Outcomes of private sector
activities after COP10

CASEBOOK ON
BIODIVERSITY ENGAGEMENTSBY PRIVATE SECTOR
References for business operators

CASE

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Ministry of the Environment
Government of JapanE SECTOR

Table of contents●

Intr o d uct i on

2●

Biodiversity Engagements by Private Sector: Progress to Date

4●

How to Use this Casebook / Major Awards for Biodiversity Engagements

5●

Aichi Biodiversity Targets / Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

6●

Case example
Raw Material Procurement
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Joint Tagging Survey of Skipjack oﬀ the Paciﬁc Coast of Japan and a Series of Cooperative Projects and Enlightenment Activities
Aleph Inc. Procurement of sustainable rice, bearing biodiversity in mind

Sekisui House, Ltd. Implementation of the "Wood Procurement Guidelines" / promotion of native tree species planting under the Gohon no Ki landscaping project
Tsubame Towel Co., Ltd. Permanent replace of raw material to organic cottons

Panasonic Corporation Introduction of MSC-/ASC-certiﬁed seafood as an ingredient in their corporate cafeteria for the ﬁrst time in Japan

7
8
9

10
11

Utilization of Biological Resources
KOKUYO Co., Ltd. Collaborative forest management with the community and productization of oﬃce furniture / stationery made of thinned wood

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited Conservation activities for medicinal plants and the “WAKUWAKU SHIZEN FUREAI-TAI” program

12
13

Production / Processing
Suntory Holdings Limited Water resource cultivation / preserving biodiversity: Natural Water Sanctuary activities

14

Groundwater recharge with rice paddy ﬁelds / biodiversity initiative in cooperation with NGOs

15

Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation / Sony Corporation
Investment and Loans

The Shiga Bank, Ltd. Original environmental rating system under the Shiga Bank Principles for Lake Biwa (PLB)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited Provision of “Environmental Rating Loans with Evaluation of Natural Capital Preservation” and “Positive Impact Finance”

16
17

Goods / Service Delivery
Saraya Co., Ltd. Conservation of tropical rainforest in cooperation with various stakeholders

18

SC Foods Co., Ltd. / SUMITOMO CORPORATION Promotion of the Bird Friendly® Coﬀee - A cup of coﬀee for migratory bird conservation

20

JTB Corp. The JTB Brighter Earth Project

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. SAVE JAPAN Project to save rare species and the natural environment in Japan!

19
21

FUJITSU LIMITED / Fujitsu Kyushu Network Technologies Limited Support of conservation of Blakistonʼs ﬁsh owl with the owl call recognition software 22
The Yamato Shinkin Bank Provision of “Yamatogawa River Time Deposit” to promote improvement of river water quality

23

Research and Development
KAJIMA CORPORATION Research and practice of the ecological network

SHABONDAMA SOAP Co., Ltd. Development / dissemination of ﬁreﬁghting foam made of environmentally friendly soap
Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.

24
25

Contribution to conservation of forests and Satoyama by development of “TAKEGAMI” (bamboo paper) and commercialization of donation-attached print paper made from thinned wood

26

NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION Regeneration of seaweed beds by utilization of steel slag

27

Transportation
SHIMADZU CORPORATION Countermeasures to prevent alien species in imported freight / the Eco-Club, an on-site lecture on the environment
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha Conservation of Marine Environment engaged by a shipping company

28
29Land Use / Development Project
Kato Construction Co., Ltd. Eco Meeting - Environmental activities by the construction sector -30

Noda Natural Symbiotic Farm Co. Acquisition of land whose development is suspended, and nature restoration of that land

32

Tanaka Sangyo Corporation Regeneration of the companyʼs former stone quarry to Satoyama

31

Property Management
Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. / Taisei Corporation

Sapporo Dome ECO MOTION - creation of biodiversity-rich areas and environmental awareness-raising for the next generation -Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited

Creation of green space bearing biodiversity in Surugadai HQ Building, and collaborative activities utilizing the green space

33
34

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution
Canon Marketing Japan Inc. “FURUSATO Project Paving the Way for the Future”

35

Toshiba Corporation Global initiatives for biodiversity conservation / cooperative conservation activities using the sites of Toshiba Group and Dai Nippon Printing Group37

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. The Shiga Ritto Plant: Biodiversity conservation activities in Lake Biwa by eﬀectively using components from this factory
Toyota Motor Corporation Forest of Toyota projects / “TOYOTA SOCIAL FES!!”NEC Corporation (NEC Group) Cooperation with NPOs to conserve ravine paddy ﬁeld

Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Continuous support for biological conservation via the HASU Club

1

36
38
39

40

Introduction“Mainstreaming Biodiversity” is a concept that the importance of conservation and sustainable use of

biodiversity is broadly recognized by, and incorporated into activities of, various sectors including national

and local governments, private sector, NPOs/NGOs, citizens and other sectors. Business entities, in thecourse of their activities, provide goods and services by utilizing, processing and distributing beneﬁts frombiodiversity as raw materials. Conversely, they put burden on biodiversity by land-use change, discharging
contaminants, introducing alien species and so on. Since business activities highly depend on, and make
impact on biodiversity, proactive eﬀorts to ease the burden on biodiversity and to conserve it are required.

Biodiveristy (domestic and international)

Other ecosystem services

Contribution

BurdenBenefits

Providing agricultural products,
wood, ﬁshery product, water, etc.

Excessive resource consumption

Land use charge / contaminants
Introduction of alien species
Global warming, etc.

Environment creation
Technology development

Environmental education, etc.

Reducing burdens

Contributing to conservation

Business activ ity
Raw material
procurement
Use of biologicalresources
Businesses(upstream)

Transportation

Production /processing

Transportation

Goods/service
provision
Use

Research and development

Businesses

Land use and development / Management of owned land

Consumers

Waste disposal / recycling
Investment / financing
Volunteer / social contribution activities
Relations between business activities and biodiversity

Stages of business process
Managementof owned land

Land Use /Development

Transportation

R&D

Sales (goods /services)

Investment /Financing

Secondaryindustry

Production /processing

Primary
industry

Use of biologicalresources

Raw material
procurement(Industry)
Agriculture, Forestry
Fishery
Mining industry
Construction industry
Manufacturing industry
Energy, water supply industry
Information and communication industry

Third
industry

Transportation industry, postal service
Wholesale and Retail
Finance, insurance
Real estate industry, rental business
Service industry
The relationship of business activity per industry

Private sector engagement was adopted during the eighth meeting of the Conference of the parties to theConvention of Biological Diversity (COP) held in 2006 for the ﬁrst time. At the COP 9 held in 2008, Germany
as the host country led to advocate the Business and Biodiversity Initiative, and the Economics of

Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Interim Report was presented. Since then, the international community
has initiated a range of activities to encourage business entities. Aichi Biodiversity Targets were thenadopted at the COP 10 held in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, in 2010. Those targets include: “People areaware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take” (Target 1), and “Stakeholders at all levels2have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption” (Target 4). Subsequently,

mainstreaming biodiversity in agriculture, forestry, ﬁshery and tourism sectors was requested at the COP
13 in 2016. At the COP14 in 2018, mainstreaming biodiversity in energy and mining, infrastructure,

manufacturing and processing and health sectors among others was addressed. And the Sharm El-Sheikh

Declaration (ministerial declaration) was adopted, emphasizing that mainstreaming biodiversity in these
sectors is indispensable to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

In response to these international trends, private sector engagement in “Mainstreaming Biodiversity” hasbeen promoted in Japan. In 2009, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment published the ﬁrst edition of
the Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity (followed by a second edition in 2017) while

the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) released the Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren(later revised in 2018). In 2010, the Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership was established as a forum
where economic associations, businesses, NPOs/NGOs, national and local governments and other relevant
entities promote private sector engagement with sharing information and experiences. Moreover, following

the United Nations General Assembly in 2010, which declared the period 2011-2020 as the United Nations
Decade on Biodiversity, the Japan Committee for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J) wasestablished, aiming to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and to promote participation and collaborationof all domestic sectors. Under the UNDB-J, mainstreaming eﬀorts - including private sector activities - havebeen developed. According to these results, numerous business entities have striven in the ﬁeld of

biodiversity via the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity. Many of them have been honored with awards
under the biodiversity-related award systems. As shown in the questionnaire survey result of the Japan
Business Federation, mainstreaming biodiversity in the private sector has progressed signiﬁcantly over the
past decade.

Progress of biodiversity activities by businesses in Japan■Businesses incorporating the concept of “biodiversity conservation” in thier management policy (FY 2019 survey N=340)
FY 200939%

FY 201975%■Businesses understanding the relationship between business activity and biodiversity (FY 2018 survey N=311)
FY 200933%

FY 2018

78%■Businesses ﬁnancing/investing human resources, etc. in biodiversity conservation activity in Japan (FY 2019 survey N=340)<Activities in the main business>
FY 200941%

FY 2019<Social contribution activities>
FY 200939%

FY 201965%(Source) Questionnaire Survey on Biodiversity <FY 2019 survey result> (February 2020);

62%

Questionnaire Survey on Biodiversity <FY 2018 survey result> (February 2019),
Japan Business Federation, Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation and Japan
Business and Biodiversity Partnership)

As described, both Japan and overseas eﬀorts on mainstreaming biodiversity have steadily achieved

signiﬁcant progress. However, the global assessment report, published in 2019 by the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), pointed out that direct and indirectdrivers of change in nature have been accelerating over the past half-century with triggering overall decline

in natural assets, and that targets for nature conservation and biodiversity cannot be achieved withoutsocial transformation across economic, social, political and science and technology sectors. During theUnited Nations Decade of Biodiversity, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), was adopted at a UN summit, followed by the adoption of the Paris Agreementin 2015. To limit the global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial
levels, global decarbonization eﬀorts are sought to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions at least in

the latter half of the 21st century. Accordingly, an international trend seeking a paradigm shift toward asustainable society has been strengthened more and more. Although the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and theUnited Nations Decade of Biodiversity are set until 2020, this does not signal an end of eﬀorts made bybusiness entities toward mainstreaming biodiversity. Rather, such eﬀorts should be further extended anddeepened, taking this decade as a starting point.

This Casebook has been prepared to introduce representative activities of business entities as part ofresults achieved by private sector engagement under the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity, as well as
benchmarking further business activities going forward. Please refer to this Casebook together with the3

Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity (second edition).

Biodiversity Engagement by Private Sector: Progress to Date
1995

- The 1st National Biodiversity Strategy was formulated (by the Ministry of the Environment)

2006- A decision on private sector engagement was adopted for the first time at the 8th Conference of the Parties (COP8)
to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)2008- The Business and Biodiversity Initiative was advocated at the COP 9; led by the government of Germany- In Germany, the Biodiversity in Good Company Initiative was established; led by private sector- The Japan Business Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (JBIB) was established2009- The Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren (Japanese Business Federation) was released(by the Nippon Keidanren Committee on Nature conservation)- Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity was published (by the Ministry of the Environment)

2010- “Aichi Targets” for global biodiversity were adopted during COP 10 (held in Nagoya City, Aichi prefecture)
The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) report was published, and a framework for international
partnership among business and biodiversity initiatives which were launched at national and regional levels was considered- The Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership was launched; led by Nippon Keidanren

2011- The Japan Committee for United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J) was established(Secretariat: Ministry of the Environment)- The 1st Meeting for the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity was held in Tokyo

2012- The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) was held and “Green Economy” was citedin the Outcome Document as a key tool for achieving sustainable development.
- The National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan 2012-2020 was formulated (by the Ministry of the Environment)

2013- The 1st assembly of the Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services(IPBES) was held
- The International Integrated Reporting Council (IRC) proposed reporting the 6 capitals including natural capital,
under the International Integrated Reporting Framework.

2014- Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 (GBO4) was published (by the CBD Secretariat)

2015- ISO 14001 was revised (to include a biodiversity consideration)- The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were
published as its specific goals (by the United Nations)2016- Japan Biodiversity Outlook 2 (JOB2) was published (by the Ministry of the Environment)- A (draft) Handbook for Business Operators on Conservation and the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity was published(by the Ministry of the Environment)- Natural Capital Protocol was published (by the Natural Capital Coalition)- Discussion for various sectoral/cross-sectoral mainstreaming of biodiversity, including agricultural, forestry andfisheries and tourism industries, was intensified during the COP 13

2017- The Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity (2nd edition) were published(by the Ministry of the Environment)- The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) started stock management linking with the ESG index

2018- The Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren was revised(by the Nippon Keidanren Committee on Nature conservation)- COP14 was held under the theme of mainstreaming biodiversity in the energy and mining, infrastructure,
manufacturing and processing sectors

2019- The summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services was adopted
during the Plenary of the IPBES 7th Session

2020〜- The post-2020 global biodiversity framework and related implementation methods are discussed

4How to Use this Casebook
This Casebook aims to benchmark specific activities together with Guidelines for Private
Sector Engagement in Biodiversity (2nd edition) (published in December 2017).
●It introduces representative private sector engagement cases during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity,
as such ones which were honored for major biodiversity-related award systems several times.
* For details of such major award systems, please refer to the information below. There are also a number of private sectorʼsbiodiversity engagement activities commended by other award systems, including those of local governments, green spacecertiﬁcation or award, and environmental technology-related award.

●It introduces the cases according to the stage of their business activity process. Casebook users are also recommended torefer to the concept of biodiversity engagement for each process, shown in the Guidelines.
* Please note that practical activities involve several business activity processes. This Casebook classiﬁes those stages by major
business activity process.

●Each case shows its relevance to the Aichi Targets as the international biodiversity targets between 2011 and 2020,
and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the international goals to realize a sustainable society by 2030.

* This Casebook presents relevance to targets which each activity directly aim to achieve, or on which business operators focus as important.
* Please refer to the list on the next page of an outline of the individual targets/goals of the Aichi Targets and the SDGs.

