Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia, LLC (YTMV)

Business activities

Production of tires for passenger cars and light trucks

Total site area

243,000m2

Number of employees

620 (as of January 1, 2024)

Location

1500 Indiana Street, Salem, VA 24153

Contact for consultation and complaints

Tel: +1-800-433-9851 (Toll free number, available only in the United States)
Director, EHS. Neil Dalton
e-mail: Neil.Dalton@yokohamatire.com

Message from the President

Osamu Zushi

For fiscal 2024, Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Virginia (YTMV) continued to dedicate substantial efforts in order to cultivate a workplace that prioritizes the well-being, development, and vitality of its employees. The foundation of our operations at YTMV revolves around ensuring the safety and health of every individual who enters our doors each and every day.

Our fundamental CSR value is built upon sustainable operations, employee involvement, and environmental stewardship. Policies and procedures developed in compliance with the ISO 14001:2015 standard provides a foundation and overall guideline for regulatory compliance and continual improvement.

YTMV continues to stay committed to energy conservation and to the reduction of carbon emissions in conjunction with the YRC carbon reduction initiatives for 2030 and 2050.

As we progress into the future, YTMV will continue to produce a quality product while providing a safe work environment for employees, minimal impact to the environment, and preservation of natural resources.

Organizational Governance

Policies for fiscal 2024

For fiscal 2024, the slogan of our action plan was “Promotion of Improvement, Gather the Facts, Analyze Thoroughly, Find Root Cause – Take Action with Speed”.
Pursuing greatness in organization means, we must have timely communication and follow the basics.These are foundational roots that must be conducted daily and pursued by all elements of business to achieve the highest levels of success.
In 2025, we shall continue to build on our relationships both internally within the organization and externally with our business partners and community in which we exist. Working to create excellence in “wholeness” will continue to strengthen the goals of success.

Human Rights

New Hire Plant Tour

All employees receive education and training on the Yokohama Rubber Action Guidelines that stipulate the protection of human rights in order to prevent unethical behavior and harassment.
Computer Based Learning Lessons (CB2L’s) are used to this end.
Lessons are composed of multiple slides that consist of mini quizzes that explain the policy, and a test on the level of understanding is conducted at the end of each session.
All employees are required to pass tests with a score of 80 or higher.
YTMV maintains an “open door” policy with respect to all employees.
Internal complaint handling procedures have been established and made as easy to use as possible; where employees feel that they have been treated unfairly in the workplace, we provide opportunities for them to raise their concerns and have them resolved.
In addition, we have reached agreement with our union regarding employment contracts that are free from discrimination with respect to the issues of race, religion, skin color, gender, age, and nationality, as stipulated in both state and federal law.

Labor Practices

Equal employment opportunity

YTMV is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for people who are interested in working for the company. We implement an equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy with respect to all terms and conditions of employment.
The Human Resources Department conducted training for all managers and employees regarding employment in accordance with the requirements of employment legislation.
The training addressed issues including the areas to which equal opportunity legislation applies (including race, gender, religious beliefs, age, etc.), as well as physical and mental disability, and the utilization of company provided accommodation, etc. The training was successful in strengthening employees’ understanding of such issues.
We will listen to employees’ views regarding ideas for improving employment interviews, to strengthen the relationship between the company and its employees.

Safety and health

Safety has always been and always will be our top priority at YTMV! In fiscal 2024, positive results were reflected through active initiatives that included, but not limited to:

In addition to the types of education and training mentioned, concerning both YTMV’s business units and all the various processes in which they engage, we are always promoting improvements with respect to our equipment and facilities, all of which have been equipped with protective and safety devices. Concerning the personal protective equipment that is issued to all employees, it is always kept in a ready state so that it can be used immediately. Additionally, both its wearing and usage is actively promoted and managed. Whereby accidents occur, thorough investigations are conducted, and various forms of corrective actions are suggested and then executed, with subsequent follow-ups undertaken.
More than anything else, it is important to us that our employees are able to return home safely after completing their work.

Emergency response

Emergency response members are available 24 hours a day in order to respond to various medical emergencies that may occur in the workplace. The company has sustained a well-organized and highly-skilled emergency rescue team with 34 active team members. All members are fully trained to respond to a variety of situations including rescues from narrow spaces and heights with 15 of the members of the Rescue Squad achieving the additional certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Regular drills for responding to fires and emergencies are conducted throughout the year as part of raising overall awareness among all employees.
During the team training drills in April, the Rescue Squad was alerted to an actual emergency at a homeowner’s address next to the training area. They reacted as they have been trained, performed CPR, and saved a life.

Rescue Squad

Life Saving Training

The Environment

Recycling of waste

YTMV continues to maintain an established system for recycling throughout the facility in an effort to capture paper, aluminum cans, bottles, and cardboard in all common areas.
In recent years, YTMV has been able to expand recycling of materials such as discarded super sacks and label backing. Going forward in 2025, YTMV will continue to focus on maintaining secondary outlets for recyclable materials due to the growing volatility in the recycling market. Having reliable outlets helps YTMV maintain its focus on zero waste to landfill.

