Basic Approach to Biodiversity
The NAGASE Group recognizes that taking into account, maintaining, and conserving biodiversity, which supports ecosystem services (supply services, regulating services, habitat services, cultural services), is an important environmental issue.
Based on this recognition, with regard to business activities that may have a significant impact on biodiversity, we will strive to understand how we depend on biodiversity and what kind of impact we are having, and to minimize our impact on biodiversity and contribute to its recovery.
Membership in the RSPO (full membership)
In August 2017, NAGASE & CO., LTD. joined Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which aims to procure palm oil that is environmentally sustainable, and is promoting the spread of sustainability throughout the supply chain by participating in meetings and briefing sessions. We have set a target to procure 100% sustainable palm oil by the end of FY2025.
Targets and progress
| Disclosure item | Target item | Boundary | Targets for FY2020 | Results for FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biodiversity |
Business activities that may have an impact Sustainable palm oil procurement |
Group |
Qualitative: In line with the NAGASE Group's Basic Approach to Biodiversity, with regard to business activities that may have a significant impact on biodiversity, we will strive to understand how we depend on biodiversity and what kind of impact we are having, and to minimize our impact on biodiversity and contribute to its recovery. Quantitative: Sustainable palm oil procurement 100% (in FY2025) |
Qualitative: Achievement Quantitative: Progress in FY2020 RSPO certified oil ratio (%): 68.2% |
Business activity policy
The NAGASE Group conducts business based on its environmental policy and basic approach to biodiversity.
New business
In order to achieve a balance between biodiversity and business activities, we conduct surveys and assessments of the impact of new businesses on the overall environment, including the conservation of forests and biodiversity, and of the effective use of resources, energy, and water resources, and strive to conserve the environment and reduce our impact.
Existing business
As part of the environmental management system of the Group's ISO 14001 management organization, we assess the impact of our existing businesses on biodiversity throughout the value chain, formulate action plans, and manage progress.
Examples of initiatives
Initiatives for ecosystem conservation in the Hayashida River Basin
Nagase ChemteX Corporation
The NAGASE Group considers biodiversity conservation at its production sites to be an important issue. The Harima Plant of Nagase ChemteX Corporation is located in the Hayashida River basin, a tributary of the Ibo River in Hyogo Prefecture. In order to conserve biodiversity, the plant works with the Ibogawa River Fisheries Cooperative Association to carry out conservation activities (through the payment of cooperative fees, etc.) in the basin, where sweetfish, amur goby, and aucha perch (an endangered species) grow.
Cooperation with NGOs / Biodiversity initiatives
Nagase ChemteX Corporation
The NAGASE Group considers forest conservation as an important issue. Since 2010, Nagase ChemteX Corporation has been sending used stamps to the Tanzania Pole Pole Club, an NPO, to support their tree-planting activities on Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, East Africa), a World Heritage Site, as well as self-reliance in activities and improvement of livelihoods.
Promotion of environmentally friendly sustainable plastics
The NAGASE Group considers the promotion of environmentally friendly sustainable plastics as an important issue. NAGASE & CO., LTD. handles TENITE™ cellulose, a biomaterial made from wood, as a Japanese agent of Eastman Chemical Company. TENITE™ cellulose is manufactured from conifers that have been systematically harvested from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®).
It is a resin material made by replacing some of the hydroxyl groups of cellulose with acetic anhydride, propionic acid or butyric acid, and adding an additive (plasticizer) to make it moldable. The percentage of bio-materials is about 40% to 50%. NAGASE will continue to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity by promoting TENITE™ cellulose, an environmentally friendly sustainable plastic.
TENITE™ manufacturing process
