E :Environment
Environment Management
Our position
Our society today faces various issues such as the depletion of natural resources, climate change, and the destruction of ecosystems, and all business activities have an impact on the environment. It is also true that environment changes can pose a risk of preventing business continuation. For this reason, Yokohama Rubber works to minimize its environmental burdens in all of its business processes. As part of these efforts, the company conducts assessments with respect to the items of the "prevention of global warming," the "recycling and circulation of resources," "resource conservation," and "safety and comfort" in the design review process for new products, to provide customers with environment-friendly products.
To clearly express this way of thinking and these activities, we have formulated the "Yokohama Rubber Environmental Policy" to declare ourselves as a world-leading environment-friendly enterprise both inside and outside the company. In addition, specific actions that should be taken by employees are stipulated in the "Yokohama Rubber Group Action Guidelines".
Policy
Yokohama Rubber Basic Environmental Policy
Following the principle of dealing fairly with society and valuing harmony with the environment, we shall stand for “Leave a sound environment to future generations” for the Earth.
Ⅰ. Sustainable improvement of environmental management
Environmental management will be integrated with “economic” activities.
Ⅱ. Contribution to a decarbonized society and a recycling-oriented economy
All members of all departments will work to achieve carbon neutrality in all areas of activity.
Resource conservation and recycling will be promoted at all stages, from product planning and development to purchasing, production, sales, and disposal.
Furthermore, the use of renewable and recycled materials will be expanded.
Through these efforts, Yokohama Rubber will work to reduce its environmental impact and achieve a circular economy.
Ⅲ. Coexistence with Nature
Yokohama Rubber will promote initiatives aimed at achieving a nature-positive society and strengthen environmental risk management.
Yokohama Rubber Environmental Policy
Following the principle of dealing fairly with society and valuing harmony with the environment, we shall embody “Caring for the Future” for the global environment and assert our world-class strengths in technologies to protect it.
- Under leadership of top management, Yokohama Rubber will implement environmentally-conscious measures in all areas of its global activities, and will put this into practice across its entire organization.
- Yokohama Rubber will respect international norms, deepen communication with its stakeholders and will strive to make contributions to local communities and to society as a whole by promoting collaboration to working with the value chain.
- Yokohama Rubber will strengthen its environmental management system and will aim to achieve zero environmental risk by continually striving to help improve the environment by using approaches to mitigate its impact with chemical substance management, prevent environmental pollution, and reduce sensory nuisances.
- Yokohama Rubber will comply with all related laws, regulations, and agreements as well as endeavor to continually implement activities that help improve the environment.
- Yokohama Rubber will promote decarbonization measures, such as energy-saving activities and the introduction of renewable energy, and strive to conserve and recycle resources, and the increased use of renewable and recycled materials in order to realize a carbon-neutral and circular economy.
- Yokohama Rubber will strive to conserve biological diversity and use biological resources sustainably in its business activities, with the aim of realizing a world that coexists with nature.
- Yokohama Rubber will promote harmony with local communities as part of its commitment to work with and become a company that is trusted by local communities.
- Yokohama Rubber shall publish this policy and make it known to all.
Yokohama Rubber Group Action Guidelines (Excerpt)
We shall harmonize our activities with the global environment.
<Basic Stance of the Yokohama Rubber Group>
- As members of a corporate group with the highest levels of contribution to the environment, we shall take up the challenge of environment-related issues and help to build a sustainable society.
- We shall construct and operate mechanisms for companywide management in order to observe environmental laws and regulations in each host country and region.
<To practice our basic stance — our action>
- We shall observe all laws and regulations for prevention of air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination, etc.
- In accordance with laws and regulations, we shall control environment-burdening substances, strive to reduce environmental risks deriving from them, and exclude prohibited chemical substances from our product manufacturing processes.
- In all stages of our business activities, we shall eliminate the waste of resources and energy, and reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
- In all stages of our business activities, we shall promote the reduction of industrial waste derivation and final disposal volumes.
- In order to preserve biodiversity, we shall engage in various activities in accordance with our Guidelines on Biodiversity.
Message from a manager
Under the sustainability slogan "Caring for the Future," the Yokohama Rubber Group has established materiality (key issues) such as "Contribution to a Decarbonized Society and a Circular Economy" and "Living in Harmony with Nature."
Under “Contribution to a Decarbonized Society,” through design reviews, we create and deliver eco-conscious "environmentally friendly products" to our customers. Furthermore, we actively pursue greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions across our entire value chain based on our medium- to long-term targets.
Under “Contribution to a Circular Economy,” we are expanding the use of recycled materials such as reclaimed rubber and naturally derived renewable raw materials. In addition, we aim to reduce industrial waste and achieve zero emissions across all our production sites.
