Sumitomo Chemical to Participate in a "Conservation Site for Human-Nature Symbiosis" Certification Trial Program by the Ministry of the Environment for the Miyoshima Area at its Ehime Works

Jun. 1, 2022

Sumitomo Chemical will participate in a "Conservation Site for Human-Nature Symbiosis" (tentative name) certification trial program launched by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, applying for certification of the Miyoshima area^*1 on the site of its Ehime Works (Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture). In its new Corporate Business Plan for fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2024 announced in March of this year, the Company has made a commitment to transform its business portfolio with the aim of advancing a broadly-defined green transformation (GX) and help resolve major social issues, such as carbon neutrality and ecosystem conservation.

As part of the efforts to achieve in Japan the "30 by 30” target—an international commitment to conserve at least 30% of global land and of global ocean by 2030^*2—the government plans to build a system to certify geographical areas where biodiversity is conserved by the efforts of private companies and local governments as Conservation Sites for Human-Nature Symbiosis. To prepare for the launch of the system scheduled for fiscal 2023, assessment processes will be tried and verified in this fiscal year under the trial program. Sumitomo Chemical will participate in this trial, applying for certification of the Miyoshima area, which has been found to be inhabited by rare species such as peregrine falcons and is considered to have value in terms of biodiversity conservation, and cooperate in the establishment of a Conservation Site for Human-Nature Symbiosis certification system.

Sumitomo Chemical recognizes that conservation of ecosystems is a material management issue. The Company established "Sumitomo Chemical's Commitment to the Conservation of Biodiversity" in 2011, and has been operating under this commitment. Regarding the 30 by 30 target, the Company acknowledges the significance of the commitment, and has engaged in the 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity^*3, a voluntary initiative organized by companies, local governments and organizations, from its beginning.

Going forward, Sumitomo Chemical will remain committed to taking care of the environment in its business activities and conserving ecosystems in the local communities where it operates. At the same time, the Company will strive to develop and provide products and technologies that contribute to protecting ecosystems and step up its conservation efforts.

*1   Originally an island in the Seto Inland Sea, the Miyoshima area became a land-tied island due to reclamation during the expansion of Ehime Works in the Showa era, and is now a green area inside Ehime Works (upper left part of the photo, where vegetation can be seen).
*2   One of the draft targets for the post-2020 biodiversity framework, which is internationally discussed and expected to be adopted at 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) to be held this year. At the G7 Summit held in June 2021, the member countries pledged to achieve the 30 by 30 target.
*3   A multi-stakeholder platform to promote the efforts to achieve the 30 by 30 target, established in April 2022 by 17 proposer institutions from the industrial, private and public sectors, including the Ministry of the Environment. As of May 25, 2022, it has 184 participants, including companies, local governments, NPOs and other institutions.

Reference

"30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity" Website

Contact

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Dept.
https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/contact/public/