The Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd

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?

Risk Management Committee chaired by the head of the Corporate Administration Division.

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

CSR Council is chaired by the Chairman & CEO of the company.

5. Reports gender balance of senior management team?

The company reports that 10.3% of managerial positions are filled by women (consolidated) in 2023. However, these stats do not cover the senior management team (what the company calls 'officers').

6. Reports gender balance of board members?

2 (13.3%) - The company reports it has 2 (13.3%) women board members as of 2023.

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 IRSG, WBCSD, WBCSD Tire Industry Project and UNGC.

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

The company reports multiple collaborations, some of which include the collaboration with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) to help Thai natural rubber farmers improve the quality and productivity of their natural rubber, collaboration with Professor Sara of the Prince of Songkla University, an expert in agroforestry, to provide training courses on agroforestry to natural rubber farmers in Surat Thani district of Thailand. In September 2024, the company also announced participating as an official partner institution in an international joint research project for "Utilization Technology of Rubber Seeds for Green Products to Mitigate Global Warming and Plastic Pollution" which aims to solve environmental problems through the effective use of natural rubber seeds. This project has been selected as a research project for the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program, which is jointly operated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), with support from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

The company published an integrated report in 2024 which includes sustainability-related matters.

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

The company has published its Forest, Water, and Climate 2023 CDP Questionnaires.

11. Climate risks assessment available?

The company published a climate risk assessment including potential risks, metrics, targets, and processes used to assess or manage climate risks. Evidence is not externally verified.

12. Lists countries and operations?

Processing (Thailand), manufacturing (Japan, United States, Brazil, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Russia, Israel, Philippines).

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 all scheme/outgrower smallholders?

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

23. Maps 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?

1 - The company owns only one processing facility through its subsidiary Y.T. Rubber Co Ltd.

26. Maps of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

The name and address of the company's only processing facility is provided by the company.

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

The company manages no plantations, therefore all natural rubber is sourced from third parties.

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

The company manages no plantations, therefore all natural rubber is sourced from third parties.

29. Number of company owned natural rubber manufacturing facilities?

47 - The company reports it operates 47 natural rubber manufacturing facilities (Tyres: 35 / MB: 11 / natural rubber processing: 1)) as of 2023.

30. Maps of manufacturing facilities?

The names and addresses of all manufacturing facilities operated by the company are available.

31. Number of third party supplying processing facilities?

32. Maps of all third party supplying processing facilities?

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

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

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

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

The company reported that 100% of its natural rubber supply was traceable to the processing facility level (Tier 1) in 2023.

37. Percentage of supply traceable to processing facility level?

The company reports that 100% of its natural rubber suppliers (Tier 1) were surveyed as of 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

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

44. 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.

45. Percentage area (ha) FSC certified?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

52. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

As of 2023, 43 of the company's facilities are ISO 14001 certified. However, the certificates are not publicly available.

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

54. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

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

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

The company has a commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems but it is unclear if it applies to all suppliers.

56. Commitment to zero deforestation?

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

57. 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 all suppliers to zero deforestation in its reporting.

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

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

59. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

The company makes this commitment through the GPSNR Policy Framework. GPSNR defines natural rubber sourced from deforested areas or where HCVs have been degraded after 1 April 2019 to be non-conformant with its policy. The company's reporting defines deforestation for suppliers as the degradation of HCV areas and refers to the cut-off date as defined in the GPSNR policy framework.

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

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

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

62. 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.

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

The company reports it has been conducting surveys of natural rubber farms, focusing on suppliers of its only natural rubber processing facility- YTRC and as of December 2023, the company has surveyed a total of 667 farms and no deforestation activity has been confirmed. However, this information does not cover all suppliers and the deforestation recorded in all supplier operations since the company's cut-off date of 1 April 2019 is not available.

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in own operations since cut-off date?

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

65. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion in supplier operations since cut-off date?

The company commits suppliers to support the restoration of deforested and degraded rubber landscapes and specifies the cut-off date as defined in the GPSNR policy framework. However, it is unclear if suppliers are required to restore deforestation or conversion within their operations caused by themselves or third parties.

66. 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. No evidence for implementation could be found in the company's reporting.

67. Biodiversity policy?

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

68. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

69. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

73. Commitment to protect areas from illegal activities?

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

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

75. Evidence of protecting forest areas from illegal activities?

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

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

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

77. 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 all suppliers to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments in its reporting.

78. 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.

79. 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.

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

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

81. 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.

82. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

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

83. 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.

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

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

The company has conducted supplier environmental and social impact assessments, however, it is unclear if this is applied to all suppliers.

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

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

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

88. 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 suppliers to no planting on peatland in its reporting, however, it does not specify the depth or refer to a recognised definition of peat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

94. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices?

