SRI Sports firmly believes in the advancement of sustainable development and corporate organization based on environmentally sound principles. The preservation of our natural environment is an equally shared international responsibility. Guided by principle, we have taken comprehensive initiatives to ensure that every facet of the operations of our corporation will contribute to ensuring the stability of our ecosystem. We believe this to be our fundamental duty both as a corporation that is continually earning the trust of society and as one that seeks always to maintain a close connection with the natural world.
Our Ichijima Factory (Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture) received ISO 14001 certification in 1998 and is promoting its maintenance and management. Furthermore, in 2009, our headquarters, as well as our subsidiary, the tennis ball manufacturing factory of Srixon Sports Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd., also received ISO14001 certification. Our company group will continue to promote comprehensive environmental conservation activities.
In June, 2005, by entirely eliminating the production of waste, we attained complete zero emissions status at our Ichijima factory.
The Road to Zero Emissions Status
| May, 1998 | Acquisition of ISO-14001 Compliance at our Ichijima factory. |
|---|---|
| October, 1999 | Establishment of our zero emissions task force. Introduction of initiatives to reduce waste and increase recycling. |
| December, 2001 | Attainment of basic zero emission status and the removal of our incinerator. |
| June, 2005 | Attainment of complete zero emission status. |
We have introduced initiatives to reduce our use of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), a common component in the production of golf balls. Since the year 2000, we have been able to reduce our use of VOCs by 60% and on December 12, 2007, Japan's Ministry of the Environment publicly commended our efforts for VOC reduction and the preservation of the atmosphere by recognizing us as a distinguished entity working for the cause of atmospheric and environmental protection.
To contribute to the Sumitomo Rubber Group's environmental preservation activities by serving as a focal point for tree-planting, the Ichijima Factory has cultivated saplings since 2000, sending them to all locations as well as maintaining the verdant surroundings of the Factory and Golf Science Center. The number of saplings, seedlings, plants, and cuttings planted between 2000 and 2009 reached 27,581.
The Ichijima Factory has also created an attractive garden with pink flowering plants along the slopes facing the local highway to delight visitors and passerby alike.
In recognition of such achievements as the tree-planting efforts undertaken by all staff as well as local contributions to coexistence with nature, the Ichijima Factory received the President's Award of the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center at the 27th National Assembly for Encouragement of Factories with Outstanding Green Space Environment in 2008, sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Since March 2009, we have implemented a "virtual tree planting program" throughout the company in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions. In this program, employees calculate the amount of CO2 emissions they have saved through environmental initiatives in their work and daily lives and express it in terms of how many cedar trees it would take to absorb an equivalent amount of CO2. These trees are said to have been "virtually planted".
As of the end of August, 2010, the program achieved its objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 240 tons, the equivalent of planting 17,200 virtual trees (the number of trees required to cover the entire area occupied by SRI Sports Group's office and production facilities with greenery).
The environmental awareness sown and cultivated via this program has taken root in our employees' work and daily lives.
