Yamaha Motor’s Green Supply Chain Push

Yamaha Motor, known globally for its motorcycles, is on a mission to embed sustainability across its supply chain, with a special focus on reducing Scope 3 emissions.

These emissions, linked to the full lifecycle of products, from raw material extraction to product use and disposal, form a critical part of Yamaha’s environmental strategy.

By 2050, Yamaha aims for net-zero CO2 emissions, targeting a 90% cut in product-use emissions compared to 2010 levels.

This move is backed by the Yamaha Motor Group Environmental Plan 2050, which sets clear goals for minimising environmental impact across its supply chain, including production and logistics.

Yoshihiro Hidaka, President of Yamaha Motor, speaks passionately about the company’s environmental focus: “Our mission as the Yamaha Motor Group is to be a ‘Kando* Creating Company’—bringing excitement and fulfilment to lives worldwide. But we’re also committed to fulfilling our social responsibilities on a global scale.”

Collaborations to track and reduce carbon

One of the key challenges in reducing Scope 3 emissions lies in visibility and control over upstream and downstream processes.

To tackle this, Yamaha has forged a vital partnership with Shippeo, a leader in supply chain visibility. By using Shippeo’s advanced tracking technology, Yamaha can monitor its global supply chain in real time, from ports to ships.

This enables better decision-making and logistical efficiency, ultimately cutting carbon emissions linked to transportation.

Yamaha is leveraging these insights to optimise logistics, reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of goods as they move through the supply chain.

In doing so, Yamaha hopes to reduce its carbon footprint across the product lifecycle, urging its business partners to follow suit in cutting emissions and embracing sustainability.

Cutting emissions through sustainable materials

A major stride in Yamaha’s Scope 3 emissions reduction plan involves using sustainable materials across its supply chain. In a landmark initiative, Yamaha is set to use low-carbon, recycled steel sheets for packaging frames in motorcycle shipments.

This innovation—rolling out from October 2024—marks a Japanese first, as Yamaha plans to use steel sourced from scrap iron for its motorcycle packaging frames.

This recycled steel is far less carbon-intensive than traditional methods that rely on iron ore and coke, offering a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.

The material, sourced from scrap iron from demolished buildings and old appliances, is carefully tested to ensure it meets the required standards. Yamaha’s collaboration with Tokyo Steel on this project underscores its commitment to increasing the use of recycled materials, aligning with its broader sustainability goals.

This shift isn’t just limited to packaging. Yamaha has set its sights on transitioning to green materials across various parts of its manufacturing process, aiming to decrease the environmental footprint of its entire supply chain.

Taking the lead on Scope 3 emissions

Yamaha’s focus on Scope 3 emissions reflects its understanding that real sustainability comes from addressing the full lifecycle of its products.

While internal operations, like production and logistics, play a role, it’s the upstream and downstream emissions that Yamaha is working hard to minimise. Whether through more efficient supply chains, tracking carbon emissions, or adopting green materials, Yamaha is setting a strong example in the mobility industry.

As Hidaka reiterates, the journey toward sustainability is a responsibility Yamaha takes seriously: "We’re driven not only by the need to meet customer expectations but by the desire to leave the planet in a better state for future generations."

Yamaha Motor’s steps towards integrating sustainable materials, improving logistics efficiency, and focusing on Scope 3 emissions are clear indicators of its leadership in the move towards a greener future.

Through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to cutting emissions, Yamaha is not only improving its own practices but also challenging its entire supply chain to follow suit.

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