Under "Living in Harmony with Nature," recognizing that our business activities rely on nature's bounty, such as natural rubber and water, and impact biodiversity, we strive to reduce our negative impacts. By restoring and regenerating natural ecosystems, we actively contribute to a nature-positive world.
In collaboration with our group companies worldwide, we will promote these initiatives and, guided by "Caring for the Future," contribute to realizing a sustainable society that is mindful of the global environment.
Miyaji Jun
General Manager,
Head of Environmental Protection Promotion Department, Corporate Social Responsibility Division
Vision for FY 2026
- Sell only environment-friendly products.
- Achieve carbon neutrality of our own activities by 2050.
- Reduce GHG emissions from our own activities by 40% by 2030 (compared with FY2019 level).
- Promote the introduction of solar power generation systems and switching to using renewable energy-derived electricity.
- Promote the effective use of water resources in line with the characteristics of water risks.
- Develop biodiversity preservation activities at production sites.
- Achieve the goal of planting 1.5 million trees under the Yokohama Forever Forest Program by 2030.
- Promote ESG initiatives in the procurement of resources including natural rubber.
- Promote initiatives aimed at zero environmental risk.
Environmental Grievance Mechanisms
In the event of a caution, guidance, or recommendation received from a governing authority, we immediately take action in accordance with the emergency response standards specified in our corporate-wide guidelines.
Our environmental protection promotion department will provide advice on countermeasures while receiving advice from the legal division, and the entire company will join forces in the response.
In addition, we have a system of receiving environmental complaints from local residents living in the vicinity of our factories.
From external environment-related information received at each of our sites, we select ones involving environmental risks and opportunities, enter that information in the "external information acceptance ledger," and then determine whether the information constitutes an external complaint based on our corporate-wide guidelines.
If such information is identified as an external complaint, it will be handled in accordance with the emergency response standards of our corporate-wide guidelines.
For types of information that are not identified as an external complaint, an environmental management representative of the site will, as he or she deems necessary, contact the relevant department accordingly.
In the event of a caution, guidance, or recommendations received from a governing authority, an "external information receiving form" will be issued and simultaneously sent to our environmental protection promotion department, other Yokohama Rubber sites, and to the committee secretariats of our corporate tire production environmental task force and the MB (industrial products) production environmental task force, respectively.
At the completion of the response, an "external complaint response form" will be sent to our environmental protection promotion department.
The environmental management committee secretariat of the site will submit an answer using an "answer form" to the complainant, after reporting the entire process from the receipt of the information to the proposed answer to the complainant in writing to the site manager and gaining his or her approval.
We also have internal and external monitors to regularly check the effectiveness of the system.
External information and complaint handling flow
Environmental Risk Management
Based on our corporate emergency readiness and response guidelines, the environmental manager of each of our sites compiles accidents and emergencies that may have a significant impact on the environment into a List of Accidents and Emergencies and updates it every year.
In addition, in order to confirm the effectiveness of the response procedure, the environmental management representative of each site verifies the procedures for responding to the accidents and emergencies identified at the site, and provides necessary training in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
Should a case identified as an environmental accident or emergency have occurred, the responsible site will take preventive and emergency measures in accordance with our emergency readiness and response guidelines, and will report to the local governing authority in the event that environmental standards are exceeded.
Immediately after the occurrence of such environmental accident, the information will be conveyed to the relevant departments by means of a "Zero Report" in accordance with the emergency response management guidelines stipulated by the responsible department, and then, such information will be conveyed to the relevant department by using an Environmental (1) Accident, (2) Trouble, (3) Serious Near Miss, (4) Near Miss Report, as a general rule within 24 hours from the occurrence.
In FY2025, there were no external pollution incidents or environmental accidents (0 cases).
Regarding minor non-conformities, corrective actions have been fully implemented and completed (2 cases).
The environmental manager of the responsible site will follow up the status of corrective measures after the accident or emergency in order to ensure the prevention of a recurrence and the prevention of similar accidents, and the site manager will review the procedures after the accident or emergency.
The environmental protection promotion department will work on countermeasures and the prevention of recurrence from both professional and general corporate perspectives.
The environmental managers of other sites who have received the accident/emergency information will apply the same approach based on the information to prevent the occurrence of similar accidents at their respective sites.
In addition, a corporate-wide environmental management committee will investigate the cause of the accident or emergency to make sure that countermeasures are implemented, and will follow up on the implementation to prevent recurrence, and will make the investigation findings available for reference at the ISO 14001 requirements management review.
Environmental
Management System
Strengthening Global Environmental Management Based on ISO 14001
We are actively pursuing ISO 14001 certification at our production sites. We have achieved certification at 16 locations in Japan (8 Yokohama Rubber sites and 8 group company sites) and 18 group production sites overseas (a total of 35 locations). This brings the total number of certified sites to 51, representing a 100% certification rate for our production facilities.
