Social Contribution Activities

We promote interaction and dialogue with diverse stakeholders by, for example, working in partnership with NGOs and NPOs.

Our business bases acquire information regarding the local need for volunteers via NPOs operating in surrounding communities. This information, in turn, helps us encourage a growing number of employees to participate in volunteer activities. In addition, we cooperate with these partners to take on cleanup activities covering neighboring rivers, the preservation of “satoyama” and other environmental protection initiatives as well as collaborative activities aimed at addressing region-specific issues.

Looking ahead, we will continue to create a place for both NPOs and our employees to encounter and learn from each other as part of efforts to expand the scope of partnerships.

The Sumitomo Rubber Industries CSR Fund was established to help solve global environmental and social problems by providing financial support to NPOs engaged in activities in regions where we have bases.

Following its establishment in 2009, the Fund began providing donations in 2010 to eight organizations, including environmental advocates, traffic safety groups, disaster aid groups and others striving to resolve region-specific social issues. In fiscal 2022, a total of ¥14.70 million was donated to 56 organizations.

The Nagoya Factory, which is based in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, cooperates with the municipality-led traffic safety campaigns that are held quarterly. Specifically, these campaigns involve factory staff who serve as volunteer patrol members standing in position with signs and banners along city roads, including in front of the factory gates and at major crossings within Toyota City, in order to encourage drivers passing by to observe safe driving practices.

Meanwhile, employees at the Izumiotsu Factory formed a street observation team in 2010 to protect local children from traffic accidents. These employees take turns monthly to stand guard at three nearby crossings that children use when walking to school.

The Shirakawa Factory strives to contribute to the development of a safe environment in which children can play with an ease of mind. To that end, in 2013 staff at this factory began placing wasp traps at neighborhood kindergartens and childcare facilities. In 2022, the factory received a growing number of requests for the placement of such equipment from childcare facilities outside Shirakawa City. In response, factory staff placed wasp traps at a total of 12 such facilities. In this way, the factory cherishes relationships with neighboring community residents while continuously endeavoring to help create a safe and secure environment for them.

Previously, SRI Engineering, Ltd. had disposed of chemical wood scraps generated in the course of manufacturing tire metal molds. Aware of the potential recyclability of these materials, the subsidiary considered various viable recycling methods. Consequently, in December 2017, SRI Engineering began providing these materials to educational institutions specialized in industrial and artistic design as well as to vocational training schools.

As of July 2023, the subsidiary had provided chemical wood materials free-of-charge on a total of 56 occasions, with the scope of recipients having expanded to comprise 29 educational institutions in Hyogo and other neighboring prefectures. By facilitating the reuse of waste materials, SRI Engineering aims to contribute to society in a sustainable manner.

In recognition of these initiatives, the subsidiary received a letter of gratitude from the governor of Hyogo Prefecture in October 2018. In November of the same year, SRI Engineering was also chosen to receive an Excellent Award under the Sumitomo Rubber Group CSR Commendation Awards Program. Going forward, SRI Engineering will continue to play its part in nurturing human resources by supporting young people who will, in turn, be the next generation of manufacturers.

Click here for explanations of artworks created using donated materials (Japanese only)

In Hyogo Prefecture, vocational trainees at five vocational ability development schools are striving to enhance their machining techniques on a daily basis using chemical wood provided free of charge. Meanwhile, students at Hyogo Prefectural Manufacturing College are similarly taking on the challenge of producing various prototypes in an effort to raise their skills.

Today, the automation of manufacturing processes is progressing. However, it is also important for operators to gain real-life experience in creating tangible objects. This experience will better enable them to predict the actual shapes of target items while teaching them how to judge whether an item can actually be produced in line with a blueprint and detect small variances arising from the wear of machines or misalignment so that they can make on-site adjustments. Even amid the advance of automation in manufacturing, which now employs robots and AI, this experience will prove more crucial than ever before.

I hereby express my wholehearted gratitude for the valuable materials that have been provided for use in training and will strive to nurture the human resources who are the future of manufacturing.

Today, parasports are attracting growing attention from the general public. The Sumitomo Rubber Group is co-sponsoring various parasports events to help invigorate this sport category. In addition to a number of Group employees who volunteer their time and effort to help organize wheelchair tennis tournaments held in Aichi and Hyogo prefectures, Sumitomo Rubber Industries has been acting as a title sponsor of DUNLOP KOBE OPEN, an international wheelchair tournament, since fiscal 2009.

In 2012, we also began co-sponsoring the “Dream Maker Racing Project,” under which drivers with disabilities take on the challenge of running endurance racing, and providing racing tires for this project.

Going forward, we will continue engaging in these and other activities aimed at contributing to the creation of an inclusive society in which everyone can live in harmony irrespective of the presence or absence of disabilities.