Since the Meiji period, Sumitomo Group companies have been engaged in tree planting at Mount Besshi—the desolated site of a former copper mine—in Ehime Prefecture, striving to bring its natural environment back to the original state. The Sumitomo Rubber Group bases all of its decision-making on Our Philosophy, a corporate philosophy structure developed from the Sumitomo Business Philosophy, which has been passed down through the 400-year history of the Sumitomo Group. In addition, we are advancing social contribution activities.
The Group is working initiatives in an integrated manner, in cooperation with top management and other departments.
We promote greening activities company-wide by organizing tree planting events as part of employee volunteer activities (GENKI Activities).
The Sumitomo Rubber Group is in the process of assessing nature-related business risks and opportunities.
We recognize that greening activities involve risks and opportunities that could impact our reputation with consumers, society, and investors.
Regarding greening activities, we foresee the following potential impacts on our business operations: loss of customers, damage to corporate image and ESG ratings, and divestment by investors and financial institutions if our efforts to preserve ecosystems are considered inadequate. To address this, we are advancing measures such as obtaining “Sustainably Managed Natural Site” certification and engaging in conservation activities for endangered species.
The targets and results are as follows.
| 2024 targets | Greening activities: Continuing satoyama conservation and acorn seedling provision activities at all domestic bases |
|---|---|
| 2024 results | Number of trees planted: 7,634 Number of seedlings provided: 2,390 Number of trees planted in the “1 Pair for 1 Love activities”: 2,400 |
| 2025 targets | Greening activities: Continued satoyama conservation and acorn seedling provision activities at all domestic bases |
| Medium- to long-term targets | Contributing to biodiversity conservation, landslide and other natural disaster prevention, and global warming mitigation through CO2 absorption, while also promoting communication with local communities and enhancing employee engagement |
In fiscal 2024, we steadily advanced forest development, conservation activities, and seedling provision at 11 locations in Japan. We also launched forest maintenance and conservation activities at a new site in Miyazaki Prefecture. Regarding biodiversity, we were involved in conservation activities focused on endangered, near-threatened, and rare species (five species of animal and 15 species of plant) at all eight of its sites in Japan, consisting of factories, the Head Office, and the Tire Proving Ground.
We will continue to collaborate with the local community to preserve satoyama and protect endangered species.
The primary objectives of our forest development efforts include protecting biodiversity and preventing landslides and other disasters, along with curbing global warming through the absorption of CO2. In Japan, we develop the forests around our business bases, engaging in greening activities in 11 locations (covering 32 ha) across the country. We collectively call these locations the Sumitomo Rubber GENKI Forest. In order to protect biodiversity, we plant only seedlings grown from seeds gathered in the target area. Our forestation activities also include cutting back weeds, removing unnecessary trees and other ongoing forest maintenance tasks. We also consider communicating with local communities through satoyama (working forests that are maintained and managed by humans) conservation activities, another important objective. To align our forestation activities with the circumstances unique to each local community, we promote collaborative activities in which employees, their families, friends, local residents and regional organizations participate.
In fiscal 2005, the Sumitomo Rubber Group launched an initiative involving growing seedlings from acorns and then planting them as part of greening activities. In fiscal 2007, we also established the “Acorn Bank,” which offers residents of our local communities as well as employees’ families opportunities to take part in acorn collection. In fiscal 2008, we expanded these acorn planting initiatives further, creating the “Planting Trees for the Future: Acorn Project.” Since then, staff at eight business bases in Japan have continued to nurture seedlings on their premises grown from acorns collected by the Acorn Bank. Going forward, we will continue to promote these activities at all domestic business bases, with employees, their families, ex-employees and residents of neighboring communities working together to protect the environment.
