Yokohama Rubber utilising RubberWay geo-mapping for sustainable procurement

Starting in April 2024, The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. is using the RubberWay Geo-Mapping risk assessment tool to bolster its sustainable procurement practices.
Yokohama Rubber’s supply chain is characterised by its complexity, involving numerous small-scale rubber plantations, intermediaries, and processing plants. This complexity poses considerable challenges in monitoring and assessing risks related to environmental concerns, such as illegal deforestation and inadequate water resource management, as well as social issues, including child labour and forced labour. These risks have significant implications for local communities, making traceability a critical component of Yokohama Rubber’s sustainable procurement strategy.
RubberWay Geo-Mapping debuted in March 2024 and offers a robust application for evaluating and monitoring the geolocation data of farmers, alongside environmental and social issues. The system currently encompasses data from over 30,000 farms.
By adopting this technology, Yokohama Rubber aims to enhance the traceability of natural rubber throughout its supply chain, aligning with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and ensuring compliance with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The EUDR, effective from 30 December 2024, mandates that operators dealing with natural rubber or related products in the EU must perform due diligence to verify that their products do not originate from recently deforested land or contribute to deforestation.
In line with revised procurement policy
As a founding member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), Yokohama Rubber revised its Procurement Policy for Sustainable Natural Rubber in September 2021, reinforcing its commitment to GPSNR activities. The introduction of RubberWay Geo-Mapping aligns with the policy’s principles of improving traceability and advancing environmental initiatives.
Yokohama Rubber also states that it is “endeavouring to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations.” The company’s sustainability management slogan, “Caring for the Future,” reflects its ethos of is creating shared value by addressing social issues through its business activities.
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