The tree planting is part of Yokohama's "Forever Forest", a long-term project being carried out as part of the YRC's environmental preservation activities. As forests are created around factories and similar facilities, they will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will contribute to their local communities in many other ways, including providing an evacuation site at time of earthquake.
At its Hiratsuka factory (located 38 miles southwest of Tokyo), 30,000 trees have already been planted as part of this initiative. The ceremonial planting, supervised by Professor Emeritus Akira Miyawaki of Yokohama National University, attracted more than 3,500 people to the facility. Dr. Miyawaki is a biologist known for the concept of "potential natural vegetation", choosing plants that are supported by existing conditions without human intervention. He has guided more than 1,500 tree-planting efforts worldwide and helped plant 30 million trees. Also participating in the ceremony was former Formula One driver Ukyo Katayama and noted Japanese automotive journalist Tadashi Tateuchi.
All of Yokohama's facilities are certified ISO-14001 compliant for environmental quality planning.
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global producer and distributor of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation offers a complete line of tires, including high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, as well as off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com. For details on Yokohama's environmental efforts, go to www.ecotreadsetters.com.
