Yokohama continues Forever Forest in US

Through its “Forever Forest” programme, Yokohama Rubber and its subsidiaries aim to create verdant surroundings at Yokohama facilities around the world; the intention is to plant more than half a million trees by 2017, a goal Yokohama is almost halfway towards achieving. The company’s US tyre operation, Yokohama Tire Corporation launched the second phase of its Forever Forest activities on 7 December with the planting of more than 300 seedlings at its headquarters. This second phase planting in Fullerton, California followed the inaugural event held in December 2010 when Yokohama Tire Corporation planted more than 500 tree seedlings.

“I am pleased to advance Yokohama’s environmental efforts in the United States,” said Yasushi Tanaka, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corporation. “Yokohama has made a major commitment to protecting earth and the results of the Forever Forest program will be a symbol of that commitment for many years to come.”

A variety of trees indigenous to the area were selected for planting including sugar bush, California holly and five species of oak trees consisting of coast live oak, canyon live oak, Engelmann oak, scrub oak and lakeside lilac. These trees, once mature, can absorb up to 48 pounds or 22 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide per year.

Now in its fifth year, the Forever Forest project has been implemented in Japan, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the US.