Major Awards for Biodiversity Engagements
Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity

The Japan Awards for Biodiversity (Domestic Prize)[Outline] This contest aimed to promote further
extension of private sector engagement inbiodiversity conservation and its
sustainable use by continuously honoring
and broadly publicizing outstanding
activities both in and outside Japan.
Organizers launched this competition
focusing on the fact that such activities
became activated with COP10 in 2010 asa turning point.

[Outline] The domestic prize was established in 2009ahead of COP10 in 2010. The international
prize, “Midori Prize for Biodiversity,” wasalso established. And these awards are held
every other year. The domestic prize aims
to disseminate, and to raise awareness ofcorporate eﬀorts related to biodiversity
conservation and its sustainable use byhorning their outstanding activities.
[Organized by] AEON Environmental Foundation[Organized by] Earth, Water & Green Foundation National
Land Aﬀorestation Promotion
Organization Aroma Environment
Association of Japan Global Environmental
Action（GEA）[Award year] Every other year since 2009
[URL] https://www.aeon.info/ef/en/prize/[Award year] From 2009 to 2017 (six times in total)[URL] http://mizumidori.jp/ikimono-nigiwai/

Biodiversity Action Award

Certiﬁcation of the Best Collaborative Activities by the UNDB-J[Outline] To discover and shed light on community
activities toward biodiversity conservationand its sustainable use, this award collects
and commends those nationwideactivitiesaligning with the 5 actions in My Action
Declaration.

[Outline] To achieve the Aichi Targets adopted at
the COP10 in 2010, the UNDB-J certiﬁes
and introduces its recommended projects
from the perspectives of “partnership ofdiverse entities,” “importance of activity,”“eﬀect of publication of activity” andother elements to promote participationand partnership in multiple sectors(government, business operators, privateorganization, citizens, etc.).

[Organized by] The Japan Committee for United Nations
Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J)[Award year] From 2013 to 2019 (seven times in total)[URL] http://5actions.jp/[Organized by] The Japan Committee for United Nations
Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB-J)[Award year] From 2012 to 2019 (16 times in total)[URL] https://undb.jp/authorization/

Engagements involving partnerships with multiple business operators and industry groups
Relatively many cases involve activities via networking and a consortium of multiple business operators andindustry groups. Such partnerships/cooperating entities are also commended.
Partnerships of relevant
industries

Partnerships rooted inregional ecosystems

Cooperation between conservationgroups and industries(Case) The Biodiversity Working Group,
The 4 Electrical and Electronic Industry
Associations*(Case) Biodiversity the Biwa Lake network(Case) Animal Pathway Research Society

Outline: Sharing of survey data and activities
among corporates to help conserve a
symbolic species: the dragonﬂy.

Outline: Development of “Animal-Pathway”,
migration pathways of arboreal wild
animals and implementation ofdemonstration experiments.

Outline: Preparation of handbooks formainstreaming biodiversity inindustries.
Award: Biodiversity Action Award:“Letʼs Communicate” Section (2018)* Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association(JEMA), Japan
Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association(JEITA), Communications and Information Network
Association of Japan (CIAJ), Japan Business Machine andInformation System Industries Association (JBMIA)

5Award: The 12th Recognition of good
cooperation projects by the
UNDB-J (2018)

Award: Good Life Award 2015
Minister of the Environment
Award (2015)

Aichi Biodiversity Targets
S t ra te gi c P la n for B iodivers ity 2011-2020
A ten-year framework for action by all countries and stakeholders adopted in COP 10 to implement the objectivesof the Convention of Biological Diversity
20 individual targets (Aichi Targets) were defined as action to achieve its Vision and Mission.

Long-term target (Vision) 2050

A world of “Living in Harmony with Nature”

Short-term target (Mission) 2020

To take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity.

Individual Targets (Target) <Aichi Targets>
Target1

People become aware of the values of
biodiversity and the steps they cantake.

Target2

Biodiversity values have been
integrated into national and local
development and other policy planning
processes and are being incorporated
into national accounting, as
appropriate, and reporting systems.

Target3

Incentives, including subsidies, thatare harmful to biodiversity are
eliminated, or reformed, and positive
incentives will be developed andapplied.

Target4

Stakeholders at all levels have taken
steps to achieve or have implemented
plans for sustainable production andconsumption.

Target5

The rate of loss of all natural
habitats, including forests, is at least
halved and where feasible broughtclose to zero, and degradation andfragmentation is signiﬁcantly reduced.

6

All ﬁsh and invertebrate stocks andaquatic plants are managed andharvested sustainably.

TargetTarget7

Areas under agriculture, aquaculture
and forestry are managed sustainably.

Target8

Pollution has been brought to levels
that are not detrimental to ecosystem
function and biodiversity.

Target9

Invasive alien species and pathways are
identiﬁed and prioritized, priority
species are controlled or eradicated.

Target10

The multiple anthropogenic pressureson coral reefs, and other vulnerable
ecosystems impacted by climatechange or ocean acidiﬁcation areminimized.

11

17 per cent of terrestrial and inland
water areas, and 10 per cent of coastal
and marine areas are conserved.

Target12

The extinction of known threatened
species has been prevented and theirconservation status has been improved
and sustained.

Target13

The genetic diversity of cultivatedplants and farmed and domesticatedanimals is maintained for minimizing
genetic erosion and safeguarding their
genetic diversity.

TargetTarget14

Ecosystems that provide essential
services, including services related towater, and contribute to health,
livelihoods and well-being, are restored
and safeguarded,

Target15

Contributions are made to mitigation andadaptation of climate change throughrestoration of at least 15% of degradedecosystems.

Target16

The Nagoya Protocol on ABS is in force
and operational, consistent with national
legislation.

Target17

Each Party has developed, andcommenced implementing an eﬀective,
participatory and updated national
biodiversity strategy and action plan.

Target

18

The traditional knowledge is respected
and made mainstream.

Target19

Knowledge, the science base andtechnologies relating to biodiversity are
improved.

Target20

The mobilization of ﬁnancial resources
for eﬀectively implementing the Strategic
Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all
sources should increase substantiallyfrom the current levels.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
S u s t ai n a ble D evel opment Goal s (SDGs )Universally shared common global goals from 2016 to 2030 as presented in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development (adopted by the September 2015 UN summit).
17 goals and 169 targets have been defined.
No poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Zero hunger
End hunger, achieve food security andimproved nutrition and promotesustainable agriculture

Aﬀordable andclean energy
Ensure access to aﬀordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all

Decent work andeconomic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive andsustainable economic growth, full andproductive employment and decent
work for all

Good health andwell-being

Industry, innovation andinfrastructure

Ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all at all ages

Build resilient infrastructure, promote
inclusive and sustainableindustrialization and foster innovation

Quality education

Reduced inequalities

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all

Reduce inequality within and among
countries

Gender equality

Sustainable citeis andcommunities

Achieve gender equality and empower
all women and girls

Make cities and human settlements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Clean water andsanitation

Responsible consumption
and production

Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation
for all

Ensure sustainable consumption andproduction patterns

Climate action
Take urgent action to combat climatechange and its impacts

Life below water
Conserve and sustainably use theoceans, seas and marine resources forsustainable development

Life on landProtect, restore and promotesustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertiﬁcation, andhalt and reverse land degradation andhalt biodiversity loss

Peace, justice and strong
institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive
societies for sustainable development,
provide access to justice for all andbuild eﬀective, accountable andinclusive institutions at all levels

Partnerships for the goals
Strengthen the means of
implementation and revitalize the global
partnership for sustainable
development

6

Raw Material Procurement

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

Use of Biological
Resources

Joint Tagging Survey of Skipjack oﬀ the Paciﬁc Coast of Japan anda Series of Cooperative Projects and Enlightenment Activities

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. has conducted a basic study on skipjack
tuna in collaboration with a national research institute to help
maintain stable resources of skipjack that is an ingredient in its
major flavor seasoning product,and ensuresustainable fishery.
Aiming to understand skipjack ecology such as migratory
behavior and route in greater depth, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. hascollaborated with the Japan Fisheries Research and Education
Agency to conduct a skipjack tagging survey in the Nansei
Islands sea area on an ongoing basis. The study has delivered
important outcomes to academia, fishery administration andinternational fishery management, including the initial successof identifying detailed data on long-term migration activities in
the Kuroshio Current headwater, in which approximately 10,000
tagged skipjacks have been tagged since 2009. Since 2015, theCompany has introduced the latest model of ultrasound tagging
system, featuring cooperation by the Tokyo University of Marine
Science and Technology and initiated a joint survey with a
Survey Team
Taiwanese fishery research institute since 2016.
As well as helping establish international resource management rules by reporting the study result in various academic
societies, fishery stakeholdersʼ meetings and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the Company has
committed itself to raising awareness on the conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources via exhibitions attour facilities, various events, lectures, educational classes for children and other activities.

Research andDevelopment

Features

Transportation

As a Company developing a food manufacturing business, Ajinomoto Co., Inc has contributed to basic studies focusing
on fishery resources that constitute a key ingredient in its major flavor seasoning product. The feature involves
committing to a basic study to shed light on skipjack ecology and maintain, manage and use fishery resources
sustainably, rather than research and development focusing on food ingredients alone.
The activity stands out in that an ongoing focus on fishery resources citing its major flavor seasoning product, rather
than merely focusing on research and development or social contribution, has helped promote sustainable use ofresources, contributed to academia, administration and domestic and overseas fishery management and boosted
awareness among consumers and future generations via its study.
The basic study has developed, not as temporary support for research support but on an ongoing basis and for an
extended period, underpinned by collaboration with public research institutes and universities. This is also a notable
point, given the lack of examples.

Land Use /Development Project
A pinger tag ﬁxed to skipjack tuna

Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

7

Major awards

・Excellence Award, the 3rd Japan Awards for Biodiversity (2013)
・Judgesʼ Special Award, the 3rd Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity (2014)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target19

Target4

Target6

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Raw Material Procurement

Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing

Overview

ALEPH INC. is an enterprise managing “”, a hamburger
steak restaurant chain. To serve safe and quality rice stably, it has
concluded contracts with farmers to produce, lessagrochemical rice, with only a single application of herbicide based on
ALEPHʼs strict specifications. Following discussions with farmers since
1996, ALEPH successfully introduced the rice into all their restaurants
in 2006, including franchises (annual usage exceeding 5,500 tons). By
restricting the use of chemical fertilizers and encouraging theapplication of organic fertilizers, the company has helped enhancebiodiversity in rice paddies.
In the annual farmersʼ conference meeting since 2010, the outcomesof activities and targets of each farmer groups were shared. A total of
785 customers within 25 times from 2011 to March 2019 participatedin the “The Bikkuri Donkeyʼs Living-thing monitoring” at contracted
farmsʼ rice paddies.
A Rice Paddy Living-things Monitoring
Other than the above, their employees have practiced rice farming inthe, winter flooded rice paddy, in Eco-ring Village (Eniwa City, Hokkaido. opened 2006) They provided
programs since 2006 whereby over 10,000 people have experienced agriculture and observed organisms in rice paddies
via public visits and school excursions. The company has created opportunities to boost awareness of the relations
between enriching organisms, agriculture, the environment and its importance via various activities such as “Tango” dancing which is an animation and dance created by employees.

Investment
and Loans

Procurement of sustainable rice bearing biodiversity in mind

Goods /
Service Delivery

ALEPH INC.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target19

Target4

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Major awards

・Minister's Prize, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on
Biodiversity Award (2010)
・Green.TV Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2013
・The 4th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2014)
・Corporate Prize for the 1st Link to the Future! Biological Conservation in the Northern Provinces (2018)
・Excellent Prize for the 6th Biodiversity Japan Award (2019)

Research andDevelopment

Features

The company has sought to agree on criteria with contracted farmers
to secure sufficient production volume with an appropriate price range
for consumers. The 16 farmer groups (over 500 farming families)
produce rice for 337 outlets, including 128 directly managed
restaurants (as of January 2020), in approximately 1,700 ha of ricepaddies following the criteria by production records and shipping
farmer certification. The company has designated the prohibition ofchemical components for even allowable herbicide. Insecticide andgermicide are not permitted also in rice paddies and the ridge
between them. These rules help preserve the migration, habitat andbreeding grounds of organisms and enhance and conserve the rice
paddy environment through long term contract farming.
Farmersʼ living-thing monitoring included in rules is an opportunity toincrease their interest in organisms and recognize the significance ofthe rice paddy environment in. These biodiversity-friendly
Dancing “Tango” on the event
criteria will be also introduced to producers for franchise companies,
in the hope of raising awareness and unifying criteria from 2020. To achive this, the priority will be to communicate andexplain the practical methods friendly organisms, while employees provide technical support for the monitoring. As“
Tango” has been on YouTube for dissemination, it can be utilized in external activities.
The Eco-ring Village is a center for veryfing agricultural technology and experiencing biodiversity activities operated
under the concept of “reducing environmental load and helping build a sustainable society”.
Each opportunity has also been adopted as an introduction of internal education where participants learn the bigger
picture behind the appeal of biodiversity and consumers can realize the safety of ingredients.

8

Raw Material Procurement
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

9

Environmental load reduction* Cases for “Products/Service Provision (positive contribution)” are also introduced.

Sekisui House, Ltd.

Implementation of the "Wood Procurement Guidelines" / promotion of native tree species
planting under thelandscaping project

Overview

In April 2007, Sekisui House, Ltd. formulated its Wood Procurement
Guidelines comprising ten policies in consultation with international
environmental NGOs and other entities to address forest issues in Japan andoverseas as a housing manufacturer using wood in bulk.
As well as confirming legality, the Guidelines serve as substantial due
diligence, including the perspective of considering social issues such as the
lives of local residents in lumbering areas, as well as taking biodiversity into
consideration, such as confirming whether the procurement does not lead tothe destruction of precious ecosystem and/or involve any endangered tree
species. The company classifies procured wood into four ranks numerically
based on the Guidelines and encourages their suppliers to reduce theproportion of this low-ranked wood while increasing the supply of thehigh-ranked varieties.
The company also considers biodiversity in terms of the products andservices they provide. Given their position as one of Japanʼs largest
landscaping contractors planting trees in accordance with housing services,
they have specifically planted a total of 15.02 million trees, centered on
indigenous tree species under thelandscaping project since its
launch in 2001 until FY 2018. By greening detached housing andcondominiums, the company engages in gardening and urban developmentthat take the ecosystem into consideration by mainly planting native tree
species from the region, under approval of residents. This has helped form
urban ecosystem networks by building habitats and migration corridors forliving creatures by increasing the number of urban settings where insects,
wild birds and other creatures visit, even on a smaller scale.

