Environmental Communications

Fostering Environmental Awareness

Sumitomo Pharma conducts a variety of environmental education initiatives aimed at giving employees a broad knowledge of environmental challenges such as global warming, as well as getting employees to participate in a wide range of environmental conservation activities not only within the company but also at home and in their communities. In April each year we provide new employees with education focused on global environmental challenges and Sumitomo Pharma's environmental conservation activities. We also conduct appropriate environmental education for employees in plants and research laboratories, while raisinfg employees' awareness in other workplaces through environmental education and events geared to each site.
As June is designated as Environment Month in Japan, several activities are organized to enhance employees' awareness and understanding of environmental issues. As part of this effort, the chairperson of the Environmental and Safety Committee delivers an annual message, regular online environmental education sessions are provided to all employees, and various company-wide events are conducted. During Environment Month 2024, the theme was "Carbon Neutrality," and the chairperson's message was shared and environmental education was provided.

Communication with Investors

As institutional investors become increasingly interested in companies' environmental, social, and governance-related (ESG) performances, we engage in more appropriate disclosure of environmental information and have a dialogue with institutional investors. Fronm fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2022, we held annual ESG Meetings to enhance investors' and analysts' understanding of our environmental initiatives, gather their feedback, and incorporate it into future initiatives. We also gain insights into societal expectations through two-way communication in individual meetings with institutional investors and analysts, and incorporate this feedback into our future initiatives.

For more information on ESG Meetings, please see "Presentation/ Webcast."

Communication with Subsidiaries

Communication with Group Companies

Sumitomo Pharma hold an annual meeting with all of its subsidiaries in Japan to exchange information on environment and safety to enhance levels of management in these areas. Moreover, we conduct an environment, health and safety (EHS) audit at Japanese subsidiaries and the Suzhou plant of Sumitomo Pharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.* in China, our only overseas subsidiaries that has production functions, and we confirm compliance with various laws and regulations and fair and appropriate implementation of voluntary environmental and safety activities. In principle, we conduct EHS audits at each Japanese subsidiary every three year.
Although the Suzhou plant has not undergone an EHS audit since fiscal 2019, we continue to exchange information on initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water withdrawal. Similar exchanges are also conducted with Sumitomo Pharma America.

  • *As of fiscal 2024

Communication with Local Communities

We conduct employee participatory environmental communication activities. Employees at each business site actively take part in environmental conservation activities, such as cleaning riverbeds and community cleanups. We also conducted a forest conservation initiative at the Sumitomo Pharma Forest in Kishiwada City, Osaka, from October 2015 to September 2023 in collaboration with the local non-profit organization Konoyama Conservation Club.

For more information on Sumitomo Pharma Forest, please see "Biodiversity."

Communication with Business Partners

Based on our "Sustainable Code of Conduct for Business Partners," we have initiated the Sustainability Survey of our business partners to realize a sustainable society and environment throughout the value chain, and to collaborate with our business partners towards this goal. The main environmental evaluation items in the Sustainability Survey are as follows:

Main Environmental Evaluation Items
  • Existence of an environmental policy
  • Status of environmental education
  • Calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, target setting, and reduction efforts
  • Monitoring of energy consumption, proportion of renewable energy, and energy-saving efforts
  • Monitoring of amount of water withdrawal and water discharged, identification and management of pollutants in wastewater, water-saving and recycling efforts
  • Monitoring of total waste generation and hazardous waste generation, waste reduction and recycling efforts
  • Emergency response measures for accidental leaks
  • Preventive measures for sensory pollution (noise, vibration, odor)

For more details on the Sustainability Survey, please see "Together with Business Partners."