Initiatives to Support a Circular Economy

Encapsulating our hope to support the long-lasting development of a sustainable mobility society in the future, the word TOWANOWA brings together the two Japanese terms TOWA, meaning “Everlasting,” and WA, meaning “Ring.”

In line with the TOWANOWA concept, we aim to facilitate the circulation and effective utilization of limited resources while promoting the use of big data, comprising data gleaned by such technologies as SENSING CORE, an asset unique to the Sumitomo Rubber Group. Through these efforts, we will deliver new value to customers, contribute to the creation of the next-generation mobility society and otherwise help realize a sustainable future in which all people can enjoy safety, security and comfort. We will thus promote the TOWANOWA concept to realize a long-lasting tire business cycle as part of efforts to embody “Our Philosophy.” In the course of doing so, we will address issues associated with CASE* megatrends, help realize a sustainable world and contribute to the creation of a future of joy and well-being for all.

*“CASE” is regularly used to describe the four main strategic areas of focus for the industry—an abbreviation for Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electrified.

Click here for the detail of “TOWANOWA” (Japanese only)

The TOWANOWA concept is best illustrated as a structure in which a “data ring” (here depicted in orange) and a “sustainable ring (in blue) work in unison. While the data ring coordinates and leverages data obtained in each value chain process (“Planning & Design,” “Material Development & Procurement,” “Production & Logistics,” “Sales & Usage” and “Recovery & Recycling”), the sustainable ring facilitates the circulation of goods and materials throughout the value chain processes, eliminates redundant resource consumption and helps realize a circular economy. TOWANOWA is thus aimed at creating new value.

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SMART TYRE CONCEPT (Japanese only) SENSING CORE (Japanese only) Sustainable Raw Materials Retread Tires

In 2023, the Sumitomo Rubber Group introduced a certification system for sustainable products based on internal standards as part of measures specified in its Long-Term Sustainability Policy “Driving Our Future Challenge 2050.”

We thus apply our own assessment standards to the selection and certification of sustainable products from among all offerings of our Tire, Sports, Industrial Products and other businesses. Assessment items are set for each product group and include the ratio of sustainable raw materials used, the type of energy consumed in manufacturing processes and the product’s recyclability after use. Products that meet bare minimum requirements are designated “Standard,” while “Gold” certification is granted only to products boasting outstanding features in terms of sustainability. Our current aim is to ensure that all products are certified “Standard” by 2030 and, to this end, are striving to update their features. Looking ahead, we will continue to develop an internal certification framework to identify products capable of contributing to global warming countermeasures and environmental load reductions throughout their life cycles. By doing so, we will align our product development approach with a progressive shift to a business model in favor of circular economies.