1

Source wood products from areas with relatively
low risk of illegal logging.

2

Source wood products from areas without sensitive
ecosystems.

3

Do not source wood products from areas where local
ecosystems are seriously damaged due to large-scalelogging of natural forests.

4

Do not use endangered species for wood products.

5

Minimize CO2 emissions when producing, processing,and transporting wood products.

6

When logging wood products avoid conflict withlocal communities and refrain from unfair labor practices.

7

Source wood products from areas of controlled logging,so as not to exceed the recovery rate of the forest
regeneration.

8

Source wood products from domestic forests where
well-planned forest management is in place toconserve ecosystems.

9

Source wood products from plantation forests that aremanaged so as to promote conservation andecosystem development.

10

Use recyclable wood building materials.
The Wood Procurement Guidelines of Sekisui House Ltd.

Features■The Satoyama network linking nature
Efforts to achieve sustainable wood use under the Wood
Procurement Guidelines have led suppliers to subjectively improvetheir procurement methods and other practices by presenting
transparent and objective criteria. The proportion of woods ranked
the highest “S” and the second “A” among the varieties procured by
the company rose 47% in FY 2006 before operating the Guidelines
Garden Garden
Satoyama
Satoyama
to 94% in FY 2018. The Guidelines are characterized by the fact
Town
ForestForestthat absolute procurement criteria are not set merely by adopting
GardenPark
forest certification materials. This is because, reflecting thedifficulties faced by small- and medium-sized manufacturers incovering the certification cost, the company considers it necessary
to develop community forestry that promotes sustainable forestry,
such as agroforestry under expert supervision, even without
An ecosystem network formed
obtaining the certification. Eventually, although the certification canby thelandscaping project
be an evaluation factor, 97% of structural materials only and 63%
of wooden materials, including interior equipment, are certified materials (including those under the certification process).
Regarding the planting efforts, with the ecosystem taken into consideration under thelandscaping project,
the company has proceeded with its activity in collaboration with environmental NGOs and landscaping contractors
nationwide which supply indigenous tree species. Moreover, the scope of their activity has expanded to include scientificverification of the effort of the activity by wildlife monitoring or leveraging knowledge and insights accumulated via
efforts for hands-on education programs. Further, these efforts not only make things more convenient for residents andthe housing styles and attachments via “beautification over time” and boost product value by standing out fromcompetitorsʼ properties, they also help improve the environment of building areas.

Major awards
・Excellence Prize (Product Category) for the 1st Biodiversity Japan Award (2009)
・President's Prize, the Earth, Water and Green Foundation, for the 2nd Contest for Corporate
Activities on Biodiversity Award (2011)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Applicable SDGs

Raw Material Procurement

Overview

Features

As well as procuring eco-friendly raw materials, this company adopts YOU-KI SEIREN (eco-refined bleaching) whichapplies starch glue made from potato instead of chemical starch. It takes people and the environment into consideration
over all value chains, such as raw material procurement, manufacturing, and commercialization, by applying ecologicalmanufacturing, i.e. organic refined bleaching.
As they focus on increasing consumersʼ interest in organic cotton, they have striven to raise awareness of environmental
issues by promoting a movement under the slogan of “using a face towel made of organic cotton to free 1m² of land
from agricultural chemicals”.

Major awards

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Property
Management

・Aroma Environment Association of Japan Prize for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on
Biodiversity Award (2010)

Transportation

A local farmer working for an organic cotton farmLand Use /Development Project

An organic cotton farmResearch andDevelopment

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Tsubame Towel Co., Ltd. strives for environmental conservation in cotton farms and on its land by switching its raw
materials to organic cotton. This reflects perspectives of global environmental conservation and fair trade as well as
efforts to promote eco-friendly manufacturing. This activity has been implemented consistently, striving to use a certain
quantity of organic cottons (10% of use) regardless of market trends, which is equivalent to 3 million m² in agriculturalland area. The organic cottons used are grown on farms in Yavatmal, the Maharashtra State, and Coimbatore,
constituting the largest cotton production areas in India. The company staff visits the farms and directly checks theircultivation on an ongoing basis.

Use of Biological
Resources

Permanent replace of raw material to organic cottons ongoing

Production /Processing

Tsubame Towel Co., Ltd.

Raw material
procurement

Environmental load reduction

10

Raw Material Procurement
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

11

Environmental load reduction

Panasonic Corporation
Introduction of MSC-/ASC-certiﬁed seafood as an ingredientin their corporate cafeteria for the ﬁrst time in Japan

Overview

For about two decades since 2001, Panasonic Corporation has
collaborated with WWF Japan to promote their activity to “protect
marine life”. As part of this effort, the company has been deeply
involved in MSC and ASC certification processes, including thefirst ASC certification obtained in Japan, as part of efforts to
support the rebuilding of the eco-friendly oyster farming industryin Minamisanriku. Moreover, Panasonic is an Official Worldwide
Olympic Partner for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo
2020, which is the focus of sustainable considerations and forwhich the procurement of certified seafood is expected.
Under such circumstances, Panasonic started introducing
MSC-/ASC-certified seafood in their corporate cafeteria in March2018. As of the end of February 2020, this seafood has been
served at 36 locations and the company has striven to introduce it
in all corporate cafeterias at around 100 locations nationwide by
the end of FY 2020.
By introducing sustainable seafood into their corporate cafeteria
as a first in Japan, this initiative is to raise awareness of theimportance of sustainable seafood and MSC/ASC certifications, amajor certification system and in so doing, help achieve Goal 14 of
the SDGs, “Life Below Water” by “changing the consumer behavior”
of their employees, both within and outside the company.

https://channel.panasonic.com/jp/contents/26317/
A corporate cafeteria
An introductory video:
Protect Marine Life with Corporate Cafeterias
https://channel.panasonic.com/contents/26318/

Features

One major reason why this initiative marked a first case in Japanwas because food service providers and distributors had to obtain
CoC certification to introduce MSC-/ASC-certified seafood. Upon
explaining the importance of such efforts, Panasonic requested
their cooperation, which prompted AIM SERVICES to become thefirst company to obtain the certification, followed by a further 12companies as of the end of January 2020. As seven food
distributors also obtained the certification via this initiative,
Panasonic has also helped improve the chance of sustainableseafood being introduced in corporate cafeterias of othercompanies.
To further enhance the social impact of this initiative, the company
has supported the efforts of seven companies to introduce
sustainable seafood, including Denso, ENEOS(JXTG) and Mitsui
Sumitomo Insurance. It has also supported many other companies
A menu using certiﬁed seafoodin the process of reflecting on or considering the introduction.
Furthermore, to spread their effort to introduce sustainable seafood in more companies, Panasonic is striving to launcha business network for user companies (scheduled for June 2020), actively responding to consultations and inquiries
from those companies interested in introducing the same.

Major awards

・Let's Choose Award for the Biodiversity Action Award (2018)
・The 15th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2019)
・Winner of Initiative Award for the 1st Japan Sustainable Seafood Award (2019)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target6

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Use of Biological Resources

Overview

A product made of thinned wood

1

Target14

Target4

Target5

Maintaining
forestssuch as thinning

KOKUYO
Forestry
Group Product planning Association
Quality control
Sales

Product manufacturing

A mechanism of Yui-no-Mori Project

TargetApplicable SDGs

7

Land Use /Development Project

Boosting
ecologicalawareness

Transportation

Thinnedwood・Green Wave Award for the Biodiversity Action Award (2018)
・Minister of the Environment Prize (Corporate Category)for the 7th Ministry of the Environment Good Life Award (2019)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
TargetForests

Property
Management

Major awards

・Japan Wood Design Award 2017
・Excellence Prize for the Zero Carbon
Challenge Cup 2019

Vegetation/water
quality survey
and other forest
conservation
activities

Research andDevelopment

Features

As a manufacturer of stationery and office furniture, KOKUYO has
initiated proper forest management by collaborating with the forestry
association, established a mechanism that could conserve forest
biodiversity and circulates and activates the regional economy bydeveloping and distributing products utilizing thinned wood. As well
as striving in the areas of thinning and forest management, KOKUYO
provides products/services which help enhance biodiversity by
productizing office furniture and stationery made of thinned wood.
It should also be noted that the monitoring involves the participationof KOKUYOʼs employees, local government and high school students,
which has led to hands-on environmental education of the employees
and rediscovering of local resources.
In addition, a CO₂ absorption certificate has been issued by Kochi
Prefecture since 2007 and the CO₂ absorbed in FY2018 amounted to
6,689 tons, raising the cumulative total to 56,314 tons. It is a key
activity in terms of biodiversity conservation but also mitigation ofclimate change.

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Yui-no-Mori

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Since 2006, KOKUYO Co., Ltd. has cooperated with the Shimanto Town Forestry Association (originally named the Taisho
Town Forestry Association) to promote the Yui-no-Mori Project, which aims to establish a virtuous cycle of theenvironment and the economy by productizing office furniture and stationery made of thinned wood while properly
managing forests via thinning. The Yui-no-Mori Project was started in 2006, originally targeting 106 ha of forests and has
expanded its thinning areas every year (the overall target area is 5,425 ha, of which cumulative area of 1,789 ha havebeen thinned, as of 2019).
As well as successfully obtaining FSC certification for Yui-no-Mori and other thinning products, KOKUYO has cooperated
with Kochi Prefecture, Shimanto Town, the Shimanto Town Forestry Association and Kochi Prefectural Shimanto HighSchool to verify the effect of thinning to conduct regular monitoring surveys on vegetation, clear stream standards of the
Shimanto River, aquatic organisms and other elements and these survey results are publicized. (FSC C004748)

Use of Biological
Resources

Collaborative forest management with the community and productization ofoﬃce furniture / stationery made of thinned wood

Production /Processing

KOKUYO Co., Ltd.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

12

Use of Biological Resources

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

Takeda Pharmaceutical
Company Limited

Use of Biological
Resources

Conservation activities for medicinal plants andthe “WAKUWAKU SHIZEN FUREAI TAI” program

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited established the Kyoto Takeda Herbal Garden in 1933 as a basic researchfacility for medicinal plants. Even after it was renamed the “Takeda Garden for Medicinal Plant Conservation, Kyoto”, it
has striven to collect, conserve and grow medicinal plants. The medicinal plants owned by the company are provided to
medical practitioners and students for their pharmaceutical educational activity.
Since its establishment, the facility has gathered approximately 2,800 flora species including around 2,000 medicinal
plants from all over the world. Recognizing them as precious genetic resources, the company has grown and exhibited
those plants, including endangered species (227 species, including 109 medicinal plants). The facility operates as one of
the medicinal plant conservation bases designated by the Japan Association of Botanical Gardens and helps conserve
biodiversity.
Since 2011, the facility has implemented the “WAKUWAKU SHIZEN FUREAI TAI” project, an environmental education
support activity targeting elementary school children and their parents. Aiming to foster a high level of awareness of the“importance of biodiversity conservation” and “consideration of the natural environment”, this program provides anopportunity for school children to grow, collect and process plants and learn about them with all five senses throughout
the year (nine months).

Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment

Takeda Garden for Medicinal Plant Conservation, Kyoto

Features

Transportation

As a pharmaceutical manufacturer, the company collects and conserves medicinal and other useful plants for theirbusiness in Kyoto while conserving and bequeathing those plants for future generations.
Another unique feature is that they provide medicinal plants they collected/conserved for pharmaceutical educational
support activities and also leverage them for environmental educational support activities to nurture human resources
who will spearhead themes and areas related to their business in future. The “WAKUWAKU SHIZEN FUREAI TAI” program
also focuses on the use of biological resources. It should be noted that the company leverages its resources to raiseawareness of biodiversity conservation and its importance by providing the opportunity to feel the benefits of
biodiversity and blessings of nature.

Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

13

A Wakuwaku Shizen Fureai Tai program

Major awards

・Aroma Environment Association of Japan Prize for the 2nd Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2011)
・Judging Committeeʼs Encouragement Prize for the Youth Experience Promoting Corporation Award (2015)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target13

Target14

TargetApplicable SDGs

16

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction
Raw material
procurement

Suntory Holdings Limited

Use of Biological
Resources

Water resource cultivation / preserving biodiversity:
Natural Water Sanctuary activities

Rainfall
Vegetation

Countermeasuresagainst damage caused
by insects/wild
animals

Preservation of
biodiversity

Countermeasures against
damage caused by
insects/wild animals
Restorationof devastatedforests

Forest ﬂoor
plant
conservation

Soil conservationand protection

Soil and soil
microorganisms

Restorationof watersides/
Satoyama

Resource
circulation
mechanism

Groundwater ﬂow mechanism

Understanding thestatus quo(survey/research)
Maintenanceactivity for theconservation<Development offoundation
for activities >Road creation
Human resource
development
Foundational
data maintenanceResearch/maintenance activities in Natural Water Sanctuaries

Major awards
・Minister's Prize, Ministry of Environment: International Year of Forests Special Prize, for the 2nd Contest for Corporate
Activities on Biodiversity Award (2011)
・Grand Prize for the 21st Global Environment Award (2012)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Applicable SDGs

Research andDevelopment

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans
Conservation of water
resource cultivation function

Transportation

Based on field surveys/research projects involving researchers
in various fields/areas such as hydrology, topography/geology,
meteorology, vegetation and birds/insects, this activity is
promoted from a long-term perspective leveraging all the
Natural Water Sanctuaries as a joint research base with
universities and research institutions. With agreement with thecommunity, the Group also proceeds with other activities
aiming to enrich ecosystems throughout the basin by filling
fallow paddies over winter with water (wet paddies in winter)and fishway and conducting biological research downstream.
The knowledge and insights gained through such activities are
published on the website to help develop the Natural Water
Sanctuaries but also forests nationwide.
Furthermore, the Group has promoted various forms ofenvironmental education, including “Mizuiku” to bring home
the importance of both water and forests, hands-on forest
development by their employees and volunteers and endowed
courses established for universities. Ultimately, their corporate
and product values have increased.

