Waste Reduction
Ecology [Building a circular economy]
- E ●
- S -
- G -
- Achieving Complete Zero Landfill Waste
- Achievement Status of Zero Emissions at Production Bases
- Reducing Waste Emission Volumes
- Initiatives to Recycle Waste Tires
- Initiatives Related to the Retreading Business
- Initiatives Related to Thermal and Material Recycling
- Data regarding the Maintenance and Management of Industrial Waste Disposal Sites
Items marked with “◎” have been verified by third parties. The environmental impact indicator was not verified by third parties. The figures shown in the graphs differ from the verified figures as different coefficients were used.
Achieving Complete Zero Landfill Waste
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group
The Sumitomo Rubber Group is promoting the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) of waste management.
In fiscal 2022, we achieved complete zero landfill waste at 23 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 2023, the aim of our efforts is to maintain the status of complete zero emissions at these bases.
Amount of Waste Generated and Recycling Rate
(Factories in Japan)
Material Recycling Rate
(Factories in Japan)
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 |
| Progress in achieving targets at production bases | 23／26 |
Reducing Waste Emission Volume
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group
The volume of waste emissions from production process fell 4.1% year on year. Going forward, we will continue striving to curb the generation of waste and promote recycling efforts.
Note:The volume of waste emissions represents the total volume of waste emitted for the purpose of resource recycling (thermal and material recycling).
Waste Disposal (Excluding Valuables)
(Domestic Factories ◎+ Overseas Factories)
Initiatives to Recycle Waste Tires
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group
In Japan, around 100 million tires weighing a total of approximately one million tons are disposed of as waste every year. Moreover, the rise in the popularity of high-performance tires has necessitated the development of ever more diverse disposal methods. At the same time, waste tires disposed of improperly create additional environmental burden, while the remaining capacities of final landfill sites are constantly shrinking. As such, issues associated with waste tires are increasingly serious.
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.
Number of Waste Tires Generated in Japan (1,000 tires)
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generated via vehicle disposal | 14,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 |
| Generated via tire replacement | 83,000 | 82,000 | 81,000 | 73,000 | 77,000 | 87,000 |
| Total | 97,000 | 96,000 | 96,000 | 86,000 | 91,000 | 100,000 |
Volume of Waste Tires Generated in Japan (kilotons) and Recycling Ratio (%)
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight of waste tires generated | 1,032 | 1,034 | 1,026 | 937 | 987 | 1,008 |
| Recycling ratio | 93% | 97% | 94% | 97% | 92% | 98% |
Source:Data compiled by the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association, Inc. regarding the status of waste tire recycling
Initiatives Related to the Retreading Business
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group
Demand for retread tires is growing as they contribute to environmental management and cost reduction efforts undertaken by transportation business operators in such areas as resource conservation, energy saving and the reduction of CO2 emissions. Due to these contributions, retread tires are also designated as green procurement items. Having established a subsidiary specializing in this field, the Sumitomo Rubber Group maintains two retread tire production bases in Hyogo and Hokkaido prefectures to meet customer needs.
Whether waste tires are retreaded or discarded depends on how they have been used. With this in mind, the Sumitomo Rubber Group is also engaged in activities aimed at helping customers manage tires in a proper manner.
Number of Retread Tires Produced by the Sumitomo Rubber Group
Contracted Retreading System
The contracted retreading system remanufactures tires (base tires) used by corporate customers in the course of business activities into retread tires. Currently, retread tires remanufactured via this system account for about 45% of retread tires produced by the Sumitomo Rubber Group.
The system enables customers to better manage the entire life cycles of their tires, from freshly manufactured tires to retread tires, and use them with ease of mind while supporting cost reductions.
Remanufacturing Process of Retread Tires (Remolding Method)
The remolding method refers to a method that involves shaving off the rubber tread surface of a base tire, affixing non-cured rubber on the exposed surface and then curing it. In this method, the robust cohesion of freshly affixed tread rubber with the base tire results in a retread tire with a beautiful outward appearance as well as high quality and high performance.
Initiatives Related to Thermal and Material Recycling
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group
In 1982, the Sumitomo Rubber Group introduced thermal recycling systems that utilize waste tires as a boiler fuel at the Nagoya Factory. Since then, we have introduced similar systems at the Shirakawa and Miyazaki factories. Efficiently utilizing waste tires as an energy source, these three factories continue to operate these systems today.
We are also engaged in material recycling, utilizing powdered and other forms of recycled rubber derived from waste tires for such applications as artificial turf, athletic fields and road pavement.
Boiler Systems Fueled by Waste Tires (Nagoya Factory)
We effectively utilize waste tires as fuel.
Data regarding the Maintenance and Management of Industrial Waste Disposal Sites
- The Sumitomo Rubber Group