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Sumitomo Chemical to Revise Biodiversity Guideline
Feb. 13, 2025
Sumitomo Chemical, aiming to create a society where humans live in harmony with nature, established the Sumitomo Chemical Biodiversity Guideline ("the Guideline") in 2011. Since then, the Company has proactively disclosed information about its initiatives and engaged in dialogue with stakeholders both inside and outside the Company. Sumitomo Chemical hereby announces that it has made revisions to the Guideline.
Key points of the revision
- Beyond the conservation of biodiversity, Sumitomo Chemical will also work toward the conservation and restoration of natural capital*1.
- These initiatives will be integrated with efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality and circular economy.
- Sumitomo Chemical will promote these initiatives from the perspectives of both obligation*2 and contribution*3, and will continuously engage in societal contribution and awareness-raising activities.
One of Sumitomo Chemical’s management philosophies is to contribute to the development of human society through its business activities. Since the Company’s founding, it has carefully cultivated a culture of environmental conservation and has addressed biodiversity through the promotion of responsible care activities.
Following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in December 2022, the Japanese government declared its aim to achieve a nature-positive*4 economy through The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Japan 2023-2030 announced in March 2023. In addition, in March 2024, the Japanese government positioned the concept of nature conservation as a key issue in the value creation process of companies in the Transition Strategies toward a Nature Positive Economy. As a result, companies are increasingly required to contribute to these initiatives. In line with this trend, the Sumitomo Chemical Group has been expanding its initiatives, which has led to this revision.
The Sumitomo Chemical Group will continue to promote initiatives towards a nature-positive world. It aims to create a society where humans live in harmony with nature through the power of chemistry.
*1 Capital made of natural resources including forests, soil, water, the atmosphere, underground resources, and biological resources. Natural capital is one of the essential forms of capital that support people’s lives and the foundations of corporations.
*2 Continuously reducing the environmental impact of Sumitomo Chemical’s business activities and endeavoring to conserve and restore biodiversity and natural capital by taking characteristics of local communities into consideration and cooperating with stakeholders in the Company’s supply chains.
・ Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy and processes
・ Appropriate chemical substance management
・ Reduction of waste emissions
・ Effective use of water resources
・ Promotion of sustainable procurement initiatives
*3 Contributing to conserving and restoring biodiversity and natural capital across Sumitomo Chemical’s value chain through the development and provision of technologies, products, and services.
・ Provision of products and technologies that promote regenerative agriculture
・ Development and implementation in society of technologies that contribute to recycling plastics and other resources
・ Provision of products, technologies, and services that contribute to GHG emissions reduction
*4 Halting and reversing biodiversity loss to put nature back on a path to recovery.
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https://www.sumitomo-chem.co.jp/english/contact/sustainability/