Land Use /Development Project

Natural Water Sanctuaries nationwide*1 When there contracts and agreements with diﬀerent durations, the longest duration is given.
*2 Automatically renewed every 5 years.
*3 In Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, we are a member of the Nishiyama forestry development
promotion committee and we are cooperating in local forest preservation activities
with people in the community. The area of the forests subject to this activity is notcounted as part of our total Natural Water Sanctuary area.

Property
Management

Features

Production /Processing

Overview

The Suntory Group has concluded long-term
agreements, generally over 30 years, with local
governments and forest owners to maintain thesafety/reliability and sustainability of groundwaterin the forest located in the Groupʼs plant water
resource protection areas, and established the
Natural Water Sanctuaries. Since its initiation in
2003, 21 locations in 15 prefectures, around12,000 ha in total, have been established as the
Natural Water Sanctuaries, as of June 2019, which
has led to more than double the volume ofgroundwater pumped up at the Groupʼs domestic
plants being cultivated. The Natural Water
Sanctuaries set out the following five development
targets: (1) Forests with a great capacity tocultivate water resources; (2) Forests rich inbiodiversity; (3) Forests able to withstand flooding
and landslides; (4) Forests with great CO₂
absorption capabilities, and; (5) Beautiful forests
where visitors can encounter nature in all its
abundance. The Group promotes their forest
development by looking 50 and 100 years ahead
by leveraging the R-PDCA cycle: based on
scientific-based field surveys, researching thecharacteristics, status and issues of each forest
area (Research), creating a vision (developmentplan) suited to each forest (Plan), conducting
maintenance work by professionals (Do), verifying
results (Check) and considering measures for
improvement/conducting re-examination (Action).

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Production / Processing

14

Production / Processing

Environmental load reduction

Raw material
procurement* Cases of “Volunteer activity/social contribution (positive contribution)” are also introduced

Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation
Sony Corporation

Use of Biological
Resources

Groundwater recharge with rice paddy ﬁelds /biodiversity initiative in cooperation with NGOs

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans

The Kumamoto Technology Center of Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (Kumamoto TEC), which functions
as a design, development, production and customer service venue for the semiconductor business of Sonyʼs groupcompanies, consumes considerable amount of groundwater in the course of producing semiconductors. It was originallylocated in a spot with abundant groundwater, but acreage reduction and housing development in recent years haveintensified concern over declining groundwater levels. The company recognizes groundwater as a key natural resourceand has cooperated with local NGOs to recharge it continuously using neighboring paddy fields. Groundwater isreplenished by filling paddies before planting or after harvesting rice with water drawn from the river, which penetrates
via the fields.
Sony Corporation also cooperates with the Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J) to implement “Wow! Wow!
Biodiversity Project”. “Wow!” expresses concepts of enjoyment and wonderment at nature and encompasses two inparticular: “experiencing” nature through observation and conservation activities and “sharing” discoveries andimpressions via a photo contest and posting on SNS.

Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment

A groundwater recharge initiativein the Kumamoto Technology CenterFeatures

Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution
Volunteer
Activity /Social Contribution

15

In the groundwater recharge activity, the actual amount ofgroundwater recharged by this initiative is quantified and comparedwith the annual water consumption at the factory. This is also
appreciated from the perspective of payment for ecosystem services(PES). It is also commendable that the efforts have continued for along period of 17 years.
In the Wow! Wow! Biodiversity Project, as well as organizing andsupporting nature conservation and observation activities, the company
strives to promote mainstream biodiversity by sharing discoveries andimpressions via SNS. By introducing their products as equipment for
taking photos and recording sounds to share, the project attributes tothe principle of the Group Environmental Vision: “actively promoting
maintenance and recovery of natural capital and biodiversity throughboth our business and local contribution activities”.

Participants taking photos in an eventof the Wow! Wow! Biodiversity Project

Major awards[Groundwater Recharge Initiative]
・The 12th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2018)
・The 2nd Grand Prize for the Kumamoto Groundwater Foundation Groundwater Conservation Honoring System (2019)[Wow! Wow! Biodiversity Project]
・A Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award (2016)
・the 12th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2018)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target5

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Investment and Loans

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Rating result(2) We aim to ensure environmentally-friendly
corporate conduct without missing business
opportunities.

L1

Advanced activities

0.5%

L1+

0.1%

0.6%

L2

Sufficient activities

0.4%

L2+

0.1%

0.5%

L3

Normal activities

0.3%

L3+

0.1%

0.4%

L4

Expecting future activities

0.2%

L4+

0.1%

0.3%

(3) We reduce environmental risk and realize
a sustainable regional society.
Three principles in Shiga Bank Principles for
Lake Biwa (PLB)

Discount of
PLB
Discount ofloan interest rating DB BD loan interest

Total
discount

Discount of interests on the PLB rating and PLB rating DB.

Features

These activities raise "awareness" to the environment and biodiversity conservation to customers, and raise incentives toenvironmental and biodiversity conservation efforts through preferential interest rates at the time of financing. In
particular, the PLB rating BD is a pioneering service among financial institutions nationwide. As of the end of March,
2019, 11,259 customers agreed with the PLB (business ratio: 60.3%), 10,874 customers obtained the PLB rating(business ratio: 58.2%), 5,953 customers offered PLB rating BD (business ratio: 31.9%) and a total of 37.1 billion yen(1,883 loans) was disbursed as loans under the PLB fund, showing These figures have had a ripple effect on manyindustries.
Rating item

Rating criteria (outline)

Management policy

1. Formulating policy for “Biodiversity Conservation”

Promotion/management system

2. Establishing a promotion/management system

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans

PLB
ratingGoods /
Service Delivery(1) We compile standards for production,marketing and services that are useful forenvironmental protection.

Research andDevelopment

Overview

In 2005, the Shiga Bank established its own unique “Shiga Bank Principles for Lake Biwa” (PLB) to protect Lake Biwa andthe global environment and is enlisting support for these principles. Based on the requests of customer who have agreed
with the PLB, the Bank rates the customer using an environmental rating (PLB rating) while funding those customers whodevelop products and services that are practically useful in conserving the environment or introducing energy-saving
facilities, etc. under the “Principles for the Lake Biwa support fund” (PLB Fund). Moreover, in 2009, the Bank establishedthe Biodiversity Rating (PLB Rating BD) to support customers spearheading business activities to protect biodiversity.
Measuring and rating customers who have agreed with the goal of the rating ― “Inheriting rich biodiversity
and building a society in harmony with nature” ― and those seeking to obtain the rating, the Bank offers a discount of
up to 0.6% on annual loan interest rates depending on the degree of environmental commitment shown in the rating.

Transportation

Original environmental rating system under
the Shiga Bank Principles for Lake Biwa (PLB)

Use of Biological
Resources

Raw material
procurement

The Shiga Bank, Ltd.

Activities implementation

4. Status of integration into business5. Degree of contribution to nature restoration and traditional culture conservation activities
6. Collaboration with research institutes, etc. with expertise
7. Setting out opportunities for employees and customers to deepen their understanding

Awareness-raising /disclosing activities

8. Disclosing activities and outcomesLand Use /Development Project

3. Existence of impacts consideration and actions to reduce and mitigate the impacts

Major awards
・Regional Finance Prize for the Sustainable Finance Awards (2016)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets

Applicable SDGs

Target1

Target4

Target5

Target7

Target8

Target9Target15

Target18

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Property
Management

Evaluation index of "Biodiversity Rating (PLB rating BD)"

16

Investment and Loans
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited

Provision of “Environmental Rating Loans with Evaluation of Natural CapitalPreservation” and “Positive Impact Finance”

Overview

Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery

Since 2013, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited has
Environmental Rating Loans
Natural capital evaluation (optional)
Evaluation items for environmental rating
Five elements of natural capitaloffered the Environmental Rating Loans with
Strategy and environmental
Fauna
Evaluation of Natural Capital Preservation, which adds
management
Floraevaluation of impact and efforts to conserve natural
Climate change/global warming
mitigation eﬀorts
capital to the environmental rating process. It is an
Soil
Air
Water
Resource recycling/
option of the environmental rating loan, to provide thepollution countermeasures
Three items targeted inrisk analysis on the negative impacts and dependence
Environmental friendliness ofnatural capital evaluation
products and environmental businesson natural capital in the upstream supply chain of a
GHG
Environmentally friendly
Water usage Land areabusiness, with leveraging the Efficient Supply Chainemissions
properties
volumeused
volumeEconomic & Environmental Reporting (ESCHER)
Biodiversity
model, a natural capital evaluation tool provided by
Reporting on environmental
burden and risk information
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Sustainability LLC.
Terms of loan decided based on
in upstream supply chainsenvironmental
ratingIn 2019, the Bank started offering the Positive Impact
Finance. This service involves evaluation of clientsʼ
Note: These options are provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers Sustainability
activity in terms of economic, social andCo., Ltd. and are not available without loan products
environmental impacts (both positive and negative) as
part of support for their efforts to achieve SDGs based on the Principles for Responsible Banking and implementation
guidelines provided under the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The loan agreement with FUJI
OIL HOLDINGS INC. was a world-first case of the Positive Impact Finance, in which the Bank evaluated the companyʼs effort
to maximize positive impact and minimize any downsides upstream, midstream and downstream of the supply chain,respectively. In terms of biodiversity, the Bank identifies activities improving the supply chain, sourcing palm oil certificated by
the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and other efforts targeting “no deforestation, no peat, no exploitation” inprocuring major raw materials and helps bring them to fruition.
Introduction ofqualitative evaluation related
to natural capital

Production /Processing
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

17

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Features

The Bankʼs activity helps clients enhance theirconsideration of natural capitals by incorporating
the concept of natural capital and conservation of
biodiversity and ecosystem services into their loan
service. The Bankʼs global perspective stands out,
amid increasing recognition in recent years of the
crucial need to manage the risks involved in
procuring natural capital as part of corporate
management strategy. As for the Environmental
Rating Loans with Evaluation of Natural CapitalPreservation, the Bank provides useful information
Outline of Positive Impact Finance oﬀered to FUJI OIL HOLDINGS INC
for corporate risk management by quantitatively
analyzing water consumption, land use and greenhouse gas emissions in the upstream supply chain bycountry/region and procuring items. In the Positive Impact Finance, the Bank sets out key performance indicators
used to manage impact and requests that clients disclose their achievement to help them smoothly shift to asustainable society via their supply chain.
Moreover, both the Environmental Rating Loans with Evaluation of Natural Capital Preservation and the Positive
Impact Finance are world-first initiatives, particularly the former, which was a pioneering effort cited in a report of
the European Committee.

Major awards
・Excellence Price for the 5th Sustainable Finance Award hosted by the Research Institute for Environmental Finance (2019)
・Gold Prize (Minister of the Environment Prize) for the Ministry of the Environment ESG Finance Award Japan (2020)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets

Applicable SDGs

Target1

Target4

Target5

Target6

Target7

Target8

Target14

Target15

Goods/Service Delivery

Positive contribution
Raw material
procurement

Saraya Co., Ltd.

Use of Biological
Resources

Conservation of tropical rainforest in cooperation with various stakeholders

Overview

Major awards
・Excellence Communication Award for the 1st Japan Awards for Biodiversity (2009)
・Juryʼs Award for the Biodiversity Action Award 2016
・Deputy-chiefsʼ Award (by Foreign Minister) for the 1st Japan SDGs Award (2017)
・Sumatra Rhino Award for the Sustainable Palm Oil Best Practice Award 2018

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target5

Target20

Target11

Target14

TargetApplicable SDGs

19

Transportation
Land Use /Development ProjectEver since day one, the company has manufactured products using natural materials and taking the impact on people
and the environment into consideration. They have understood the environmental impact caused by raw material
procurement from an early stage and striven to balance environmental conservation and raw material procurement
through comprehensive and wide-ranging activities. Efforts which today have become a driving force to enhance theircorporate brand.
In implementing projects, while the company takes the initiative, local governments, NGOs, other Japanese companies,
and other stakeholders are also involved in work to establish a large implementation system.

Property
Management

An opening ceremony of the Borneo
Elephant Rescue CenterFeatures

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

A suspension bridge for orangutan(*1) Currently, Saraya support local activities via BCT Japan.

Research andDevelopment

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Production /Processing

Yahinomi detergent is a product that has been distributed by Saraya Co.,
Ltd. since 1971; pioneering a detergent using plant materials that are bothpeople- and environment-friendly. Producing one of its raw materials - palmoil - has exacerbated serious environmental pressure on the tropicalrainforest due to excessive plantation development, which, in turn, is
triggered by increasing global demand for cooking oil.
Focusing on these issues, the company has striven to protect biodiversity
and procure sustainable palm oil in Borneo Island since 2004.
Efforts to protect biodiversity include the “Green Corridor Project”, aiming toform a green corridor connecting divided forests, by purchasing land which
was formerly tropical rainforest and a “Wildlife Rescue Project” to rescue
elephants, orangutans and other wild animals forced out from their habitatand injured by traps set by local hunters and bring them back to the forest.
The Green Corridor Project is supported by the Borneo Conservation Trust(BCT) established by Saraya, the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), the Sabah Wildlife Department, NGOs, and other stakeholders. (*1)
Since no appropriate forest habitat for rescued animals was found in the
rescue project scope, the company cooperated with the BCT, Sabah Wildlife
Department, Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa City and various businesses toestablish the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (Borneo Elephant Rescue Center).
As a company procuring sustainable palm oil, Saraya was the first Japanesecompany to have joined in the round table discussion on Sustainable Palm Oil(RSPO), striving to procure and disseminate eco-friendly palm oil by working
with farm owners, farmers, trading companies and other stakeholders. In
2019, the company obtained an RSPO certification for all their products
distributed in Japan.

