Community Involvement and Development
Local Communities
KPI
Responsible Departments
Our position and Targets
Review of FY 2022 Activities
Introduction of Initiatives
Future challenges
KPI
Move the screen to the left or right to see the table information
| Item | FY 2021 results | FY 2022 results |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation rate of community activities and dialogs | (Consolidated) 100% | (Consolidated) 100% |
| Businesses with a negative impact on the local community | (Consolidated) 0% | (Consolidated) 0% |
Responsible Departments
Each business location
- The Corporate Social Responsibility Planning Department and Environmental Protection Promotion Department serves as a secretariat for the deployment of policies and sharing information.
Our position and Targets
Why is “Engagement with Local Communities” a critical issue to be addressed?
Explanation of the reason and background
The Yokohama Rubber Group currently conducts production activities in 12 countries. If the Group commenced operations or withdrawals from any region, it will have a social impact on the community in terms of the environmental impact, employment, etc. Because that impact varies depending on the circumstance of each region, we believe that it is extremely important for the Group's sustainable management to consider how to expand the positive impact and reduce the negative impact while engaging with local communities, and to then take action accordingly.
Vision and targets
As a globally active business, we relate to local communities in a number of domains - the natural environment, law, culture, customs and the economy. We will strive to build a healthy relationship for various local communities together with our both domestic and overseas offices. The following three points are aimed for as the vision for 2023.
- Building a trusted identity together with local communities
To achieve this, we will use various forms of engagement and focus on issues and development in the local communities. - A worldwide system is in place to apply what stake holders have to say.
- We have planted a total of 1.19 million trees and saplings worldwide
Measures for vision achievement
The following approaches will be considered from various perspective to achieve our vision.
- Social gatherings with local residents as a form of communication in local communities will be held twice a year as a general rule.
- WWe are conducting activities in cooperation with local NGOs at production and R&D bases in Japan* where biodiversity conservation activities are being commenced. We conduct biological monitoring while receiving instructions on matters such as the names and ecology of wild birds and aquatic organisms from chapters of the Wild Bird Society of Japan and nature conservation organizations.
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (1) - At ThinkEco Hiratsuka, an environmental event held at Hiratsuka Factory, we held a panel discussion on biodiversity and discussed together with local residents how Yokohama Rubber can protect and improve area waterways.
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (2) - Seedlings raised as part of the YOKOHAMA Forever Forest Project activities are provided to schools, social welfare facilities, NPOs, etc. that conduct tree planting activities in the region.
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (3) - As the disaster area reconstruction support in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have conducted tree planting activities in an embankment called the “Heisei Forest” from 2012 to 2015, in order to support the creation of a “Forest That Protect Lives”, which is one of reconstruction plans of Otsuchi Town, Shimohei County, Iwate Prefecture. Since 2014, we have also supported forest development and afforestation activities as part of the Furusato Class programed at Otsuchi Gakuen (including the former Otsuchi Elementary School).
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (4) - The Social Contribution Support Program and Volunteer Leave Program have been established to support volunteer activities by employees.
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (5) - The Yokohama Magokoro Fund launched in May 2016 enables employees to put aside funds from their monthly salary which can be donated to organizations including NPOs, NGOs, or social welfare corporations in support of their efforts in social welfare, educational support in poverty regions, and environmental conservation activities; or to disaster relief funds in the event of a natural disaster. Yokohama Rubber provides support through matching gifts contributing the same amount of the money done by the fund.
・・・Review of FY 2022 activities (6) - We support the maintenance of infrastructure and services in various countries and regions in which we operate sites. We support volunteer efforts for restoring areas affected by flooded rivers, manufacture school play equipment and toilets, and supply devices for cleaning rain water.
- Mie Plant, Shinshiro Plant, Mishima Plant, Onomichi Plant, Ibaraki Plant, Nagano Plant, Hiratsuka Factory, Yokohama Tire Retread Hokkaido Office, Saitama Office, and Nagoya Office, D-PARC, Aichi Tire
Review of FY 2022 Activities
The following measures were conducted during FY2022.
(1) Biodiversity conservation activities were conducted at 12 domestic and 9 overseas production sites. Due to the spread of the COVID-19, we reduced the number of times and the number of participants in surveys of living creatures (monitoring), removal of invasive alien species (uprooting, etc.), beach clean-ups compared to previous years, in the same way as FY2022.
(2) The 8th Biodiversity Panel Discussion was held online under the theme of "Biodiversity Conservation for Watershed Protection." Taking advantage of the merits of holding the event online, this time many stakeholders, including governments, local residents, environmental NPOs, and other groups related to production sites in Japan, participated in the discussion.
