Waste Reduction

SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES TOP > Sustainability > Environment > Waste Reduction
  • E ●
  • S -
  • G -

Achieving Complete Zero Landfill Waste

  • The Sumitomo Rubber Group

The Sumitomo Rubber Group has been working to promote reuse and recycle as well as reducing the waste and hazardous waste by using the resources efficiently. In fiscal 2023, we achieved complete zero landfill waste at 24 production bases, including affiliates, in Japan and overseas.
Complete zero landfill waste is defined as the complete diversion of landfill waste, meaning a 100% recycling rate and no waste sent directly to landfills. In fiscal 2024, the aim of our efforts is to maintain the status of complete zero landfill waste at these bases.

Achievement Status of Zero Emissions at Production Bases

Name of production base Timing of achievement
Shirakawa Factory 2004
Nagoya Factory 2004
Izumiotsu Factory 2005
Miyazaki Factory 2004
Kakogawa Factory 2005
Ichijima Factory 2005
Indonesia Factory 2008
Changshu Factory, China 2006
Hunan Factory, China 2016
USA Factory 2007
Thailand Factory 2009
Turkey Factory 2017
Malaysia Factory 2010
Zhongshan Factory, China 2008
Vietnam Factory 2009
Switzerland Factory 2008
Thailand Factory (tennis balls) 2011
Thailand Factory (natural rubber processing) 2013
Dunlop Retread Service, Ltd. 2010
Dunlop Retread Service Ltd. Hokkaido Factory 2010
SRI Engineering, Ltd. 2008
Nakata Engineering, Ltd. 2008
Dunlop Golf Club, Ltd. 2006
Brazil Factory 2023
Progress in achieving targets at production bases 24／26

(As of December 2023)

* Due to the sale of all shares of Lonstroff AG, a Swiss subsidiary that manufactures medical rubber parts, to a Dutch investment fund, the Swiss and Slovenian plants are excluded from the list of locations after February 2024. In addition, Sumitomo Rubber USA, LLC was excluded in December 2024 due to the decision to terminate production and dissolve the subsidiary.

Related Information

Financial and Non-Financial Data

Reducing Waste Emission Volume*

  • The Sumitomo Rubber Group

The volume of waste emissions from the production process in fiscal 2023 amounted to 32,110 tons, an increase of 3.8% from the previous year. Going forward, we will continue striving to curb the generation of waste and promote recycling efforts.

* The volume of waste emissions represents the total volume of waste emitted for the purpose of resource recycling (thermal and material recycling).

Related Information

Financial and Non-Financial Data

Initiatives to Recycle Waste Tires

  • The Sumitomo Rubber Group

In Japan, around 100 million tires weighing approximately 1 million tons are disposed of every year. Meanwhile, the problems surrounding waste tires are becoming more serious, with the diversification of waste disposal methods due to the development of high-performance tires, the increase in environmental impact due to inappropriate disposal methods, and the pressure on remaining capacity at final disposal sites.
To contribute to the resolution of these issues, the Sumitomo Rubber Group is engaged in the retreading business, which remanufactures new tires from waste tires, while striving to otherwise recycle waste tires.

Data regarding the Maintenance and Management of Industrial Waste Disposal Sites

  • The Sumitomo Rubber Group

The Sumitomo Rubber Group introduced a thermal recycling system that uses waste tires as boiler fuel at its Nagoya Plant in 1982, and subsequently introduced it at its Shirakawa Plant and Miyazaki Plant. The system is currently in use at all three plants, and is being effectively utilized as an energy source.

Boiler Systems Fueled by Waste Tires (Nagoya Factory)

We effectively utilize waste tires as fuel.

Boiler Systems Fueled by Waste Tires (Nagoya Factory)

Data regarding the Maintenance and Management of Industrial Waste Disposal Sites in Place at Each Factory (Japanese only)