18

Goods/Service Delivery

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

JTB Corp.
JTB Brighter Earth Project

Use of Biological
Resources

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery

In 1982, the JTB Corp. started tourist destination cleanup campaigns, whichwere then collectively renamed under the umbrella term “JTB Brighter Earth
Project” since its centenary in 2012. Local governments, NPOs, universities,
regions (including the private sector), customers and the JTB Group
employees all come together to operate various programs that utilize regionalfeatures, including conservation of the natural environment and biodiversity
and learning experiences on local history and culture. As part of these
activities, the company supports the Fukushima Organic Cotton Project, whichaims to restore agriculture and reconstruct regional communities affected by
the Great East Japan Earthquake via cotton harvesting experiences in Iwaki
City, Fukushima prefecture. The JTB Group employees and customers cometogether to jointly carry out tours to harvest cotton. At the same time, a tour
with local storytellers to the northern part of Iwaki City which was seriously
affected by the disaster helps reconstruct the region on an ongoing basis.
Moreover, in Onna-son in Okinawa prefecture, the company plans a program tocarry out hands-on efforts to raise coral seeding and a beach cleanup
campaign working with fisheries cooperatives. Around 30 participants,
including children, participated from Okinawa Island learning about marine
conservation while experiencing such activities.

Fukushima Organic Cotton Project

Research andDevelopment

Features

Transportation

Utilizing the strength of their community-rooted features, the JTB cooperates
with various regional sectors to maintain uniqueness and a wider-reaching
program, which helps their main business thrive. They have also extended thescope of activities to include Hawaii, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, and othercountries with 130,000 or more participants in total since 1985. In recent
years, the JTB has implemented 50 to 60 programs with approximately 2,000
participants annually.

Land Use /Development Project
A cotton harvesting experiencing activity

Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

19

Major awards
・The 4th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2014)
・KAIKA Awards 2015
・Letʼs Feel Award for the Biodiversity Action Award (2018)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Applicable SDGs

Goods/Service Delivery

Overview

A coﬀee farm certiﬁed byBird Friendly (Colombia)

A bird nest on the coﬀee tree
in a Bird Friendly certiﬁed
coﬀee farm (Honduras)

Research andDevelopment

Features

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

The “Bird Friendly Coffee” is a certification program established by the US Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in 1999
presenting sustainable coffee production. To obtain this certification, applicants must meet the following two criteria: (1)to farm organically and (2) to maintain an environment similar to natural forests. As for (2), as well as the number of
species, the size and proportion of trees are also included in the criteria and applicants are strictly reviewed to ascertain
whether their forest structure actually resembles natural forest. SUMITOMO CORPORATION promptly focused on thiscertification and started importing/distributing the relevant coffee in 2004. In 2014, SC Foods Co., Ltd. took over the
distribution and has striven to disseminate the product in collaboration with coffee shops ever since with the slogan“starting global environmental conservation from a cup of coffee”.

Use of Biological
Resources

Promotion of the Bird Friendly Coﬀee ‒ A cup of coﬀee for migratory
bird conservation

Production /Processing

SC Foods Co., Ltd.
SUMITOMO CORPORATION

Raw material
procurement

Environmental load reduction

Major awards
・Special Prize, the Judging Committee, for the 5th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2016)
・Juryʼs Special Award for the Japan Nature Conservation Award (2017)
・The 15th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J（2019)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

An implementation system of the Bird Friendly certiﬁed coﬀee project

Property
Management

Land Use /Development ProjectTransportation

This company promptly focused on thecertification system of coffee. It has developed its
environmental conservation activities beyond theboundary of the company, to cooperate with an
NGO (US Smithonian Migratory Bird Center) as
this company's own conservation activities. This
company also has greatly helped mainstream
biodiversity by involving consumers via a fair in"KALDI COFFEE FARM" operated by Camel Coffee
Group, a tasting event at department storesnationwide organized by Ogawa Coffee and otherefforts.

20

Goods/Service Delivery
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

21

Positive contribution

Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
SAVE JAPAN Project to save rare species and the naturalenvironment in Japan!

Overview

Since 2011, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. has carriedout the SAVE JAPAN Project, aiming to open up
opportunities for citizens to become interested in theregional natural environment and understandbiodiversity. When Sompo Japanʼs customers selectweb-based insurance policy or terms and conditions,or choose recycled parts for vehicle accident repairs,
part of the cost savings are used to fund projects toconserve the environment in Japan, and achievesustainable society while inspiring future leaders. The
project cooperates with regional NPO support
centers, environmental groups and the Japan NPO
Center to provide biodiversity conservation activities
for citizens. From April 2011 to the end of September
2019, Sompo Japan Insurance organized 859 eventsin which over 45,000 citizens participated. These
included nature observation, hands-on planting, rivercleanup campaigns, public meetings on naturalenvironmental conservation in the community andmore.

An implementation mechanism of SAVE JAPAN ProjectFeaturesThis activity can be evaluated as innovative in that
donations to biodiversity conservation activities arelinked to business activities by selecting “web-based
insurance service” option. As well as securingongoing activity, it is expected to encourage othercompaniesʼ new initiatives. Another stand-out feature
is how business operators, the Japan NPO Center,regional NPO support centers, regional NPOs,
citizens and various other entities collaborate to help
roll out biodiversity conservation activities nationwide
across the sectors. The company has also quantified
the social value of this project by analyzing thereturn on investment (social value generated / costs
required).

Social value estimation of SAVE JAPAN Project

Major awards

・Incentive Award for the Eco Mark Award 2011
・Chairpersonʼs Award, Eco-Products Award Steering Communittee (Eco-Service Award)
for the 8th Eco-Products Awards (FY 2011)
・The 1st Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2012)
・Juryʼs Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2013
・Ministerʼs Prize, Ministry of the Environment, for the 3rd Contest for Corporate Activities on
Biodiversity Award (2014)
・Chairperson for the Ecological Life and Culture Organization Prize for the FY 2017 Sustainable
Society Building Activity Award

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target7

Target14

Target18

Target9TargetApplicable SDGs

10

Goods/Service Delivery

Overview

Fujitsu Kyushu Network Technologies Limited provides the bird call recognition software to the Wild Bird Society of Japanto help them research more efficiently and accurately. The Wild Bird Society of Japan conducts the habitat research toprotect Blakistonʼs fish owl, an endangered species in Hokkaido. Conventionally, Blakiston's fish owls were identified byvisually inspecting the audio spectrum and listening to the actual sounds. By harnessing Fujitsuʼs ICT however, as well as
introducing AI technology, this software substantially shortens the time required to analyze the audio data and allows callsof Blakinstonʼs fish owl to be accurately detected by extracting the calls from recorded audio data automatically. This
paves the way to expand the research areas and survey frequency and boosts the owl conservation activity in the process.

Fill of recognition
result●Automatic identiﬁcation●Process completein minutes●Play the audio●Display the waveform●Display the maximum
frequency

Analysis of Blakistonʼs ﬁsh owl call by the call recognition software (Source) Fujitsu
Sound print
converted toan image

Training / evaluation
by AI

Exclusive
detection of survey
target species calls

Voice
recorderA mechanism of extracting calls harnessing AI technology (Source)
Fujitsu Kyushu Network Technologies Limited

Features

Land Use /Development ProjectAs an ICT company, the Fujitsu Group provides goods and services that help conserve
biodiversity. Noteworthy is how the Group utilizes digital technology and know-how directly forbiodiversity conservation.
This activity is carried out on an ongoing basis, targeting Blakistonʼs fish owl and other rare
species by providing an audio analysis service and software to those companies and groups
conducting a biological survey as part of their environmental assessment.
It should be highlighted that the Group has established a collaborative system utilizing theirstrength in which the Group helps conserve biodiversity by providing solutions based on theirgoods/services to environmental organizations conducting habitat research to protect
endangered species.

A Blakistonʼs ﬁsh owl
Photo courtesy of theWild Bird Society of Japan

Major awards

・Juryʼs Special Award for the Japan Nature Conservation Award (2016)
・Excellence Award for the 28th Nikkei Global Environmental Technology Awards (2018)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target11

Target12

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Property
Management

Noise
suppression/f
eatureextraction

Research andDevelopment

Blakistonʼs ﬁsh owl
call recognition program

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

IC recorder

Transportation

Audio data
(3 hours)

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Habitat of Blakistonʼsﬁsh owl

Use of Biological
Resources

Support of conservation of Blakistonʼs ﬁsh owl with the owl call recognition software

Production /Processing

FUJITSU LIMITED
Fujitsu Kyushu Network Technologies Limited

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution

22

Goods/Service Delivery

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

The Yamato Shinkin Bank

Use of Biological
Resources

Provision of “Yamatogawa River Time Deposit” to promote
improvement of river water quality

Overview

Production /Processing

Since 2006, the Yamato Shinkin Bank has offered the Yamatogawa River Time Deposit
service, which supports efforts to improve the water quality in Yamatogawa River, aClass A river traversing the region. This product raises its interest rate if the
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Yamatogawa River improves from the previous
year. Among Class A rivers in Japan, the water quality of Yamatogawa River was theranked the worst for three consecutive years from 2005, earning it the title ofworst-polluted river in Japan in 2006. Domestic wastewater was considered the major
culprit. Thanks to the Bankʼs awareness-raising activity among local residents via the
Yamatogawa River Time Deposit as well as efforts initiated by Nara prefecture to boost
quality, the average BOD of the river decreased from 6.4mg/ℓ in 2005 before selling
the Deposit to 4.7mg/ℓ in the following year and 2.4mg/ℓ in 2019.

Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery

A promotional ﬂyer of“Yamatogawa River Time Deposit”

FeaturesResearch andDevelopment
Transportation

The Yamatogawa River Time Deposit has a unique and understandable feature, whereby river water improvement islinked to the deposit interest rate. It has become a popular product, attracting higher deposits than the annual target.
And linking finance and the environment via an initiative is unique among regional financial institutions. In explaining the
product, the Bank also paves the way for local residents to participate in water improvement activities by encouraging
them to reduce domestic wastewater and distributing a gift of a locally manufactured drainer net. Moreover, the Bank
established and contributed to the Yamatogawa River Fund (equivalent to 0.01% of all deposits held as Yamatogawa
River Time Deposits) and the Bankʼs officers and employees. The Fund cooperates with Nara prefecture and NPOs toorganize the “Furusato Yamatogawa River Headwater Experiencing Tour” and donates the “Nara Prefecture Regional
Contribution Support Fund” to support NPO activities designed to boost the quality of the Yamatogawa River system.
The Bank has got involved in water improvement efforts, not only by providing a financial product but also initiating the
aforementioned activities.

More than 80% of the cause of pollution is Domestic Wastewater
We can reduce domestic wastewater by the following eﬀorts, for example:

Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

23

Do not leave

Wipe oﬀ

Prepare meals asmuch as you eat toensure no meals left!

Wipe oﬀ dirt on dishes
and pans before washingthem!

Do not throw
down the drain

Do not throw leftovers andfood waste down the drain but put
them in sink tidy or garbage box!

Please put these into practice to reduce domestic wastewater.
Raising awareness of reducing domestic
wastewater in the description of Yamatogawa River Time Deposit

Major awards
・FujiSankei Business I Prize for the 16th Global Environment Award (2007)
・Environmental Project Prize for the 5th Japan Environmental Management Award(2007)
・Global Environment Prize for the 5th Corporate Philanthropy Awards (2007)
・Encouragement Prize for the 10th Japan Water Award (2008)
・Mayorʼs Prize for the FY 2008 Nara Prefecture Environmental Conservation distinguished Service Award (2008 )・Juryʼs Special Award for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2010)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target8

Target14

Applicable SDGs

Research and Development

Overview

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

In July 2009, KAJIMA CORPORATION established the Kajima Biodiversity Guidelines and strives to conserve biodiversity
and use it sustainably via its construction business. Under its “Japanese Honeybee Project”, the company has developed
technology to evaluate urban green spaces using the native Japanese honeybee as its indicator species. In addition, thecompany also strives to raise awareness via environmental education on honeybee ecology at the childrenʼs center
annexed to the company housing where a honeybee laboratory is installed and the “Honeybee Café”, in which local
residents enjoy honeybee observation and experience honey extraction.
The company also cooperated with the Urban Renaissance Agency and the Organization for Landscape and Urban GreenInfrastructure to develop ecological network evaluation technology using Japanese pygmy woodpeckers as thebenchmark species. The potential of their existence is visualized using remote sensing and a geographic information
system (GIS) targeting a quality green space.

Use of Biological
Resources

Research and practice of the ecological network

Production /Processing

KAJIMA CORPORATION

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Features

Major awards
・Excellence Research Award for the 1st Japan Awards for Biodiversity (2009)
・Good Design Frontier Design Award (2010)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target19

Target4

Target5

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Honeybee Cafe

Property
Management

Land Use /Development Project

A questionnaire survey for local residents revealed that this project substantially improved the negative image ofhoneybees, which sparked a change in awareness (the proportion of those who answered “I fear honeybees because theysting” decreased from 44% (before the project) to 7% (after it)). The company also considers Japanese tit, crab(
) and goat as further benchmark species, over and above the Japanese honeybee and Japanesepygmy woodpecker. They also leverage environmental assessment technologies developed for actual construction
projects, such as the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Surugadai Building, to accommodate both economic activity andconservation. As well as conserving green space and coastal areas, the company has expanded its activity in various
ways, including consideration of raw material procurement centered on wood materials, management of 11
company-owned forests nationwide and participation in symposia and lectures related to biodiversity.

