Conservation and Effective Use of Wood Resources

  As one of earth's depleting natural resources the scarcity of wood remains an ongoing concern. Forests that give birth to this vital resource also serve as CO₂ sinks while simultaneously supporting biodiversity. Ironically, as important as we know forests to be to environmental protection, their rapid depletion is alarming.

  Among the instruments that the Yamaha Group produces, including pianos as well as string, percussion, and woodwind instruments, many require a primarily wood construction for acoustic reasons. Large amounts of wood are also used when making electronic musical instruments, speakers and soundproof rooms, due to the merits of wood in terms of acoustic performance, function, design, and texture.

  Considering the large amount of timber used in our business operations, the Group established the Yamaha Timber Procurement and Usage Guidelines in fiscal 2007. The guidelines indicate the direction of our timber usage in order to better conserve this precious resource as well as ensure its availability for continued use.

  The guidelines help the Group accomplish procurement that is friendly to the environment and the biodiversity within its ecosystems, and meet it aims to maximize the use of timber without waste.

•  Yamaha Timber Procurement and Usage Guidelines

  The decline of timber resources makes it more difficult each year to stably acquire the wood materials needed for musical instruments and other products in good condition. The Yamaha Group strives to eliminate waste, while making full and efficient use of wooden materials, and to proactively introduce wood cultivated specifically for industrial purposes on sustainably planned plantations.

  In addition, while developing alternative materials that accurately reproduce the sound quality of rare wood materials best suited for making instruments, we are focusing on technological developments that contribute to the effective use of wood resources. One such development is A.R.E.^*1, a new technology for aging new wood by artificial means to create the ideal quality that old instruments possess.

  Moreover, since no organic solvents or chemical substances are required, this technology reduces Yamaha's environmental load. Artists have also praised the A.R.E. technology for producing new instruments with well-used timbre.

  Praised for these features, A.R.E. was presented with top honors by the Prime Minister of Japan at the third Monozukuri (Manufacturing) Nippon Grand Awards in 2009. Additionally, it was awarded the special prize at the nationwide Asahi Shimbun Invention Awards in 2010. Going forward, Yamaha plans to make wide use of A.R.E. technology.

• *1 A.R.E.: Acoustic Resonance Enhancement Yamaha's proprietary technology for aging wood in a short time to improve its acoustic characteristics

Examples of Products Created in Response to Resource Depletion

(1)Examples of Products Made Using Afforested Timber (Preserving Native Forests)

The RGX A2 Series electric guitar

The ROCK TOUR series system drums

(2)Examples of Products Made Using Rare Wood Alternatives

The acoustic quality of Acoustalon™ marimba bars, produced from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, is equal to bars made of traditional rare wood, a depleting resource.

Ebony-style natural wood sharps made with a proprietary wood plastic composite (WPC) reproduce sound on par with optimum ebony sharps.

(3)Examples of A.R.E. Products

The LL36ARE acoustic guitar	The BB2024 electric bass
The NCX2000FM electronic nylon string guitar	Used for stage flooring in Yamaha Hall in the Yamaha Ginza Building, opened February 2010