Mr. Masato Ohno, Director of the Conservation Department of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, gave a keynote speech on the theme of "What is the 'linkage' to consider biodiversity in a watershed?" He introduced the initiatives through the Miyagawa River watershed at the Mie Plant, and panelists discussed the significance of companies protecting nature.
Mr. Masato Ohno, Director of the Conservation Department of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, gave a keynote speech on the theme of "What is the 'linkage' to consider biodiversity in a watershed?" He introduced the initiatives through the Miyagawa River watershed at the Mie Plant, and panelists discussed the significance of companies protecting nature.
(3) In the YOKOHAMA Forever Forest Project, 37,036 seedlings were provided during 2022, for a cumulative total of 498,664 seedlings.
(4) Tree planting has been postponed for two years due to the spread of COVID-19 infection, but on April 28, 2022, together with 79 children from Otsuchi Gakuen (4th grade elementary school) in Otsuchi Town, Kamihei District, Iwate Prefecture, we planted approximately 530 seedlings in the "Heisei no Mori" mound at the Otsuchi Sewage Treatment Center after learning the meaning of tree planting. This was the final tree planting at the Heisei-no-Mori mound, which began in 2012. From FY2022, we began weeding activities of tree mounds that were planted by children together with the Otsuchi NPO and volunteer organization council members. We will be working with the local community for mound maintenance for three years, when weeding activities are no longer required.
(5) We supported 13 volunteer activities by our employees through the "Social Contribution Activity Support Program".
Key activities included support (9 cases) for sending clothing and school supplies collected by employees to NPOs involved in donating clothing and school supplies to regions in the Philippines affected by poverty, and volunteers taking part in tree-planting events in various regions (4 cases, 13 participants).
Key activities included support (9 cases) for sending clothing and school supplies collected by employees to NPOs involved in donating clothing and school supplies to regions in the Philippines affected by poverty, and volunteers taking part in tree-planting events in various regions (4 cases, 13 participants).
(6) Various sites supported the maintenance of infrastructure and services in various regions.
- An example of this is Shandong Yokohama Rubber Industrial Products Co., Ltd. (YRSC), which took part in disaster-prevention training run by the local municipality (Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs) to prepare against large typhoons. Training was run over a two-day period, and included filling sandbags, closing off flooded areas, and drainage training in the event that flooding affects farmland.
Yokohama Magokoro(Sincere Heart) Fund
The Foundation and the company made donations as matching gifts to organizations in Japan and abroad that provide assistance in times of disaster, environmental conservation, and child welfare support. In 2022, the foundation and the company made 13 donations.
The total amount of donations was approximately 51.12 million yen. From March this year, we began providing support for the Ukraine humanitarian crisis for the first time. Yokohama Rubber donated 49 million yen and the "YOKOHAMA Magokoro (Sincere Heart) Fund" donated 1 million yen to efforts run by the The Japanese Red Cross Society and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in JAPAN.
Under the Yokohama Magokoro Fund, contributions (from 100 yen to the desired amount per month) are collected from employees (members) who support the fund, members recommend an organization they would like to support, and a Fund Steering Committee composed of member representatives then screens the recommended organizations and decides whether to make a donation.
In addition to donating to various approved organizations, Yokohama Rubber also adopted a system called a "matching gift" where it contributes the same amount to the fund. Currently, about 44.2% of the employees are participating in the fund, and each employee feels it is important for the company as a whole to contribute to society through the fund.
The total amount of donations was approximately 51.12 million yen. From March this year, we began providing support for the Ukraine humanitarian crisis for the first time. Yokohama Rubber donated 49 million yen and the "YOKOHAMA Magokoro (Sincere Heart) Fund" donated 1 million yen to efforts run by the The Japanese Red Cross Society and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in JAPAN.
Under the Yokohama Magokoro Fund, contributions (from 100 yen to the desired amount per month) are collected from employees (members) who support the fund, members recommend an organization they would like to support, and a Fund Steering Committee composed of member representatives then screens the recommended organizations and decides whether to make a donation.
In addition to donating to various approved organizations, Yokohama Rubber also adopted a system called a "matching gift" where it contributes the same amount to the fund. Currently, about 44.2% of the employees are participating in the fund, and each employee feels it is important for the company as a whole to contribute to society through the fund.