Research andDevelopment) and a beehive

Transportation

Japanese honeybees (24Research and Development

Environmental load reduction

Raw material
procurement

SHABONDAMA SOAP Co., Ltd.

Use of Biological
Resources

Development / dissemination of ﬁreﬁghting foam made ofenvironmentally friendly soap

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans

Since 2013, SHABONDAMA SOAP Co., Ltd. has implemented a research anddevelopment/verification project featuring fire-extinguishing agent for peat
land in Indonesia; supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) to develop and disseminate firefighting form which is made from moreenvironmentally-friendly soap and has a higher fire-extinguishing capacity.
Peat wildfires occur in layers of peat in which plants have been accumulated
without fully decomposed. Since such fires keep smoldering under the
ground surface, they are very difficult to extinguish and are likely to last a
considerable time and expand. The companyʼs soap-based firefighting foam
generates less environmental burden for use, permeates deeper undergroundin peat areas and allows such fires to be extinguished immediately withminimal water volume. The company contributes to biodiversity conservation
through reducing forest loss caused by peat wildfires.

Extinguishing peat wildﬁre in Indonesia

Features

Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation

The main component of the soap-based
firefighting foam is a soap using vegetablematerials. This is not only decomposed quickly
but also has a small impact on ecosystem, as
its surfectant is inactivated when naturalminerals are reacted with its components.
Moreover, given its high permeability into
the peat and its ability to block the oxygenfor incineration, it allows such fires to be
extinguished effectively with a small volume
of water. The development of such products
utilizes manufacturing technology for
additive-free soaps without chemicals orsynthetic compounds which the company
has developed since 1974. The company
recognizes research/development ofsoap-based firefighting foam as its focal
environmental activity, while promoting such
efforts as their contribution toward SDGs.

Realizing a Sustainable World
Comfortable Earth and society
for future generations●Awareness raising of “fragrance pollution” andsupporting patients with chemical sensitivity●Countermeasures against infectious disease●Post-disaster/child-rearing support

People friendly

Soap-based
ﬁre-extinguishing
agent●Overseas business development●Ecosystem conservation activities●Supporting developing countries<Philosophy>

Promoting healthy
bodies and clean water

Nature friendly

Additive-free
soaps
Cosmetics
Household goods●Health promotion of employees●Empowerment of female employees

Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

25

Environmental
business

Healthcare
Medical care,dentistryand nursing

Shampoo and hair conditioner
Body soap and facial soap
Hand soap and toothpaste
Detergent and kitchen soap

●Traceability of raw materials●3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) of waste●Introduction of clean energy●Using eco-friendly packaging materials●Factory visiting ●Lectures ●Soap study group ●Events ●SNS ●Sales promotion ●Research and development●Manufacturing ●Soap Research Center ●Quality control ●Infection Control Research Center●Kitakyushu City and local administration ●JICA and FAIS ●Customers and client companies ●NPOs and NGOs
●Consumer groups ●Businesses, schools, and universities ●Physicians and professionals ●Hospitals

SHABONDAMA SOAPʼs initiatives to achieve SDGs

Major awards

・The Minister of the Environment Prize (Private Sector) for the 7th Good Life Awards (2019)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target5

Target14

Target15

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

12

Research and Development

Contribution to conservation of forests and Satoyama by development of“TAKEGAMI” (bamboo paper) and commercialization of donation-attachedprint paper made from thinned wood

Features

Just changing to use
Satoyama MonogatariUsers

to help natureand people

PapersCooperation

Chuetsu
Pulp

NPOs

Satoyama
conservation

A mechanism of Satoyama Monogatari,a print paper with donation utilizing thinned wood(Source) Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.

Major awards
・Special Award, the Judging Committee, for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2010)
・Minister's Prize, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the 8th Eco Products Awards (2011)
・Excellence Award for the 3rd Japan Awards for Biodiversity (2013)
・Excellence Award for the 15th Green Purchasing Award (2013)
・Grand Prize (Enterprise/Organization Leadership) for the Japan Nature Conservation Award (2014)*Akiyoshi Kato,
President, Executive Officer, was awarded
・The 4th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2014)
・Juryʼs Special Award for the Biodiversity Action Award (2019), and more

Applicable SDGs

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Target4

Target5

Target7

Transportation

Forestconservation

Cooperation

Land Use /Development Projectmaterialsers

Property
Management

UsThinned

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

As a paper manufacturing company, Chuetsu Pulp & Paper
establishes a mechanism of raw material procurement, productdevelopment and sales linked to biodiversity conservation offorests and Satoyama and provides products and services that
boost biodiversity. Focusing on decreasing biodiversity due toabandoned bamboo plantations and forests, the company
procures domestic bamboo and thinned wood as raw materials
and develops and productizes products. Noteworthy is the factthat this mechanism encourages felling of abandoned bamboo,
management of bamboo forests and thinning in forests witheconomic and commercial motives, not merely throughproductization but procuring such under-used resources as raw
materials. Moreover, other companies and consumers can help
conserve biodiversity even indirectly by choosing theseproducts. The print paper product with donations made bythinned wood, in particular, allows consumers to join in
Satoyama conservation efforts by selecting the product.
Moreover, the process is visualized in collaboration with NPO,
which is also an aspect of the companyʼs effort that stands out.

Research andDevelopment

Cutting abandoned bamboos in managing bamboo forest toeﬀectively utilize domestic bamboo

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Production /Processing

Overview

Since 1998, Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd. has developed andproductized “TAKEGAMI (100% Bamboo Paper)” which is madefrom domestic bamboos, which was previously remained
unused. Through this activity, the company has established acommercial business involving felling of abandoned bamboo
and management of bamboo forests to boost the regional
economy and employment while helping conserve biologicaldiversity by preventing abandoned bamboo from encroachingon Satoyama and forests.
Since 2009, the company has helped conserve forests byproductizing “Satoyama Monogatari”, a print paper which fully
utilizes thinned wood, which was not originally composed as raw
matereal of paper but was made the most under the carbon
credit scheme. At the same time, the company has donatedpart of its paper sales to Satoyama conservation groups tohelp conserve/regenerate Satoyama. Cooperating with theSatoyama Conservation Regeneration Network, a donation has
been made to groups initiating socially meaningful activity
activating Satoyama.

Use of Biological
Resources

Chuetsu Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

26

Research and Development

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
Regeneration of seaweed beds by utilization of steel slag

Use of Biological
Resources

Overview

Production /Processing

To improve the sea desertification due to iron shortages, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION develops and practically
implements the seaweed bed regeneration technology which artificially regenerates the iron-supply mechanism of thenatural world; delivering humic acid iron to the sea via a unit made of steel slag, a by-product of steel making and humic
substance originated from fermented waste wooden chips.
After clarification of the seaweed breeding mechanism by iron supply and verification of the effect of technology thatallows analysis of very small amount of iron contained in coastal seawater, the company implemented its seaweed bed
regeneration technology at 38 spots nationwide. In the sea areas where the sea forests (seaweed) were regenerated, it
has been confirmed that ecosystems comprising various organisms had been recovered, fishery resources boosted andother benefits observed.
Seaweed bed regeneration by steel slag and humic substance

Investment
and Loans

Steel slag

Humic substanceGoods /
Service Delivery
Fill iron-supply
units in a solid steel box

An example of A luxuriance of seaweed after taking
installing iron-supply units measures in Mashike-cho, Hokkaido

Research andDevelopment

Features

Transportation

As a steel manufacturer, Nippon Steel develops and practically applies technologies that help conserve biodiversity andregenerate biological resources. Leveraging their technology and expertise in iron, the company uses by-products of
their steel making process to address recovery of iron shortage, thereby helping practically conserve biodiversity andfishery resources.
The company does not only develop a seaweed regeneration activity but also focuses on how best to practically apply it via averification test and research and development. In doing so, they also help maintain/regenerate fishery resources. As well as
the unit of iron-supply steel slag and humic substance, the company also realizes the technology to produce artificial stones
and blocs for seaweed to grow naturally from iron-supply steel slags, and proceeds with activities regenerating a rich marine
environment in sea areas surrounding steelworks in collaboration with local fishery associations and government.
Sea forests (seaweed) restoration

Land Use /Development ProjectSea desertiﬁcation in Mashike

Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

27

Seaweed restored in Mashike

Major awards
・Chairman's Prize, Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation, for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity
Award (2010)
・The 13rd Hotta Memorial Encouragement Award hosted by the Advanced Marine Science and Technology Society (2015)
・Excellence Prize for the 2nd EcoPro Awards hosted by the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (2019)
・Contribution Prize for the 52nd Ichimura Awards Ichimura Global Environmental Industry Award (2020)

Applicable SDGs

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target19

Target10

Target14

Target15

Transportation

SHIMADZU CORPORATIONCountermeasures to prevent alien species in imported freight /the Eco-Club, an on-site lecture on the environment

Overview

Features

Major awards

・Let's Communicate Award for the Biodiversity Action Award 2013
・Award (Environmental Report) for the 18th Environmental Communication Awards (2014)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target14

Target15

Target5

TargetApplicable SDGs

7

Property
Management

A visiting tour of Shimadzu Corporation Forest

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

A lecture on biodiversity

Land Use /Development ProjectTransportation

Among each phase of business, Shimadzu Corporation promotes activities related to “transportation”, making it a rarity
among other businesses. This company also address biodiversity at the level of whole supply chain, by providing lectures
on biodiversity to client companies, organizing tours to show maintenance of forest by the company and other activities.
Until 2019, the Eco-Club has provided awareness-raising activities to 9,088 children in 122 schools with a remarkableconsistency and scale. As they also distribute the original card games and SUGOROKU (Japanese traditional board game)for learning biodiversity, further expansion of the activity is expected.

Research andDevelopment

Goods /
Service Delivery

A biodiversity card game “bidi”

Investment
and Loans

Production /Processing

In 2012, Shimadzu Corporation developed a procedure detailing how
to respond to alien species when discovered, as a countermeasure
to prevent penetration of them accidentally brought via imported
freight. This procedure is posted at the workplaces, including placeof receiving freight, from which it is possible for alien species topenetrate. In 2013, the company started using certified woods fortransport packing materials and has continuously collated andconfirmed the procured woods on the certificate provided bysuppliers. As such, the company has extended its efforts to include
all products coming into and leaving from the company.
The Eco-Club team was established in 1999, comprising mainly
female employees of this company. The “Eco” in its title derives fromthe Kyoto dialect “Ee-ko” meaning “good boy/girl”．Eco-Club teamcreated environmental educational teaching tools and conducts
on-site lecture on the environment, making the most of female
employees' unique perspectives and senses. The company also
promoted a number of active efforts, including the maintenance of
the “Shimadzu Forest”, consisted of(Japaneseblue oak) and other native species in the Head Office/Sanjo Worksconstructed in 2014.

Use of Biological
Resources* Cases for “Volunteer Activity/Social Contribution (positive contribution)” are also introduced.

Raw material
procurement

Environmental load reduction

28

Transportation

Environmental load reduction

Raw material
procurement

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Conservation of Marine Environment engaged by a shipping company

Use of Biological
Resources

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha is a shipping line striving to boost conservation efforts in business areas across the board,
from procurement, operation and disposal of vessels. In 2010, the company started installation of a ballast water
treatment system, which had been successfully installed in 100 vessels as of the end of March 2019. Ballast water isseawater loaded into a vessel and deliberately weighing down the vessel body for stability, which is taken and discharged
according to cargo loaded when anchoring at a port. Since the ballast water moves together with the vessel, the plankton it
contains are discharged in the destination and may have an adverse impact as introduction of alien species on
ecosystems. Accordingly, the treatment system boosts marine conservation by disinfecting plankton and bacteria toprevent cross-border movement of them. At the same time, the company frequently cleans the bottom of the ships toprevent marine organisms adhering to the vessel and moving around sea areas.
In addition, Nippon Yusen operates their vessels taking biodiversity into consideration. The Santa Barbara Channel adjacent
to Los Angeles on the US west coast is a major navigation route for many vessels. However, after a vessel collided with ablue whale in 2007, navigating operation taking whales into consideration has been promoted. The company strives toreduce its navigation speed on a voluntary basis in the designated sea areas of this Channel. With an evaluation of
distance its vessels traveled through that channel at speeds of 10 knots or less, the company was honored with an award
from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, an American environmental organization, in 2019.

Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

29

Ballast water treatment system

Movement of aquaticorganisms by ballast water

FeaturesAccording to estimates from the International Maritime Organization(IMO), 300 to 500 million tons of seawater are moved as ballast water
annually and countermeasures for the same are critical, given reportedly
up to 10,000 marine species moving as ballast water. Although theso-called Ballast Water Management Convention was adopted by the
IMO in 2004, it only came into force in 2017. This is because the numberof ratifying countries did not increase to as many as expected due to adelay in development of a ballast water treatment system. However,
Nippon Yusen started installation of the system on its vessels in 2010.
As for cleaning the bottom of the ships, the company utilizes a system
jointly improved by Yusen Navtec, a group company, to ensure that thiscleaning process meets the company criteria, even if it is conducted
outside Japan. The company actively engages in cleaning the bottom of
the ships. This not only boosts marine environmental conservation by
preventing the cross-border movement of marine organisms, it also
helps cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Cleaning the bottom of the ship

Major awards
・Gold Prize for the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (2019)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target9Target12

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Land Use / Development Project

Overview

An ecological survey

A nature observation event

Transportation

In the company's construction project, employees overseeing sales and administrative work, as well as the site manager
and engineering staff, participate in the activity to extract/consider opinions from various perspectives (Photo 1). Whenwater scorpion (), a rare species, emerged at the site of soil improvement work, the company changed theground design to secure groundwater permeability as well as protecting the living organism to conserve wetland, which is
the habitat of the species (Photo 3).
For reed beds divided by leftover cobblestones at the site of bridge pier reinforcement work, the company removed thestones after proposing to a client a means of ensuring the reed bed continuity. Such efforts also help expand the growing
area ofan endangered species and reuse cobblestones for constructing revetments (Photo 3).
Maintaining these activities on an ongoing basis, Kato Construction aims to be an engineer protecting nature and anentity the community relies on to renew the image of the construction industry.