YOKOHAMA Forever Forest Activities

In 2024, in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation, YTMV donated another 1000 longleaf and shortleaf pine trees in Georgia. These trees will be planted across a mix of public and private lands by utilizing reforestation and urban forestry to solve issues of climate change, community and biodiversity.

Shortleaf Pine Seedlings

Environmental data

Move the screen to the left or right to see the table information

Category FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024
Waste generated (t) 1,369 1,454 1,286 1,027 869
Proportion sent to landfill (%) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Landfill waste (t) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Energy use
(oil equivalent: kl)
Electric power 13,969 16,133 15,434 14,145 12,396
Fuel 6,884 8,208 8,089 7,712 7,409
Total 20,853 24,341 23,523 21,856 19,805
Greenhouse gas emissions (1,000t-CO2) 39.9 58.5 38.8 47.4 51.4
Water usage (1,000m3) 116.7 137.6 134.4 121.7 158.2

Waste Reduction: YTMV continues to strive and reduce the amount of waste generated from all streams. Scrap production waste is a daily focused item for all departments and with the help and support of our Maintenance and Engineering teams, has continued to decrease.

Landfill Waste: YTMV continues to dispose of all waste streams through non-landfill sites. Methods utilized consist of recycling with local vendors, fuel blending reuse options along with waste-to-energy treatment facilities. These facilities are audited yearly to ensure proper disposal of waste by YTMV standards.

GHG Emissions: Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated based on the Calculation and Reporting Manual for Greenhouse Gas Emissions jointly published by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan and has been based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative.

Water Usage: YTMV continues to evaluate water usage on a daily basis and reacts accordingly when usage becomes abnormal. In fiscal 2024, preventative management projects on cooling towers and water lines were initiated and will continue into fiscal 2025.

Wastewater management

Sampling equipment purchased for voluntary sampling

YTMV thoroughly enforces wastewater management, and continues to comply with wastewater regulatory standards year after year. YTMV monitors wastewater flow daily and conducts regular inspections at wastewater source locations to adequately maintain compliance with the standards. Voluntary sampling is also conducted on a monthly basis.

Biodiversity conservation activities

White-tailed deer

YTMV continues to improve our focus on biodiversity activities with a continued goal of making a positive contribution toward the ecosystems and the environment in the vicinity of the plant. Past contributions included two biodiversity protection projects in 2015 but were suspended in FY2020. Although the Bluebird Conservation Activity was suspended, YTMV still maintains the habitat for multiple bird species and continues to monitor the success of the bluebird houses still in existence.
The population of the white-tailed deer continue to grow and flourish around the natural habitat of the Salem facility. Having the herd grow is another example of how the industry and wildlife can coexist.

Bluebird conservation activities

Beginning in 2015, YTMV implemented a blue bird trail consisting of five nest boxes throughout the property with the intent to help protect the breeding of the Sialia sialis (Eastern bluebirds). Each year, the nest boxes are maintained and monitored to continue the growth of our native blue bird. Many baby bluebirds continue to be born, raised, and leave the nests yearly with more and more returning each year.

Adult Bluebird

Baby Bluebirds

Environmental measures

Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP)

The Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) is a program launched by the Commonwealth of Virginia (the Virginia state government) to encourage facilities located within Virginia to make environmental improvements that go beyond the minimum statutory requirements. YTMV continues to remain at the highest level that a business enterprise can attain under VEEP, that of an E4 (Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise).
Benefits of having an E4 status include an enhanced profile within the local community, reduced handling charges for special permits, and regulatory incentives, etc.

Fair Operating Practices

Chemical substance management

All materials used within the plant are in compliance with Yokohama Rubber’s list of prohibited chemical substances and in line with the Green Procurement Guidelines.
Safety data sheets (SDS) are continuously maintained for each material; and updated using the web system (Sphera/Sitehawk).

Consumer Issues

Customer visits

The company has systems fully in place to welcome visits from customers at any time.

Community Involvement and Development

Community interaction and volunteering activities

2024 was a HUGE year for YTMV and the Community Outreach Committee. The cross-functional committee was able to support 27 local organizations by way of sponsorship, donation, or creative events like the Home Run Drive with the Salem Red Sox. Thanks to our generous employees, several donation drives including a peanut butter drive for Backpack Buddies and the Salvation Army Angel Tree were a big success! We were also able to step up in times of need, donating pallets of water to the homeless in Roanoke and a variety of donations to those affected by the hurricanes in North Carolina and Virginia. Lastly, our amazing team utilized 276 volunteer hours throughout the year with charities such as the Rescue Mission, Mill Mountain Zoo, the Special Olympics, and Clean Valley Council.

Fishing Rodeo

Soup Donation