Environmental Communications

As a global company cognizant of its environmental responsibilities, the Sumitomo Rubber Group engages in a variety of initiatives to fulfill its social responsibility through all areas of activity in order to ensure the sustainable development of a society in which human prosperity and the environment co-exist harmoniously.

To secure widespread understanding of our endeavors, we strive to introduce initiatives undertaken by the Group to a broad range of the general public by utilizing external lecture sessions, collaborative activities and other opportunities.

Since 2013, we have implemented the Team ENASAVE Future Project, a collaborative project undertaken by our mainstay Dunlop brand and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ). As of 2023, two of our business bases are engaged in activities under this project.

With the aim of helping preserve the environment, the project supports collaborative activities involving both the Dunlop brand and its users by utilizing a portion of proceeds from sales of ENASAVE fuel efficient tires. We have been a part of this project as a supporter of the “Legacy for the Future” concept advocated by the NFUAJ to preserve valued aspects of cultural and natural heritage at home and abroad and pass them down to future generations. We are thus endeavoring to protect traditional cultures and the natural environment, many of which are on the brink of the disappearance in regions across Japan.

At the same time, we work to preserve endangered species through this project. Since 2007, the Ichijima Factory has been striving to nurture and preserve Sasakia charonda, a butterfly known as the great purple emperor, on its premises. In 2011, the factory began holding annual events in which children are invited from neighboring kindergartens and childcare facilities to observe this butterfly. In recognition of these and other greening and environmental preservation activities, the Ichijima Factory was chosen to receive the Prime Minister’s Award as a Contributor to Greening Promotion in April 2022. In the same year, the Kakogawa Factory donated “Fujibakama” (Eupatorium japonicum), an endangered species, plants cultivated on its grounds to neighboring elementary schools while providing on-demand lectures.

Other initiatives include the free-of-charge distribution of seedlings at roadside stations and local events focused on environmental preservation. Furthermore, for kindergarteners about to graduate, we offer acorn seedlings that we have nurtured from the nut stage starting from the time of their entrance to the kindergarten as commemorative gifts. In these ways, we strive to secure public understanding of our activities while working hand in hand with people from local communities to promote greening initiatives.

The Sumitomo Rubber Group’s overseas manufacturing bases issue environmental reports on their own.

The year of first issuance of these environmental reports is as follows. Changshu Factory, China: 2006; Indonesia Factory: 2007; Thailand Factory: 2009; Vietnam Factory: 2011; Thailand Factory (tennis balls): 2011; Zhongshan Factory, China: 2012; Malaysia Factory: 2012; Thailand Factory (natural rubber processing): 2013; Hunan Factory, China: 2014; Sumitomo Rubber (China) Co., Ltd. (which consolidated the Changshu Factory): 2014; Brazil Factory: 2015; Turkey Factory: 2017; Philippines Factory: 2019; South Africa Factory: 2020; USA Factory: 2020; Switzerland Factory: 2021; Slovenia Factory: 2021. The latest 2023 editions of environmental reports issued by each of the bases named above are available from the following links.

These environmental reports are compiled to disclose data regarding environmental footprints of business operations, targets and results of environmental activities, the status of social contribution initiatives and other matters, aiding their issuers in stakeholder communications.

Latest 2023 Editions of Environmental Reports