(Major Supporting Organizations)
Approved Specified Nonprofit Corporation Florence
Kanagawa Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Bank (Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center)
Public Interest Incorporated Association "Chance for Children"
(Major disaster relief efforts)
Humanitarian aid for Ukraine
March 4, 2022: Area affected by Fukushima earthquake
Area affected by Typhoon No. 15 in 2022
Approved Specified Nonprofit Corporation Florence
Kanagawa Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Bank (Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center)
Public Interest Incorporated Association "Chance for Children"
(Major disaster relief efforts)
Humanitarian aid for Ukraine
March 4, 2022: Area affected by Fukushima earthquake
Area affected by Typhoon No. 15 in 2022
Introduction of Initiatives
Support for prosthetic hand assistance activities in Kanagawa Prefecture and regions in Eastern Japan
As part of efforts to provide support to people requiring prosthetic hands*1, we provided donations from fund-raising activities to the Kanagawa Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Bank.
The "Kanagawa Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Bank" was established in April 2022 by the Social Welfare Corporation "Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center" that provides comprehensive rehabilitation services for enabling people with disabilities to take part in social activities.
In addition to providing myoelectric prosthetic hands for training at rehabilitation facilities, funds are used for supporting the increased uptake of myoelectric prosthetic hands in Kanagawa Prefecture and regions in Eastern Japan.
The "Kanagawa Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Bank" was established in April 2022 by the Social Welfare Corporation "Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center" that provides comprehensive rehabilitation services for enabling people with disabilities to take part in social activities.
In addition to providing myoelectric prosthetic hands for training at rehabilitation facilities, funds are used for supporting the increased uptake of myoelectric prosthetic hands in Kanagawa Prefecture and regions in Eastern Japan.
- 1 An electric prosthetic hand that allows the user to move their fingers at will by using the small amount of muscle potential generated when muscles contract.
Y.T. Rubber Co, Ltd. (YTRC) (Thailand)
Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd., a natural rubber processing company of Yokohama Rubber, took part in meetings between local communities and official bodies (schools, hospitals, temples) in the Surat Thani district of Thailand, exchanged information and participated in donation drives to facilitate regional development. As part of relief efforts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided emergency food packages to elderly care facilities. When flooding affected villages adjacent to our plants, we provided drinking water and rice to all households in two nearby villages, which was greatly appreciated.
Donation of YOKOHAMA tires to local emergency services
Support for drinking water at school sports days
Yokohama Tire Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (YTMT) (Thailand)
The following activities for local communities were carried out.
- Environmental response activities, including tree planting, biodiversity education, and fish stocking
- Activities to strengthen relations with local communities, including participation in local events
- Cultural preservation activities, including the protection of temples
- Social contribution activities such as volunteer activities and donations
We are continuing to provide support for people affected by COVID-19 in FY2022, by focusing on local donations and support of supplies like drinking water and survival packages.
Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. (YTPI) (Philippines)
Support for Victims of Typhoon No. 22
YTPI donated 100 bags of rice as part of support to more than 300 households in the Province of Bulacan affected by Super Typhoon Paeng. Some 50 bags of rice worth the equivalent of 50,000 pesos was also delivered to assist with recovery efforts by people affected by earthquakes in the Province of Abra.
Yokohama Tyre Vietnam Inc. (YTVI) (Vietnam)
While these efforts were small in scale, we provided assistance to local communities, such as visiting and donating to facilities for disabled people and orphanages.
LLC Yokohama R.P.Z. (YRPZ) (Russia)
YRPZ continued to support the Dobrye Kryshechki" ("Kind caps") environmental charity project. This project collects plastic bottle caps with the aim of reducing plastic waste and supporting disabled children with donations. It also supported charity efforts toward educational facilities for local children requiring special needs education.
Yokohama Tire México, S de RL de CV (YTMX) (Mexico)
We donated hygiene and health products to the "San Francisco de Asis" elderly care facility.
We also focused on diagnosis programs for CSR certification models for encouraging CSR activities with the aim of making business sites better.
We also focused on diagnosis programs for CSR certification models for encouraging CSR activities with the aim of making business sites better.
Future challenges
As for environmental impact assessments through biological monitoring, the framework for the PDCA cycle including communication with local residents was completed, and biodiversity conservation activities have begun. We have developed guidelines for conducting activities while taking precautions against infection by COVID-19, and we will consider how to apply the results of our activities to the local communication.
In addition, in order to solve social issues in the community, we will promote volunteer activities that can be carried out at Corona Perfection and activities through the YOKOHAMA Magokoro (Sincere Heart) Fund.
In addition, in order to solve social issues in the community, we will promote volunteer activities that can be carried out at Corona Perfection and activities through the YOKOHAMA Magokoro (Sincere Heart) Fund.
