Sumitomo Rubber Industries

1. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment for all its operations?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

2. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment applies to all suppliers?

The company has published a sustainable natural rubber policy which applies to all suppliers.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

The Sustainability Promotion Committee is chaired by the vice-president.

4. One or more members within the board of the company have responsibility for sustainability?

5. Percentage or number of women in senior management team?

The company only reports the names of senior executive officers in 2021. However, gender balance is not reported by the company.

6. Percentage or number of women board members?

12.5% - The company reports a total of 16 members on board of directors, out of which 2 members are female. The gender balance is not directly reported by the company and was calculated from staff profiles and photos.

7. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

[Externally verified] The company is a member of WBCSD.

8. Collaboration with stakeholders to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

The company's latest integrated report was published in 2022.

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

The company has submitted CDP questionnaires for Water Security in 2022.

11. Climate risks assessment available?

12. Lists countries and operations?

Manufacturing (Brazil, China, Indonesia, Thailand, United States, Turkey, South Africa, Philippines, Malaysia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Viet Nam, Japan).

13. Lists countries sourcing from?

14. Total land area managed/controlled for natural rubber (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

15. Total natural rubber planted area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

16. Scheme smallholders/outgrowers planted area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

17. Unplanted area (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

18. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

19. Maps of estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

20. Management plans for natural rubber production are available for all estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

21. Monitoring of management plan implementation available for all estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

22. Maps of scheme/outgrower smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

23. Names and locations of all third-party supplying industrial estates/management units?

24. List of jurisdictions where sourcing from smallholders?

25. Number of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

26. Names and locations of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

27. Number (or percentage) of company-owned processing facilities that source from company-owned operations and third parties?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

28. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned processing facilities that come from company's own operations and third-parties?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

29. Number of third party supplying processing facilities?

30. Names and locations of all third party supplying processing facilities?

31. Number (or percentage) of third party supplying processing facilities that source from their own plantations and third party plantations?

32. Reports total volume (or percentages) sourced from third-party supplying processing facilities that come from the supplying facilities' own operations and third parties?

33. Total volume (or percentage) sourced for manufacturing that comes from intermediary traders rather than directly from processing facilities?

34. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to processing facility level?

The company reports to support the traceability of natural rubber, at a minimum to an appropriate jurisdictional level, in order to ascertain or control the origin of purchased materials. However, a time-bound commitment specifying 100% traceability to processing facility level is not reported.

35. Percentage of supply traceable to processing facility level?

36. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to industrial plantation level?

The company only reports to support the traceability of natural rubber, at a minimum to an appropriate jurisdictional level, in order to ascertain or control the origin of purchased materials. However, a time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to the industrial plantation level is not reported.

37. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

38. Percentage of supply from third-party processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

39. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to jurisdictional level for smallholders?

The company only reports to support the traceability of natural rubber, at a minimum to an appropriate jurisdictional level, in order to ascertain or control the origin of purchased materials. However, a time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to the jurisdictional level is not reported.

40. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to smallholder at jurisdictional level?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

41. Percentage of supply from third party processing facilities traceable to smallholders at jurisdictional level?

42. Member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)?

[Externally verified] The company is a member of GPSNR. This has been verified via the GPSNR website.

43. Submitted self-declaration form for the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i)?

The company has submitted a self-declaration form for SNR-i.

44. Percentage area (ha) FSC certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

45. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC FM certification of estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

46. Percentage of scheme/outgrower smallholders (ha) FSC-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

47. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC certification of scheme/outgrower smallholders?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

48. Percentage of natural rubber supply (tonnes) from independent smallholders/outgrowers/third-party natural rubber suppliers that is FSC-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

49. Percentage of all natural rubber products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that is FSC-certified?

50. Percentage area (ha) PEFC certified (excluding FSC certified area)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

51. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

The company reports to have obtained ISO 14001 Global Multi-Site Certification for its 36 site. However, the certificates are not available publicly.

