Biodiversity
At Sumitomo Pharma, we recognize that our business activities reap significant benefits from biodiversity and
that the environmental impact associated with our business activities can have various effects on
biodiversity. We annually confirm that there are no significant changes in the environmental load volume,
which is shown as the environmental conservation effect in environmental accounting, compared to the previous
year, regarding the natural dependencies and impacts of our business activities.
Raising the awareness of individuals and long-term initiatives are also important for the conservation of
biodiversity and sustainable use of its components. We have set for ourselves a goal of "proactive
participation in community activities that contribute to biodiversity" and have been actively engaged in
social contribution activities such as environmental conservation efforts in cooperation with diverse
organizations and groups.
Our policy and goals are compatible with Keidanren Declaration for Biodiversity and Guideline (Revised Edition)*, which aims to realize a sustainable society through building a society in harmony with nature, and we endorse its aim.
For more information on the environmental conservation effect in
environmental accounting, please see "Environmental Goals and
Performance."
- *Keidanren Declaration for Biodiversity and Guideline: https://www.keidanren.or.jp/en/policy/2023/082_proposal.html
Relationship between Our Business Activities and Biodiversity
We have summarized the relationship between our business activities and biodiversity, along with our
initiatives, in the table below.
We plan to conduct more detailed analysis in the future and move towards identifying and evaluating risks
and opportunities.
| Item | Business Activities | Relationship with Biodiversity | Our Initiatives | Details of Initiatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Emissions | Raw material procurement Transportation (upstream) Research & development, production (direct operations) Transportation (downstream) Usage |
Climate change due to the increase in GHG in the atmosphere is deteriorating the living environment of organisms. | Sumitomo Pharma Group has obtained certification from the Science Based Targets initiative in November 2023, and has developed a roadmap for reducing GHG emissions in Scope 1 and 2, and is working towards achieving the targets. For Scope 3, we are also working towards achieving the targets through collaboration with the CDP Supply Chain Program and our business partners. | Contributing to
Building a Low-carbon Society Information Disclosure Based on TCFD Recommendations (Response to Climate Change) |
| Water Resource Utilization | Raw material procurement Research & development, production (direct operations) |
Excessive water usage can lead to the deterioration of water sources and impact the surrounding ecosystem. | Water resources are essential for our business activities, including pharmaceutical manufacturing. We have set a Mid- to Long-term Environmental Goals of "reducing water withdrawal by 12% from fiscal 2018 level by fiscal 2030," and are working to reduce water withdrawal. | Effective Use of Resources |
| Emissions to Air and Water | Raw material procurement Research & development, production (direct operations) |
Soil, air, and water pollution caused by chemicals can deteriorate the living environment of living organisms. | We have installed recovery equipment for major chlorinated solvents to prevent leakage into the environment. We have also set voluntary standards that are stricter than the environmental standards for wastewater from our main production and some research sites to prevent environmental pollution. | Effective Use of Resources |
| Waste Generation | Raw material procurement Transportation (upstream) Research & development, production (direct operations) Transportation (downstream) Usage |
Improper disposal of waste, especially hazardous waste, can cause pollution and deteriorate the living environment of organisms. | We have set numerical targets for the recycling rate and final disposal rate of waste, and have also set a target for the recycling rate of waste plastics, actively working on the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) of waste. | Effective Use of Resources |
| Utilization of Energy Resources, Biological Resources, etc. | Raw material procurement Research & development, production (direct operations) |
Overexploitation or overconsumption of resources can lead to species extinction and irreversible degradation of ecosystem services. | We are working on resource conservation and effective use of resources through the implementation of green procurement guidelines for office supplies, converting waste into valuable materials, and entrusting recyclable waste to recycling contractors, as well as promoting energy conservation. We also request our business partners to work on "environmental efficiency" and "sustainable resource procurement and traceability" through the "Sustainable Code of Conduct for Business Partners," and conduct surveys on the initiatives of our major suppliers. | Environmental
Communications Contributing to Building a Low-carbon Society Effective Use of Resources Sustainable Code of Conduct for Business Partners |
| Use of Genetically Modified Organisms | Research & development (direct operations) | Genetically modified organisms, depending on their characteristics, may cause a rapid decline in wild animals and plants, and are of concern for their potential impact on biodiversity. | When conducting gene recombination experiments for drug discovery research, we comply with the Act on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity through Regulations on the Use of Living Modified Organisms (Cartagena Act) and ensure their safety management. | Drug Discovery Research / Product Development Research |
Owls Forest Conservation Project at the Sumitomo Pharma Forest
Shortage of manpower for the proper maintenance of forests in Japan today is a serious problem, sounding an alarm to deterioration of forests' biodiversity conservation function. Invasion by pervasive bamboos is particularly serious in many places, and is adversely affecting conservation of biodiversity. The importance of collaborative forest restoration efforts among the government, business and local communities is strongly felt for sustainable maintenance of healthy forests.
Between October 2015 and September 2020, Sumitomo Pharma participated in the Owls Forest Restoration
Project,
which was promoted by the City of Kishiwada, Osaka. Within the framework of Osaka Prefecture's "Adopt
Forest"
program, we worked together with a local NPO called Konoyama Conservation Club.
We named a 0.45-hectare-large portion of satoyama natural woodland in Sangayama-cho, Kishiwada City as
"Sumitomo Pharma Forest" to rejuvenate and maintain the rich natural environment where owls--the apex
predator
of the ecological pyramid in this area--can live. With this aim in mind, we responsibly endeavored to form a
sound satoyama environment through a five-year plan. As a result, Sumitomo Pharma Forest and its surrounding
forests have been improved, with owls returning to nest boxes installed near the Forest and restoration of
the
ecosystem being observed.
In order to maintain and improve this ecosystem, we engaged in environmental conservation activities in this
area as part of “Owls Forest Conservation Project” from October 2020 to September 2023.
The status of Sumitomo Pharma Forest activities in which employees and their families have participated is as follows.
| Fiscal year | Participants |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2021 | 13 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2019 | 128 |
| 2018 | 127 |
| 2017 | 187 |
| 2016 | 166 |
| 2015 | 136 |
Splints were installed using felled bamboo to clearly distinguish between planted trees and weeds (April, 2023)
At the start of each activity, explain the purpose of the activity and safety measures (May, 2023)
Installing a fence using felled bamboo around a pond in the Sumitomo Pharma Forest (May, 2023)
Comment from the Person in Charge
We continually engaged in this project for eight years, starting from October 2015 until September 2023. Sumitomo Pharma Forest has changed significantly since the start of the project. As a result of cutting down bamboo and continual management, many different animals and plants have appeared, and owls came back to neighboring forests. Although the project came to a close in September 2023 due to some positive outcomes observed, I believe the significance of our initiative remains profound. It brought together many employees under the common objective of recreating and maintaining a rich natural environment that can be a suitable habitat for owls.
Yumi Masui and Shinjiro Kori
CSR Group, Corporate Communications
(The divisions that the person featured in this article belonged to and the names of those divisions are
current as of the time of the interview.)