Yokohama has introduced a sustainable natural rubber procurement policy outlining the initiatives being taken by the company, and directed requests to its suppliers.
A recent growth in demand has increased concerns about a host of problems, including unlawful deforestation, land exploitation, human rights violations, and adverse effects on biodiversity in the countries and regions where natural rubber is produced.
To tackle this, Yokohama is participating in the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i) launched by the International Rubber Study Group. The company is also a member of the Tyre Industry Project (TIP) led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The WBCSD’s TIP is currently creating a framework to ensure the sustainability of natural rubber.
The policy is based on the contents of SNR-i and the main proposals made by the WBCSD’s TIP at the World Rubber Summit 2018 in May. It outlines the initiatives to be taken by Yokohama as well as those requested of its suppliers in areas such as traceability, respect for human and labor rights, and environmental protection.
The policy also includes initiatives specific to the Yokohama Group, such as sharing of the know-how the group has accumulated through the Yokohama Forever Forest Project to help members of the group’s supply chain fulfill the policy’s requests for their cooperation.
The status of initiatives being undertaken under the policy will be presented on company websites, including the CSR website.
Going forward, Yokohama will work with all members of the supply chain to promote activities that conform to its Procurement Policy for the Sustainable Natural Rubber and further enhance the promotion of CSR activities across the value chain, which has been designated as one of the important goals of the group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
