Yokohama Rubber is supporting Project Tree
2
min. read
Yokohama Rubber is supporting natural rubber sustainability
Yokohama Rubber has announced it has recently joined PROJECT TREE, an initiative founded by ITOCHU Corporation to promote the sustainability of natural rubber.
PROJECT TREE aims to realise transparency in the natural rubber supply chain through a blockchain-based traceability system. Yokohama Rubber is using natural rubber procured through the PROJECT TREE framework and began supplying tyres for commercial vehicles operated by FamilyMart Co., Ltd. as project-supported tyres on September 25, 2026.
Natural rubber is an important natural resource, accounting for about 30 per cent of the raw materials used in tyres, which account for about 70 per cent of the global consumption of natural rubber. The great majority of the world’s natural rubber is produced by small-scale farmers in such countries as Thailand and Indonesia, and the tyre industry is taking action to support these farmers, including promoting forest conservation, considerations for human rights, improving their agricultural technology, and measures to stabilise their livelihoods.
PROJECT TREE enables identification of natural rubber sourcing areas and provides support for natural rubber farmers, including incentives from companies using their natural rubber and agricultural training programmes.
Yokohama Rubber has been proactively promoting initiatives to improve the traceability of natural rubber. Y.T. Rubber Co., Ltd., the company’s natural rubber processing subsidiary, has obtained the Chain of Custody (CoC) certification provided by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), an international forest certification organisation, in recognition of the company’s responsible management of the processing and distribution of natural rubber.
Yokohama Rubber is also using the RubberWay® Geo-Mapping, a risk assessment tool, and is advancing measures that are compliant with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Yokohama Rubber also has been promoting initiatives that support small-scale natural rubber farmers in the Surat Thani Province of Thailand for several years now. In addition to these activities, Yokohama Rubber’s participation in PROJECT TREE will further strengthen supply chain transparency and its support for natural rubber suppliers.
Tags
Have a suggestion or spotted a mistake?
Read also
2
min. read
3
min. read
2
min. read
2
min. read
2
min. read
2
min. read
tyre.media - creative tyre media
©2026 tyre.media