.
Scenes from our tree-planting festivals
●Fund to support social contribution and disaster recovery activities established by Yokohama Rubber employees
The YOKOHAMA Magokoro (Sincere Heart) Fund was established in 2016 to fund social contribution activities through voluntary contributions from Yokohama Rubber employees. In addition to donations to support disaster relief efforts, the fund has made contributions to organizations involved in environmental protection activities and support for needy children.
YOKOHAMA Magokoro Fund mechanism
