Yokohama Rubber holds 11th panel discussion on biodiversity

Hiratsuka, Japan—The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that on March 12 it held its 11th Panel Discussion on Biodiversity as an online event. Panelist Ms. Kaori Fujita, Senior Editor at Nikkei ESG and Tohoku University Professor, and moderator Dr. Tetsuya Kitazawa, Director of Ecology Path Inc. and Lecturer at Edogawa University, exchanged views on the theme “What We Can Do to Achieve a Nature Positive World” with Yokohama Rubber Group employees and a widely diverse group of participants representing local governments, companies, NPOs, and civic groups participating from 51 locations around Japan.

Yokohama Rubber’s Panel Discussion on Biodiversity is an annual event that serves as an opportunity to consider the importance of biodiversity conservation. Following the keynote speech by Ms. Fujita titled “Let’s Think About Nature Positive Initiatives at Factories,” this year’s event introduced biodiversity conservation activities of the Yokohama Rubber Group, with a focus on the initiatives being implemented at Yokohama Rubber’s Shinshiro Plant and the Hokkaido Plant of Yokohama Tire Retread Company Limited. These presentations were followed by a Q&A session and lively discussion that enabled all participants to deepen their understanding of biodiversity conservation activities.

Following the announcement of new global nature positive goals at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, activities toward achieving a nature positive world have accelerated worldwide, including Japan’s formulation of a concrete action plan to contribute to achieving these goals. Yokohama Rubber fully endorses these activities and since January 2023 has been an active participant in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Forum and the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity. Yokohama Rubber initiatives to conserve biodiversity in its value chain include activities at its sites around the world, such as YOKOHAMA Forever Forest tree-planting events, activities to monitor and conserve water quality and flora and fauna, and awareness-raising activities for local residents. The company is also promoting agroforestry at natural rubber farms.

Under the slogan for sustainability management “Caring for the Future,” Yokohama Rubber is creating shared value by addressing social issues through its business activities.