Research andDevelopment

FeaturesProtecting living creatures

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Kato Construction Co., Ltd. carries out an “Eco Meeting” activity, in which they consider and implement environmental
considerations/arrangements in their construction project, focusing on the following three considerations on: (1) naturalenvironment, (2) residential environment and (3) community building. Among them, the company is particularly focusing on(1) natural environment. Their activities include environmental surveys, protection and conservation activity. If necessary,
they will consider changing the design, taking natural environment into consideration. In initiating the activity, the company
encourages all employees to obtain a licence of the “Biotope Planners and Builders” as part of upskilling and to improve themeasures taken on the construction site. Currently, 171 employees, more than half the entire workforce, have obtained thelicenses (as of February 2020). The company also focuses on activities to raise the awareness of the general public about
the importance of nature via nature observation and environmental events as well as disseminating to and enlightening forconstruction sectors, national organizations, and local governments.

Use of Biological
Resources

Eco Meeting - Environmental activities by the construction sector -Production /Processing

Kato Construction Co., Ltd.

Raw material
procurement

Environmental load reduction

Gaps are left in the improve partAn example of water scorpion() conservation

A scene of “Eco Meeting”

Major awards

An example of securing reed
bed continuity

・Chairmanʼs Prize, the Judging Committee, for the 5th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2016)
・The Minister of the Environment Prize (Grand Prize) for the Environmental Human Resources Development Corporate
Awards 2016 (2017)
・The Minister of the Environment Award/Letʼs Conserve Award for the Biodiversity Action Award 2018
・Grand Prize (Conservation Practice Award) for the Japan Nature Conservation Award 2020

Applicable SDGs

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target2

Target12

Target19

Target5

Target9

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Design change (halved the scope of improvement
to secure groundwater permeability)

Property
Management

Land Use /Development Project

Original design (full improvement)

30

Land Use / Development Project

Environmental load reduction

Raw material
procurement

Tanaka Sangyo Corporation
Regeneration of the companyʼs former stone quarry to Satoyama

Use of Biological
Resources

Overview

Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery

Tanaka Sangyo Corporation exploited mountains and forests inthe suburbs of Joetsu City, Niigata prefecture to quarry graveland sand used for civil engineering and construction work, during
several decades. The company promotes the regeneration ofsatoyama, home to rich ecosystems, by repairing the terrain andplanting trees on a forestry model, with imagining how the former
30 ha stone quarry would be regenerated in the 100 years after
the cease of the gravel quarry. Tanaka Sangyo restores andredevelops the terrain by relaxing the gradient of excessively
steep slopes and consulting with experts to plant more than 1,000
trees annually, mainly including Japanese zelkova, Quercus
acutissima and other trees naturally grown in the surrounding
satoyama.
The employees maximize their skills to handle the restoration ofsteep slopes, planting, mowing and other maintenance work. They
use wooden chips to cure the soil. They process those chips bythemselves in the curing site with introducing a foreign
self-propelled wood chipping machine.

Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

31

Before and after the regeneration

Features

Quarries exist nationwide but exert a significant burden on theenvironment, leaving steep slopes behind. Accordingly, howformer quarries should be used after the gravel quarry stopped
has become a national issue. In general, the level of effort
required legally to restore the environment for stone quarries isrelatively low. And its main purpose is to prevent disasters rather
than recover ecosystems. Under such circumstances, this will be aremarkable model, in which a local construction company engaged
in unprecedented forest regeneration looking forward to the next
century.

A wood chipping machine introduced

Major awards
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize (Private Sector Award) for the 6th Good Life Award (2018)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target19

Target4

Target5

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Features

Major awards
・Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize for the Rural Nature Restoration Activity Competition (2010)
・Excellence Award for the Japan Awards for Biodiversity (2011)
・The 3rd Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2013)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Target4

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

12

Use of Biological
Resources
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

A rice planting event

Property
Management

Land Use /Development ProjectTransportation

Various entities collaborate in this activity, including local governments, nature conservation groups, academic experts,
local agricultural stakeholders and participants in the citizensʼ wet-paddy farm to properly maintain and manage thesegmented district as well as reducing agrochemicals, irrigating paddies in winter and installing fishway in wet paddies.
Accordingly, concrete outcomes for biodiversity conservation/enhancement and its sustainable use are expected.

Production /Processing

Overview

In the Egawa district in Noda City, Chiba prefecture, a large-scale
residential land development was proposed as part of the development of
the Tsukuba Express Railway, but the plan was thwarted due to thecollapse of the bubble economy and other causes. Accordingly, theproject was withdrawn and the disposal of the land was decided. Given
the risks of abandoning the land, including illegal landfilling and random
development, as well as the need to protect nests of goshawk andgrey-faced buzzard found there, as endangered species, Noda City
proposed a regional development harmonizing with nature, which would
promote efforts to conserve the animals and plants inhabiting the area inand around the Egawa district, and to protect Satoyama to utilize thisenvironment sustainably.
Noda Natural Symbiotic Farm Co. was founded in 2006, funded by Noda
City to acquire farmland in the district from developers to restore paddies
and manage agriculture, with prioritizing conservation. Specifically, theA stork released in Kounotori no Satocompany acquired 32 ha of land owned by a developer, restored 8 ha for
paddies and promoted rice production using organic fertilizers and leveraging reduced agrochemicals and land fertility.
The harvested rice is shipped as brand-named rice. Moreover, portions of wet paddies are used as a citizensʼ urban
wet-paddy farms, which also host planting, rice harvesting and other events to give citizens an opportunity to experiencenature and agriculture. Further, the land functions as a platform to provide experiences of agriculture and nature in theregion by organizing nature observation with experts invited.
Noda City has striven to build a sustainable community in harmony with nature and ensure a positive living environment forpeople and storks alike. In 2012, they started breeding storks. Moreover, in 2015, they released storks on a pilot basis as afirst case in the Kanto region. The Noda Natural Symbiotic Farm also manages “Kounotori no Sato”, a stork releasing facility.

Investment
and Loans

Acquisition of land whose development is suspended, and nature restorationof that land

Goods /
Service Delivery

Noda Natural Symbiotic Farm Co.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Research andDevelopment

Land Use / Development Project32

Property Management
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

33

Positive contribution

Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd.
Taisei Corporation

Sapporo Dome ECO MOTION ‒ creation of biodiversity-rich areas andenvironmental awareness-raising for the next generation ‒Overview

To realize the slogan, “Sapporo Dome ECO MOTION ‒ eachof us is an Eco Player ‒", Sapporo Dome Co., Ltd. set four
environmental goals for 2021, the 20th anniversary of its
founding. The first one was to “promote biodiversity
conservation and environmental awareness-raising activities”
which involved setting the following numeric targets: (1) tomaintain an environment inhabited by 30 or more bird
species, and (2) to receive a total of 100,000 participants toenvironmental awareness-raising events. In constructing the
Sapporo Dome, Ecological Planning, a construction methodof Taisei Corporation incorporating awareness of
biodiversity was introduced. Subsequently, Taisei
Corporation also oversaw regular monitoring. This
monitoring saw the number of species of birds, butterfliesand dragonflies were increased by 1.6, 3.5 and 6 times,
respectively, compared with before the construction.
Sapporo Dome also summarizes their activities in a booklet
as well as collaborating with elementary schools in Sapporo
City to carry out environmental awareness-raising activities
for schoolchildren on an ongoing basis.

(No. of species)

1.6 times

higher than thetime before the
Sapporo Domewas completed

1997
Planning
phase

2001
Year ofcompletion

2010

2015
15 years after
the completion

Changing number of bird species observed in the Sapporo Dome

Features

The company manages and operates the Sapporo Dometaking the natural environment into consideration by
installing a botanical zone and biotope around the premises
and refraining from cutting trees unless any safety issues
apply. Conservation activities within a sport-related facility
represent a rare and unique case. Another stand-out
feature is the consistent involvement of a construction
company in activities, ranging from planning, design andconstruction to long-term monitoring over the subsequent
15 years. Taking advantage of the large sport base in theregion, attracting some three million visitors each year, thecompanyʼs awareness-raising efforts in collaboration withlocal elementary schools should be acclaimed. In addition,
since 2015, the company has organized the “Sapporo Dome
Biological Exploration!” initiative, including natureobservation during summer and birdwatching in autumn.

A nature observation event

Major awards
・The 6th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J（2015)
・Ministerʼs Award, Ministry of the Environment for the 5th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2016)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Applicable SDGs

Major awards
・Special Award, the Judging Committee for the 5th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2016)
・SEGES Green Legacy (2017)
・The 5th Green Social Contribution Award (2017)
・Grand Prize for the Chiyoda Biodiversity Award (2016)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Target19

Applicable SDGs

Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment

Features

The activity involves exploring collaboration and environmental
communication, utilizing greenery to open up new green
space in Surugadai Building in an approach reflecting
awareness of biodiversity. Having maintained a green spacewithin its central Tokyo head office building for over 30 years,
the company now helps establish an ecological network linking
the surrounding communities by focusing on both the quantityand quality of green space and constructing and renovating ina way that takes biodiversity into consideration. It should be
noted that the company not only creates such environment
but also monitors it on an ongoing basis. Moreover, as a
non-life insurance company, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
focuses on the potential for greenery to reduce the heatisland phenomenon and mitigate urban flood damage byintroducing a system to purify and permeate rainwater via
planting ground, as another stand-out aspect of their efforts
as well as preserving biodiversity.
To promote greening from tangible and intangible aspects alike,
ECOM Surugadai
the company establishes a collaborative organization comprisinginhouse/external members to promote various activities,
including birdwatching participated in by employees and neighboring residents, an environmental education program forchildren, planting native species with neighboring elementary school children and free use of the rooftop vegetable garden
for community residents and employees. All these constitute prominent ways in which to use urban green space.

Transportation

Overview

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has been engaged in creating
biodiversity - green space (7,179㎡) in Surugadai Building and
the Annex where its head office exists. Since the building ‒ theformer Taisho Kaijo head office ‒ was completed in 1984, thecompany has covered over 40% of its total area with greenery.
When renovating Surugadai Building in 2013 and completing
the Annex in 2012, they started planting indigenous trees andfruit trees alongside evergreens to renew its green space as avenue considering the vegetation of native species andreflecting the concept of a “green space harmonizing living
species and the city”. Installing a birdbath and paddies havehelped the company create an environment habitable for birds,
insects and other species in a space continually monitored by anautomatic camera and other equipment. They have also helped
establish an ecological network as a green base connecting theImperial Palace and Ueno Park as well as collaborating with local
Green space of Surugadai Building andcommunities and government to select street tree species with
the Annex of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
biodiversity in mind.
Aiming to become a green space open for the community as a venue to bring home the blessings of nature to urban
residents, the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance building appeals as a place to celebrate biodiversity-aware green space and thewonders of nature by opening the rooftop garden, including a vegetable garden in the corner and an environmental
communication space, “ECOM Surugadai”.

Land Use /Development Project

Creation of green space bearing biodiversity in Surugadai HQ Building,and collaborative activities utilizing the green space

Property
Management

Mitsui Sumitomo
Insurance Company, Limited

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Property Management34

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution

Positive contribution

Raw material
procurement

Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
“FURUSATO Project Paving the Way for the Future"

Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

35

Overview

Since 2010, Canon Marketing Japan Inc. has implemented the“FURUSATO Project” with the aim of “leaving a beautiful, lush andgreen furusato (hometown); nurturing biodiversity for childrenʼsfuture”. The project collaborates with NPOs and regional residents
to promote environmental conservation, such as rice terrace
conservation, forest maintenance and restoration of abandoned
cultivated land, tidal flats and lakes/marshes and environmental
learning centered on “natural environment, living things andagriculture”. The company also accumulates donations according
to the volume of used toner cartridges collected and PPC papers
sold to support partner NPOs, thereby actively promoting the
project. They have also further striven to raise awareness of andconserve biodiversity by renewing the project in 2016 as follows:
inviting partners from the public, reconfiguring the target from
employees to citizens, expanding support to partners beyond
subsidies and enhancing the project effectiveness by collaboratingwith experts.

An activity in the Furusato ProjectFeaturesThis initiative collaborates with MY Action Declaration, anawareness-raising tool of biological diversity promoted by theJapan Committee for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity(UNDB-J), to link their participatory program and the website. The
company strives to promote biodiversity awareness-raisingunderstandable even for children via the website where thecompany posts contents with photos to show the actual activities.
The company also provides multi-faceted support to partners
utilizing Canon Group features, not limited in financial support via
subsidies but also enhancement of expertise and organizational
operational capacity on biodiversity, supervising and supporting
activity program planning and operation, organizing a photography
workshop and lending cameras and printers for the event.
Moreover, the company strives to help the project reach newheights by jointly establishing an activity fund with the Public
Resource Foundation, enhancing activities in collaboration with the
Nature Conservation Society of Japan, conducting the third-party
evaluation by the foundation and other efforts.

Declaration of MY Actions
Five actions we can do for biodiversity conservation!
ACT 1 Letʼs eat

ACT 2 Letʼs feel

East local productions andtaste seasonal food.

Experience the actual nature,
visit a zoo/botanical garden
to feel nature and touch
living things.

ACT 3 Letʼs communicate

ACT 4 Letʼs protect

Feel the greatness of natureand changing of the seasonsand show them with photos,
pictures or sentences.

To protect the connection
between living things andnature and people andcultures, participate inregional and nationwide
activities.