In Japan, we achieved integrated ISO 14001 certification for Yokohama Rubber's production facilities and headquarters in 2012, and in 2018, we obtained integrated ISO 14001:2015 certification for a total of 16 locations including Yokohama Rubber and group companies. We continue to maintain high consistency across our 13 sites.
The scope applies to the premises of the following business activities:
Scope of Yokohama Rubber’s Multi-Site ISO 14001 Certification(in Japan)
| Associated Organization | Scope of Registration |
|---|---|
| Head Office・Hiratuska Factory 2-1, Oiwake, Hiratsuka city, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan |
・The controlling management for manufacturing design / development and selling various kinds of tires, industrial rubber products, aircraft components, sporting goods and any related items: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Also conduct any and all business incidental or related. ・The manufacture of industrial products (Belt, Hose, Pneumatic Rubber Fenders, etc.), Aerospace products (Fuel Cell, Metallic Duct, Oil Tank, Sandwich Panel, Lavatory Module, Water Tank, etc.), Sporting goods (Golf Club, Golf Ball, etc.), Rubber Parts of tire ・The basic research and design / development of the above products, automotive tires and industrial tires |
| Tokyo Office Shinagawa Intercity Tower C 13th floor, 15-3 Konan 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
・The sales of Replacement Tires and any related items. ・The sales of industrial, Civil engineering materials, Aerospace products, Hoes and Assembly parts etc. |
| Mie Plant 1038 Takabuku, Misono-Cho, Ise city, Mie Prefecture |
The manufacture of Automotive Tires |
| Mishima Plant 8-1 Minamifutsuka-machi, Mishima city, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture of Automotive Tires |
| Shinshiro Plant 1 Aza-Furuyashiki, Noda, Shinshiro city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan Shinshiro MinamiPlant 10-24 Aza-Ooiri, Hitokuwada, Shinshiro city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture of Automotive Tires |
| Ibaraki Plant 1 Hatori-Nishi, Omitama city, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture of Hose |
| Onomichi Plant 20 Higashi Onomichi, Onimichi city, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture of Off-Tire-Road Tires and Industrial Tires |
| Nagano Plant 9100 Kawano, Toyooka-mura, Shimoida-gun, Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
・The manufacture of Automotive power steering Hose Parts and Assembly Parts ・The manufacture of Hydraulic Hose Parts and Assembly Parts ・The assembly of Hydraulic Hose Assembly Parts ・The assembling of Coupling for Freezer and Air conditioner and Manufacture of Parts |
| Yokohama Tire Retread Co., Ltd. Head Office, Onomichi Plant 165-28 Chojabara 2-chome, Onomichi city, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture and Sales of Retread Tires |
| Saitama Plant 395 Kita-Magai, Miyoshi-machi, Iruma-Gun, Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
The manufacture and Sales of Retread Tires |
| Nagoya Plant 192-2 Minami-Yamanoue, Azabu-cho, Miyoshi city, Aichi Prefecture, Jpan |
The manufacture and Sales of Retread Tires |
| Hokkaido Plant 162-2 Aza-Uenoe, Tomakomai city, Hokkaido, Japan |
The manufacture and Sales of Retread Tires |
| Yokohama Mold Co., Ltd. 2227-1 Kamitamari, Omitama city, Ibaraki Prefecture, japan |
The manufacture and distribution of Tire Molds |
In addition, our tire production site in Thailand has obtained ISO 50001 certification for its energy management system.
Overseas group companies that have achieved ISO 14001 certification
Conducting a Comprehensive Environmental Audit
Additionally, domestic group sales companies conduct self-assessments based on the "CSR Environmental Management Guidelines," which are then verified and validated on-site by the Environmental Protection Promotion Office.
There were no indications of any violation of environmental legislation among all the auditing items in fiscal 2024.
Internal Audit
Integrated Internal Audit
In fiscal year 2024, internal audits were conducted in line with the 2015 edition of the ISO standard. The focus was on production and development departments, aiming to improve chemical management, compliance assessments, and environmental risk response levels. We also conducted a thorough audit of our social contribution activities and communications with stakeholders, including neighboring residents, from a sustainability perspective.
Overseas sites each hold their own individual certifications. We conduct internal audits at all overseas sites annually, implementing corrective actions for any identified areas of improvement.
External Audit
While no non-conformities were identified during the audit, we continue to strive for continuous improvement.
Both domestically and internationally, we undergo annual third-party audits and renewal audits every three years to maintain our certification.
Priority action items to be addressed
Considering the level of impact of business activities and the level of social interest, the following have been established as our priority action items to be addressed by the Yokohama Rubber Group.