The Ichijima Factory has proactively worked to develop a mixed forest comprising both coniferous trees and broadleaf trees from the perspective of protecting biodiversity, to this end carefully conserving a native forest that exists on its premises. At the same time, the factory has been active in protecting rare species living on its premises. For example, its efforts to nurture great purple emperor (Sasakia charonda) butterflies date back to 2007, when staff began to cultivate Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) trees to feed the butterfly’s larvae. In 2011, staff then manufactured a cage to protect the pupae until emergence. Once the butterflies began breeding successfully, the factory started to invite children from neighboring kindergartens to observe them every year. In addition, the factory’s premises have been approved by the local government as a habitat area for Lefua echigonia (Cobitidae family), a class I endangered species of loach fish, for risk dispersion. Based on this approval, the factory is engaged in the protection and nurturing of this species, employing a biotope developed within its premises. In autumn, the factory makes its premises open to kindergarteners so that they can enjoy acorn gathering. As such, the factory has also been active in facilitating interaction with fellow community members and promoting environmental education via the use of greenery. These efforts, in turn, helped the Ichijima Factory garner outstanding recognition and be chosen for the above award.
To align our forestry activities with the circumstances unique to each local community, we promote collaborative activities that bring together employees, ex-employees, families, friends, local residents and regional organizations.
Since 2010, the Nagoya Factory has been continuously engaged in forest development, including periodic weeding and tree planting in “GENKI Forest” in Mount Osuhara. In recognition of these activities, the factory was granted a letter of gratitude from residents of Higashi Hagihira-cho, where Mount Osuhara is located, in 2021. The letter was made from wood derived from thinning. The factory takes a locally-rooted approach to pursuing ongoing forest development activities and also engages in frequent collaboration with the Mount Osuhara Preservation Association, a beneficiary of the Sumitomo Rubber Industries CSR Fund.
For nearly 50 years since it began operations in 1974, Shirakawa Factory has engaged in a variety of activities, including forest management and conservation of endangered plant species.
The certification was awarded for the factory’s efforts to preserve rare plant species such as yellow floating heart (Nymphoides peltata), a near-threatened species, and Asian fawn lily (Erythronium japonicum). In addition, Sumitomo Rubber GENKI Forest, a forest developed by the Company in the factory’s vicinity as satoyama (a working forest that is maintained and managed by humans), was also recognized as an outstanding site for supporting a diverse range of plant species and their habitats. Moreover, we are fostering interaction with local communities by hosting community events and providing saplings grown at the factory to local people.
By setting up a biotope on the premises of the Kobe Head Office, we conserve and nurture six types of rare plants, including Tilia kiusiana and Elaeagnus murakamiana, as well as two types of rare aquatic organisms, such as Hemigrammocypris rasborella. In the Uzugamori forest of Mt. Rokko, we have planted nearly 10,000 trees, including acorn and deutzia. We are also working on preserving wild strains of rare species, such as Lilium japonicum and Rhododendron reticulatum. These activities were certified in the “Hyogo Biodiversity Conservation Project” in 2023, as a model for biodiversity conservation and restoration activities within the prefecture.
Since 2014, the Shirakawa Factory has been a participant in tree planting activities on Mount Akazura, a former downhill skiing site that has been left desolate after its operator closed its business. Although promoted under the initiative of the Mount Akazura Greening Association, the scale of these activities has since been expanded, with Fukushima Prefecture becoming the sponsor in 2020. Beginning with tree planting undertaken by a small number of staff, the factory stepped up its involvement over time and, in 2019, began planting seeds of Alnus firma and nurturing them for two years. By 2021, the seeds entrusted to the factory had grown into seedlings reaching heights of around 30 centimeters. With the goal of restoring greenery, a total of 130 seedlings were then replanted by factory staff working hand in hand with fellow participants.
Since 2010, we have been engaged in tree-planting activities in the “DUNLOP Home Products Forest” on Borneo Island, Malaysia, funded by a portion of the sales from rubber gloves, to protect orangutans, which are endangered. The “1 Pair for 1 Love activities” planted 2,400 trees.