52. Commitment to become 100% certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

53. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

54. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to support healthy and functioning natural ecosystems. However, this commitment does not cover all natural ecosystems.

55. Commitment to zero deforestation?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

56. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to no deforestation in its sustainable natural rubber policy.

57. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

58. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation in supplier operations?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also defines forests as HCV and HCS areas and specifies any deforestation/conversion past 1st April 2019 will not be accepted.

59. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

60. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

61. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in own operations since cut-off date?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

62. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in supplier operations since cut-off date?

63. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion applies to all suppliers?

The company commits to support restoration of forests and natural ecosystems. However, it is unclear if suppliers are required to restore deforestation/conversion within their own operations caused by themselves or third parties.

65. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Partial points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria.

66. Biodiversity policy?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

67. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

68. Identified species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

69. Examples of species and/or habitat conservation management?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

70. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

71. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to only allow sustainable hunting of species by local communities for subsistence purposes in their operations.

72. Commitment to protect areas from illegal activities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

73. Commitment to protect forest areas from illegal activities applies to all suppliers?

The company only commits suppliers to protect wildlife, including rare, threatened, endangered and critically endangered species, from poaching, overhunting, and habitat loss. However, a clear commitment to protect forest areas from unauthorised or illegal resource use, settlement, and other illegal activities is not reported.

74. Evidence of protecting forest areas from illegal activities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

75. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

76. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits suppliers to conduct HCV assessments.

77. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

78. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

79. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

80. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to apply the HCS Approach, as defined by the HCS Approach Toolkit.

81. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

82. Peer review of all High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken since April 2015 by the HCSA Quality Assurance Process?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

83. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

84. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) applies to all suppliers?

85. Social and environmental impact assessment (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

86. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

87. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth applies to all suppliers?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits all suppliers to no planting on peat of any depth.

88. Landbank or planted area on peat (ha)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

89. Implementation of commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

90. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

91. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat applies to all suppliers?

92. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

93. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

94. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices applies to all suppliers?

95. Evidence of best/sustainable tapping practices?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

96. Commitment to zero burning?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

97. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to no burning.

98. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

99. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates/management units?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

100. Details/number of hotspots/fires in suppliers operations/jurisdictions?

101. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?

The company commits to reduce GHG emissions intensity by 100% by the year 2050.

102. GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports emissions intensity for all of its factories.

103. GHG emissions from land use change?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

104. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

[Externally verified] The company reports an increase in its CO2 emissions (t-CO2e/t) across its factories in Japan but they have decreased for overseas factories. This information is externally verified by Lloyd's register quality assurance limited.

105. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

The company reports using WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol Initiative Calculation Tool (2004) and the cogeneration credits based on the "Guide for Calculating Greenhouse Gas Emissions," published by the Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (used to calculate the environmental impact indicator).

106. Time-bound commitment to improve water use intensity?

107. Water use intensity?

108. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

In 2021, total water usage at all of the group's factories increased by 3.5% compared with the previous year. As water use is not decreasing no score can be awarded.

109. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD or COD)?

110. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD or COD)?

111. Treatment of effluents from processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

112. Treatment of effluents from manufacturing facilities?

113. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

114. Implementation of commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

115. Reducing odours from natural rubber processing or manufacuring facilities?

The company reports developing novel deodorizing technologies while introducing Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO), with the aim of curbing odors arising from the rubber kneading and curing processes. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

116. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

117. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers, applies to all suppliers?

118. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

119. Commitment to no use of paraquat applies to all suppliers?

120. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

121. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides applies to all suppliers?

122. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

123. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention applies to all suppliers?

124. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

125. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser usage?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

126. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

127. Commitment to human rights?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its own reporting.

128. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

129. Progress on human rights commitment ?

The company has established a human rights management system. It reports distributing handbook on human resources and labor management to all those in managerial positions. It also mentions raising awareness on relevant topics via training and lecture sessions. In addition to this, human rights training is conducted by the company on regular basis. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

130. Commitment to respect Indigenous and local communities' rights?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

131. Commitment to indigenous and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits its suppliers to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples however, the commitment is reported as a part of FPIC.

132. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

133. Commitment to legal and customary land rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits its suppliers to recognise and protect the customary and traditional communal land tenure rights of indigenous peoples and local communities however, the commitment is reported as a part of FPIC.

134. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

135. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to respect FPIC.

136. Details on Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

137. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

138. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

139. Supports the inclusion of women across natural rubber operations, including addressing barriers faced?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

140. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

141. Progress on commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

142. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

143. Progress on commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

144. Commitment to provide business/work opportunities for local communities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate rubber plantations.

145. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to all Fundamental ILO Conventions in its own reporting.

146. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to all Fundamental ILO Conventions.

147. Progress on commitment to respect all workers' rights?

The company reports to distribute a handbook on human resource and labor management to all those in managerial positions and also helps raise their awareness of relevant topics via training and lecture sessions. The company also has labor-management committees in place. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

148. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company commits to prevent employment-related discrimination based on gender.

149. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to prevent employment-related discrimination based on gender.

150. Progress on commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

151. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

152. Percentage or number of women employees?

12% - The company reports that 12% of its employees are women.

153. Commitment to pay a living wage?

The company reports to "support" decent living wages. It is unclear if the company commits to pay all employees the living wage.

154. Commitment to pay a living wage applies to all suppliers?

The company commits its suppliers to "support" decent living wages. It is unclear if suppliers are committed to pay all employees the living wage.

155. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

156. Reporting of salary by gender?

157. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

The company commits to address health and safety at work for all workers.

158. Commitment to address occupational health and safety applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to address health and safety at work for all workers.

159. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

160. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

161. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

162. Commitment to support smallholders?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to supporting smallholders in its own reporting.

163. Percentage of supply from smallholders?

164. Programme to support scheme smallholders/outgrowers?

165. Percentage of scheme smallholders/outgrowers involved in programme?

166. Programme to support independent smallholders?

167. Percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

168. Process used to engage smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

169. Number or percentage of smallholder suppliers engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

170. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage non-smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

The company reports to conduct independent CSR assessments through third-party auditing to assess the performance of suppliers in terms of four themes: Environment, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. These assessments allow for the rating of suppliers with respect to social and environmental risk in order to prioritise risk mitigation actions.

171. Number or percentage of non-smallholder suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

172. Suspension or exclusion criteria for non-smallholder suppliers?

The company reports that if a supplier is found to be in violation of its sustainable rubber policy, the company's relationship with the supplier will be reviewed, which may result in the suspension of future business transactions with that supplier.

173. Time-bound action plans (including Key Performance Indicators) for suppliers to be in compliance with natural rubber sourcing commitments?

174. Proportion of direct and indirect supply from third-parties that comes from natural rubber plantations which are compliant with natural rubber sourcing policies?

175. Percentage of supply coming from agroforestry?

176. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company commits to ethical conduct and the prohibition of corruption.

177. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all suppliers?

The company only commits all suppliers to the prohibition of corruption. However, a commitment to ethical conduct is not reported for suppliers.

178. Progress on commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company reports to have Corporate Ethics Committee in place which identifies, analyses, and evaluates compliance risks throughout the group, plans and conducts training, ascertains the cause of violations, and proposes preventive measures. A Corporate Ethics Help Line has also been established by the company to allow employees to directly report and consult on any actions that are questionable in light of corporate ethics. However, the information is not externally verified.

179. Disclosure of the company’s management approach to tax and payments to governments?

The company only discloses a tax strategy that clearly covers UK entities of the company's operations.

180. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company reports the number of complaints and whistleblowing incidents filed by employees through the Corporate Ethics Helpline. Whilst this implies there is a whistleblowing procedure, no details of the procedure are disclosed.

181. Own grievance or complaints system open to all stakeholders?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. Partial points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also reports to have a grievance mechanism however, no details are reported.