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

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

The company commits to support smallholders with GAPs training but does not require suppliers to use GAPs for tapping.

96. Evidence of best/sustainable tapping practices?

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

97. Commitment to zero burning?

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

98. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to no burning.

99. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

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

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

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

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

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

The company commits to reducing GHG emissions intensity (Scope 1 and 2) by 30% by the year 2026, compared to the 2019 baseline.

103. GHG emissions?

The company reports its GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) as 1,082 thousand tons and emissions intensity as 0.0011 (Thousand t/Millions of yen) for 2023. However, the emissions are reported per unit of sales rather than emissions per product.

104. GHG emissions from land use change in company's own operations (scope 1)?

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

105. GHG emissions from land use change in supplier operations (scope 3)?

106. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions?

The company reports a decrease in its GHG emissions (including scope 1 and scope 2 emissions) from 1,241 thousand tons in 2022 to 1,082 thousand tons in 2023. However, the emissions are reported per unit of sales rather than emissions per product and evidence is not externally verified.

107. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

The company uses the GHG Protocol methodology to calculate Scope 3 emissions.

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

The company reports it aims to reduce the standard consumption unit of water intake by 1% year-on-year at its domestic and overseas production sites. However, the commitment doesn't mention the units and also does not cover the processing operations of the company.

109. Water use intensity?

9164 - The company reports its total water withdrawal as 9,164 thousand m3 in 2023. However, the figures are not reported as intensity.

110. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

[Externally verified] The company reports no progress in its total water withdrawal in 2023 (9,164 thousand m3) as compared to 2022 (8,247 thousand m3). Water withdrawal figures for 2022 are externally verified by SGS, however, they do not cover all operations and are not reported as intensity.

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

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

113. Treatment of effluents from processing facilities?

The company reports that it operates a 'complete water circulation system' at its processing facility and does not discharge any plant effluent into waterways. Evidence is not externally verified.

114. Treatment of effluents from manufacturing facilities?

The company reports it has water treatment facilities installed at its production sites to treat effluents. Evidence is not externally verified.

115. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The company commits all suppliers to minimise the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

120. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

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

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

The company commits all suppliers to not use paraquat.

122. 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.

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

The company commits all suppliers to not use World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides.

124. 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.

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

The company commits all suppliers to not use Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention chemicals.

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

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

127. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser usage?

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

128. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

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

129. Commitment to human rights?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0) and the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership and 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 reporting.

130. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

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

131. Progress on human rights commitment?

The company states that in 2023, it held a Human Rights Due Diligence Workshop and conducted an impact assessment based on the identified three material human rights themes which include the working environment of foreign workers in Japan, impact on the working environments of workers and the environment of nearby residents at small holdings (Thailand, Indonesia, etc.) from which rubber raw materials are procured, and workplace environment for workers at contractors (manufacturing, distribution, sales, and disposal). The company also has a grievance mechanism for all stakeholders worldwide to report human rights grievances. Evidence is not externally verified.

132. Commitment to respect Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights?

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Policy for Association (FSC-POL-01-004 V2-0) and the GPSNR Policy Framework. Full points have therefore been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC certification/membership and alignment with GPSNR Policy Components that fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company also commits to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in its reporting.

133. Commitment to Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to respect Indigenous and local community rights. However, the commitment does not refer to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (no. 169).

134. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure 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 only commits to respect customary land tenure rights in its reporting.

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

The company only commits suppliers to respect customary land tenure rights.

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

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 respect FPIC in its own reporting.

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

The company commits all suppliers to respect FPIC.

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

The company commits to follow UN-REDD guidelines on the FPIC.

139. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company states that as a rule, it holds public meetings twice a year to communicate with the local community, but in light of COVID-19 infection prevention measures, the company has refrained from holding these meetings. The company has also set up consultation desks at each location to receive opinions from local residents and also has an inquiry desk on its corporate website. However, the information reported is not dated and the details on engagement activities are limited.

140. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

141. 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.

142. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

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

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

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

144. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

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

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

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

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

The company commits to provide work opportunities for local communities.

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

The company commits to all Fundamental ILO Conventions.

148. 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.

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

The company reports trainings and workshops on wokers' rights issues, as well as surveying foreign workers on working conditions and recommending improvements.

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

The company commits to respect ILO Convention 111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation).

151. 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.

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

The company has a 'Diversity & Inclusion Promotion Taskforce' to support career development for women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people in the organisation. Further, in 2023, it has also conducted training on subjects like harassment, quality misconduct and diversity & inclusion. Evidence is not externally verified.

153. Reports gender balance of employees?

437 (1.29%) - The company reports that it has 437 temporary employees out of 33,617 total employees in 2023.