ACT 5 Letʼs choose

Select and purchaseeco-friendly and Eco Markproducts.

The Furusato Project website

Major awards
・Special Prize, the Judging Committee, for the 2nd Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2011)
・The 9th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J ( 2016)
・A Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2016
・Minister's Prize, Ministry of Environment, for the 6th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2017)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets

Applicable SDGs

Target1

Target4

Target5

Target7

Target8

Target9Target15

Target18

Features

A living-things observation event after
registered as a paddy ﬁeld owner

Major awards
・Grand Prize (Enterprise/Organization Leadership) for the Japan Nature Conservation Award (2015)
・Shiga Prefectural Governor Prize for the Shiga Biodiversity Award (2015)
・Minister's Prize, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, for the 6th Contest
for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2017)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target5

Target14

TargetApplicable SDGs

19

Use of Biological
Resources
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Installing ﬁshway using FFU remnants andobserving running-up ﬁsh

Property
Management

Land Use /Development ProjectTransportation

The company originally provided components for replacing the existing wooden fishway. After considering a change to a
structure which would better facilitate running-up (changing the inclination angle and weir board interval) and boost
workability (saving weight, for an easier installation) in cooperation with the Shiga Prefecture Fisheries Promotion
Association, the company installs fishways that fish can run up more easily.
As well as providing fishway components, the factory borrows paddy fields as a “paddy field owner” and utilizes them asa venue for environmental education, mainly for new employees but also employees and their families, organizing rice
planting, observing living things and engaging in rice harvesting.
The factory also carries out a “paddy field rice fair” where the harvested “Paddy Field Fish Nursery Rice” is served in thefactoryʼs canteen, provides sake using the rice at the employee club and organizes a rice-cake pounding event using
sticky rice. By providing and promoting the rice and deepening friendship with local governments of the region, thecompany initiates biodiversity conservation in the region centered on the “Paddy Field Fish Nursery”.

Production /Processing

Overview

Sekisui Chemical is in cooperation with Shiga Prefecture on the Paddy Field Fish Nursery Project, to restore paddy fields
attracting native fish species in Lake Biwa for spawning and nurturing young fish, while maintaining agricultural productivity.
The companyʼs Shiga Ritto Plant manufactures PVC pipes and various other plastic products. For the project, the plant
provides Neo Lumber FFU remnants generated through its production as components of fishways, via which native fish
species can run up to the paddy field. The plant manufactures and installs such fishways by working with Shiga
Prefecture and local governments in the region. In FY 2014, this activity was initiated in three districts and the plant iscurrently extending the provision of components to nine districts.
Installing fishways is a costly and laborious task for farmers. Installed fishways require regular replacement, given thatconventional wooden fishways become severely corroded within a few years. FFU is a light and highly durable productusually used for railway sleepers. Using highly durable FFU fishways eliminate the need to replace them so frequently,
easing the farmersʼ burden. Another advantage is that the company can reduce waste generated, by utilizing these
remnants. The company achieves a “win-win” by working with the prefecture and local government in the context of
biodiversity conservation and promoting the activity as a feasible and ongoing initiative.

Investment
and Loans

The Shiga Ritto Plant: Biodiversity conservation activities in Lake Biwa
by eﬀectively using components from this factory

Goods /
Service Delivery

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution

Research andDevelopment

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution

36

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution
Raw material
procurement
Use of Biological
Resources
Production /Processing
Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation* Cases for “Premise Management” are also introduced.

Toshiba Corporation

Global initiatives for biodiversity conservation / cooperative conservation
activities using the sites of Toshiba Group and Dai Nippon Printing Group

Overview

In FY 2017, Toshiba Group launched its “Sixth Environmental
Action Plan” and cites conservation of biodiversity as one of its
top priorities. Making the most of its global network, the company
explores biodiversity conservation activities in all 66
production/business sites worldwide (64 sites at the time ofwinning an award in 2014). The wide-ranging scope of activities
includes establishing ecosystem networks, conserving rare
species, taking countermeasures for alien species andawareness-raising.
Toshiba cooperates with Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) to
promote conservation activities utilizing premises in Kitakami,
Iwate prefecture and Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture, where bothcompany offices are adjacent. By jointly conducting conservationof rare species, biological surveys and observation events, thecompany strives to raise environmental awareness of both
employees.
Ex-situ conservation of golden venus chub: the Japanese Red List categories IB Endangered (EN))
in Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation(Himeji Operations)and Toshiba Elevator Products Corporation(

Features

Although cases of conserving biodiversity on a global scale are not uncommon, this one stands out for the richcontent issued by the company. Their website compiling the Groupʼs conservation activities(https://www.toshiba.co.jp/env/jp/biodiversity̲database/index̲j.htm) not only summarizes the activities of all 66 sites
individually, but it also shows their details and publishes the Groupʼs efforts to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (theten targets particularly relevant to the Groupʼs business activities: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 19). Utilizing information onthese efforts, the website also calculates the proportion of activity sites meeting targets and compares achievement
ratios among the targets. What stands out here is how the company effectively uses the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as abenchmark against which to measure the achievement of their activities across the board.
Collaboration between Toshiba and DNP is a unique case, stepping up the phase from a conventional conservation
activity by a single company or within a specific region to a business collaboration encompassing multiple regions withadjacent premises.

Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

37

Positive contribution

Implementation results for FY2018 by target (covering All 66 sites)*＊The percentage of total number of targets achieved by each siteagainst the number of targets covering all sites (66 sites x 10 targets)

Major awards

・Juryʼs Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2014
・The 13th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2018； Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation)
・A Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2018 (Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation)
・A Prize for the Biodiversity Action Award 2019 (Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ）Relevance to the Aichi Targets

Applicable SDGs

Target1

Target2

Target4

Target5

Target8

Target9Target11

Target12

Target14

Target19

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution

Toyota Motor Corporation

Use of Biological
Resources

Forest of Toyota projects / "TOYOTA SOCIAL FES!!"

Major awards
・Chairman's Prize, the Judging Committee, for the 1st Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity Award (2010)
・The 3rd Green Social Contribution Award (2015)
・Minister of Economy、Trade and Industry Prize for the 18th Japan Water Award (2016)＊ Toyota Marketing Japan Corporation (merged into Toyota Motor Corporation) was awarded.

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target14

Target5

Target8

TargetApplicable SDGs

9

Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management

Dedicated interpreters of Toyota forests

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Features

The forest of Toyota initiative is a representative conservation activity leveraging company-owned forests and featuring
dedicated interpreters stationed on site. They try to make it easier for participants to observe Satoyama creatures by
installing monitor cameras for boxes, etc. so that they can use all five senses to feel the charm of nature.
What really makes SOCIAL FES!! stand out is the fact that it is part of Toyotaʼs product promotion activity,The goal is toestablish "co-growth marketing" that brings benefits to society, companies, and individuals by encouraging participants
to have fun while engaging in activities that will help conserve biodiversity, spread awareness, and gain support andsympathy for products and corporate activities from participants. Leveraging its network of 5,000 or so dealers
nationwide, Toyota also expands its initiatives; highlighting regional characteristics by cooperating with local businesses,
including local newspaper companies and universities and vocational schools, allowing students to earn credits via
volunteer activities.

Research andDevelopment

Goods /
Service Delivery

Yamaguchi Forest, Countryside, River,and Ocean Environment Restoration Project(Yamaguchi Prefecture)

Investment
and Loans

Production /Processing

Overview

Toyota Motor Corporation owns the Forest of Toyota extending around45 ha in a hilly area just 8 km from the center of Toyota City where thecompany's headquarters are located and they are open to the public
since 1997. Dedicated interpreters are stationed there, and the forest
has been developed as a community-based environmental educational
center. As well as measuring and publishing the effect of their forest
maintenance entitled “Eco Monitoring” for a decade between 1998 and2008, Toyota started an environmental learning program in 2015, throughwhich participants consider harmonization of people and nature using thecreatures of Satoyama as the subject.
Moreover, since 2012, the company has organized the AQUA SOCIAL
FES!! in collaboration with local newspaper companies nationwide, NPOs
and other groups as an activity to promote AQUA, a compact hybrid
vehicle. This campaign explored waterfront conservation activities
nationwide under the name of “AQUA” but was renewed as “TOYOTASOCIAL FES!!” in 2018, which saw the scope of activities expand toconserve various aspects of the regional natural environment, including
the waterfront. Accordingly, as the initiatives attracted nearly 90,000
participants during the eight years from 2012 to 2019, further expansionof the initiatives is expected.

Raw material
procurement

Positive contribution

38

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution

Positive contribution / environmental load reduction

Raw material
procurement

NEC Corporation (NEC Group)
Cooperation with NPOs to conserve ravine paddy ﬁeld

Use of Biological
Resources

Overview

Production /Processing

NEC Corporation (NEC Group) cooperates with the NPO Asaza Fund to start implementing the “NEC Paddy Making
Project” in 2014, a biodiversity conservation activity in rice fields in the ravine in Ishioka and Ushiku Cities, Ibaraki
Prefecture. Via this project, NEC Group employees and their families can experience the full range, from rice production
to sake brewing all year round, in an effort to boost environmental awareness and conserve biodiversity.
In initiatives such as “Return Japanese Crested Ibises to Nature in a Decade”, with time having elapsed since the release,
former inaccessible and uncultivated swampy fields have now been restored as rice fields, attracting organisms andfunctioning as a playground for local children.

Investment
and Loans
Goods /
Service Delivery
Research andDevelopment
Transportation
Land Use /Development Project
Property
Management
Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

39

Paddy ﬁelds in the ravine before and after restoration

Features

The initiatives encompass wet paddies at the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills, withover 1000 such places said to exist in the Kasumigaura region. The land was long used as
wet paddies given the availability of water for irrigation, forming a unique ecosystem andincluding the surrounding forests. However, the lack of available land and unpopularity offirewood have seen both forests and farmlands increasingly abandoned, causing precious
ecosystems to decline.
Asaza Fund is an organization promoting the Asaza Project since 1995 and incorporated
as an NPO in 1999, which has actively striven to restore the environment around
Kasumigaura and Kitaura. While they collaborate with many enterprises, this project is aparticularly early case of collaboration.
This project develops and verifies solutions in which NECʼs main business, IT (network
sensor measuring, accumulating and distributing meteorological data) is applied toobserve ecosystems and conserve biodiversity. Specifically, the company installs a sensor
system powered by solar cells for meteorological observation to monitor the rice-growing
environment and utilize the data collected for surveying an environment for growing
organisms.
A sensor system formeteorological data

Major awards
・Juryʼs Special Prize “Environment and Enterprise” for the 1st Good Life Award (2014)
・The 8th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J (2016)
・President's Prize, the Earth, Water and Green Foundation, for the 5th Contest for Corporate Activities on Biodiversity
Award (2016)
・President's Prize, the Earth, Water and Green Foundation (2016)
・Judging Committeeʼs Encouragement Prize (Large Enterprise) for the Youth Experience Promoting Corporation Award (2017)

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target4

Target7

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Volunteer Activity / Social Contribution

Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Use of Biological
Resources

Continuous support for biological conservation via the HASU ClubRaw material
procurement

Positive contribution

Overview

A planting event in Mt. Fuji

Features

A nature conservation activity in Iriomoteshima Island, Ishigaki

Major awards

Relevance to the Aichi Targets
Target1

Target5

Target10

Target15

Target19

Target20

TargetApplicable SDGs

14

Volunteer Activity /Social Contribution

Property
Management

・The 11th Recognition of good cooperation projects by the UNDB-J ( 2017)
・Juryʼs Special Prize for the Japan Nature Conservation Award (2018)Land Use /Development ProjectTransportation

Research andDevelopment

The HASU Club has provided its supports to secure funds andbiodiversity conservation activities on an ongoing basis byestablishing a mechanism for collecting fractions, etc. of
employeesʼ salary to help fund social contribution activities.
To date, the initiative has donated some 1.5 million yen in total
for 20 activities annually for about 30 years while continuing
to promote around ten conservation activities annually, even
before the concept of CSR ever gained a hold in Japanesecompanies. Moreover, the initiatives were extended to include
activities using similar mechanisms elsewhere and companies.
It should also be highlighted that comprehensive collaboration
among employees and their families, related companies,
regional NGOs/NPOs, and other entities have been exploredthanks to the initiative.

Goods /
Service Delivery

Investment
and Loans

Production /Processing

Since 1991, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. established the HASU Club asa volunteer group spontaneously operated by employees. The
club members comprise employees of Fuji Xerox and relatedcompanies, officers, part-time employees, and retirees on a
voluntary basis. The club activity is funded by fractional
contributions (less than 100 yen) with a unit (1 unit is 100 yen
and from a unit to 99 units at maximum) from monthly
salaries and seasonal bonuses, or the annual membership fee(2,000 and more). The major purpose of the activity fund is todonate to various NPOs and voluntary groups and promote
voluntary program activities planned and operated by the clubmembers. The Natural Environment Group supports efforts todonate to nature conservation groups nationwide, cooperates
with local activities to promote the planting trees andprevention of coral bleaching, and plans and organizes natureobservation and seminars, generating opportunities formembers to collectively learn about the natural environmentand conserve biodiversity.

40

CASEBOOK ON
BIODIVERSITY ENGAGEMENTSBY PRIVATE SECTOR
Reference for business operators
1st edition in English published in March 2021
Edited by Oﬃce for Mainstreaming Biodiversity,

Nature Conservation Bureau,
Ministry of the Environment, Japan

1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8974, Japan* Unless otherwise speciﬁed, the copyright of images, ﬁgures, tables and other elements contained in individual
cases in this Casebook belongs to each company presenting the case. Contents, photos, tables, and tables
presented in each case are published upon gaining permission from each company.
Copyright©2020 Ministry of the Environment, Japan. All Rights Reserved

CASEBOOK ON
BIODIVERSITY ENGAGEMENTSBY PRIVATE SECTOR
References for business operators

Ministry of the Environment
Government of Japan