154. Percentage or number of women employees?

14.9% - The company reports 14.90% females as a part of its workforce in 2023.

155. Commitment to pay a living wage?

The company only commits to pay minimum wage to its employees. A commitment to pay a living wage could be found.

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

The company only commits all suppliers to pay minimum wage to all workers.

157. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

The company only states that it pays salaries above the regional minimum wage at all 145 sites of its production and sales companies in Japan and overseas. However, evidence that workers are paid minimum wage through reporting legal minimum wages alongside minimum wages or through reporting the ratio of living wage to local minimum wage by country of operation, paid by the company is not available.

158. Reporting of salary by gender?

159. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

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

160. 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.

161. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

[Externally verified] Limited, externally verified points have been awarded on the basis of the company's FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1) as the requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT indicator criteria. The company's own reporting only states that it provides personal protective equipment.

162. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

0.28 - The company reports a Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR ) of 0.28 in 2023. Calculated as the number of work-related injuries / total working hours) × 1,000,000 hours.

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

0 - The company reported zero work-related fatalities in its operations in 2022. However, the information reported is over two years old now.

164. 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 support smallholders in its own reporting.

165. Percentage of supply from smallholders?

166. Programme to support scheme smallholders/outgrowers?

The company reports that it regularly holds seminar events on agroforestry to improve the quality of natural rubber in collaboration with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) with the aim of continuously supporting small-scale natural rubber farmers (smallholders). Additionally, in collaboration with Professor Sara of the Prince of Songkla University, an expert in agroforestry, training courses have been provided on agroforestry to natural rubber farmers in Surat Thani district, the company acting as a liaison bridge between Professor Sara and farmers, and providing training venues. The type of smallholders supported is unclear.

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

The company reports that 50 farmers in the Surat Thani region attended a seminar and were provided with 250 kg of fertiliser free of charge per farmer using RAOT's knowledge under the company's collaboration with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). In 2022, 57 farmers participated in the training course provided by the company in collaboration with Professor Sara of the Prince of Songkla University. The type of smallholders supported through these initiatives is unclear.

168. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company reports that it regularly holds seminar events on agroforestry to improve the quality of natural rubber in collaboration with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) with the aim of continuously supporting small-scale natural rubber farmers (smallholders). Additionally, in collaboration with Professor Sara of the Prince of Songkla University, an expert in agroforestry, training courses have been provided on agroforestry to natural rubber farmers in Surat Thani district, the company acting as a liaison bridge between Professor Sara and farmers, and providing training venues. The type of smallholders supported is unclear.

169. Percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

The company reports that 50 farmers in the Surat Thani region attended a seminar and were provided with 250 kg of fertiliser free of charge per farmer using RAOT's knowledge under the company's collaboration with the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT). In 2022, 57 farmers participated in the training course provided by the company in collaboration with Professor Sara of the Prince of Songkla University. The type of smallholders supported through these initiatives is unclear.

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

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

667 - The company reports that it has surveyed 667 farms as of December 2023. However, these figures only focus on the suppliers of the company's natural rubber processing facility and the type of smallholders (industrial plantations or smallholders) assessed is unclear. Additionally, the information is not externally verified.

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

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

667 - The company reports that it has surveyed 667 farms as of December 2023. However, these figures only focus on the suppliers of the company's natural rubber processing facility and the type of smallholders (industrial plantations or smallholders) assessed is unclear. Additionally, the information is not externally verified.

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

The company makes this commitment through the FSC Chain of Custody Certification Standard (FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1). Partial points have been awarded as the requirements do not fully meet the SPOTT scoring criteria. The company independently reports that its entire supply chain must follow its procurement policy for sustainable natural rubber and provides steps to be taken if a supplier is not in compliance. However, no timeframes are reported by the company.

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

176. Proportion of supply from suppliers that is verified as deforestation- and/or conversion-free (DCF)?

177. Percentage of supply coming from agroforestry?

The company reports that it has supported 57 farmers as of 2022 to adopt the agroforestry method in Thailand. However, it is unclear how much of the company's supply is sourced from agroforestry systems. Additionally, the information is not externally verified.

178. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

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

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

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

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

The company reports that it provides training on corruption and bribery and has a corruption risk assessment procedure to assess corruption-related risks in its business operations. Evidence is not externally verified.

181. Disclosure of the company's management approach to tax and payments to governments?

The company has published its tax policy and states that the General Manager of the Corporate Administration Division of the company is responsible for its review.

182. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company has published its whistleblowing procedure.

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

The company reports that grievances from all domestic and overseas stakeholders can be reported through JaCER's grievance reporting platform. This grievance reporting platform is accessible to anyone through the company's Contact Us webpage on the website.

184. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?

The company reports grievances.