Biodiversity

Policy and approach

Natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides form the foundation of human activities, with an estimated USD$44 trillion—equivalent to half of the global GDP—directly dependent on natural capital (WEF, The Future of Nature and Business, 2020). In recent years, the degradation of natural capital and loss of biodiversity have been increasingly recognized as socio-economic risks.
At the second part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP15), held in Canada in December 2022, the new global framework, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), was adopted. The GBF sets a 2050 vision of “a world living in harmony with nature” and establishes a 2030 mission to achieve nature-positive outcomes by halting and reversing biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery.
In response, the Japanese Cabinet approved the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Japan 2023-2030 in March 2023 to realize nature-positive outcomes domestically. Under its Sustainable Vision 2030, Toyobo Group identifies “quality water areas, air and soil, and preservation of biodiversity” as one of the social challenges to which it can contribute. Through products that reduce environmental impact and environmentally conscious manufacturing, the Group aims to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity.

The TOYOBO Group Fundamental Policy on the Global Environment calls on the Group to actively support and participate in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation activities throughout society and in local regions, as a good corporate citizen. In doing this, we strive to minimize the impact of our business activities on ecosystems and contribute to a nature-positive society through conservation and protection initiatives in collaboration with local communities.

• TOYOBO Group Fundamental Policy on the Global Environment

Participation status of biodiversity conservation

We are promoting activities based on the "Action Guidelines for Biodiversity Conservation" with respecting "Declaration of Biodiversity, Guide to Action Policy" issued by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and "Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement in Biodiversity" formulated by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Identifying risks

Toyobo Group's business activities and its involvement in biodiversity

For all of the Group's domestic and overseas production sites, we surveyed the 1 km area surrounding each site using the biodiversity assessment tool using IBAT^*1 to determine proximity to protected areas, including World Natural Heritage Sites, IUCN^*2 Protected Area Management Categories I-VI, the Ramsar Convention^*3 wetlands, and KBAs^*4. The sites located near such protected areas are listed in the table below.

Going forward, Toyobo Group will assess the dependence of its business activities on nature and biodiversity, as well as their impacts, and will implement biodiversity conservation activities that take into account the environmental characteristics of the regions where our sites are located.

*1

The abbreviation of "Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool" refers to a database of the world's protected areas in which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other organizations participate.

*2

The abbreviation of "International Union for Conservation of Nature" refers to an international nature conservation network consisting of national, governmental and non-governmental agencies.

*3

Official name is "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat". It aims to conserve wetlands, which are an important habitat for a variety of organisms and a valuable resource for human life, through international cooperation and promote the wise use.

*4

KBA: Abbreviation for Key Biodiversity Area, referring to locations in terrestrial, freshwater, or marine ecosystems that host diverse natural environments and contribute to the survival of biodiversity.

Sites located near protected areas

• Toyobo Tsuruga Research and Production Center, and Toyobo MC Takasago plant: Areas to be protected are located more than 1 km (but less than 2 km) from the site, but are included in the scope of this activity

Relationship between business activities and biodiversity

Made with reference to the "Map of Relationships between Corporations and Biodiversity" published by the Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity.

Initiatives for reducing environmental impact

To minimize the negative impact on biodiversity, we are proceeding following activities.

Reduction of environmentally hazardous substances emitted from production sites and plants

Under TOYOBO Group Fundamental Policy on the Global Environment, we have established voluntary standards for chemical substances discharged into the atmosphere and water that are stricter than those required by law, and we are working to thoroughly manage these substances and reduce their emissions.

Please see chemical substance management section for targets and achievements for fiscal 2031.

• Chemical Substance Management

Environment impact assessment (Eco-Review System) at development

Since 1998, the Group has been using the Eco-Review System to evaluate the environmental impact and eco-friendliness of our products from the perspective of environment conservation. Under this system, we evaluate our products and technologies at every stage—from raw materials to disposal—based on their impact on climate change prevention, chemical substance reduction, resource conservation, waste minimization, contribution to the environment, and biodiversity.
Since this system is applied at every stage from R&D to commercialization, issues identified as needing improvement during the R&D stage are addressed by the next Eco-Review before commercialization. As a result, in developing products and technologies, we work to reduce environmental impact and enhance features that contribute to biodiversity conservation and other environmental benefits.

• Eco-Conscious Products

Implementation of cleanup activities to preserve the biodiversity of the Seto Inland Sea

The Seto Inland Sea is one of the most important areas for biodiversity conservation. Our business sites and Group companies (Iwakuni Production Center, Toyobo MC Takasago Plant, Toyo Cloth Co., Ltd., Japan Exlan Co., Ltd., Toyobo Photo Chemicals Co., Ltd.) are located in this surrounding area. These business sites, and companies conduct cleanup activities at least once a year to pick up litter along the coast and in rivers flowing into the Seto Inland Sea.

We are also expanding our activity areas to areas outside the Seto Inland Sea, and are working as a group to conserve habitats.

Initiatives for nature positive

Research Center

Biodiversity conservation initiatives at Research Center

The Research Center is located adjacent to Lake Biwa, which is a "species and habitat management area" based on IBAT's risk assessment. We are grateful for our location, which is blessed with remaining biodiversity not only in Lake Biwa but also in the rivers and satoyama landscape, and are committed to conservation activities aimed at creating an environment where people and living things can coexist in harmony.

Conducting biological surveys

Lake Biwa shoreline cleanup activities

TOYOBO Forest in AYA

We had purchased forests since the 1950s to ensure domestic self-sufficiency of chemical fiber raw materials. Subsequently, due to changes in the composition of the chemical fiber business, the forests ceased to be a source of raw materials and we now hold only a portion of the forests for timber production.

We promote forestry activities while maintaining its function as a water source conservation forest. We will also promote sustainable forest management with the aim of coexistence between people and nature by placing emphasis on continuity with the abundant forests surrounding us.

Biodiversity conservation initiatives at “TOYOBO Forest in AYA”

Participation in biodiversity certification programs

• “Toyobo Aya-no-Mori” forest receives certification to be registered as OECM

Calculation of CO₂ absorption

The amount of CO₂ absorbed in our company-owned forests is currently estimated to be approximately 6 thousand tonnes/year for a forest area of 1500 ha.

Contributing through business processes and products

Environment and fiber business

We are also contributing to reduce impact on the environment of our customers through the markets of waste fluids, drain, and exhaust gas treatment equipment, as well as water treatment membranes.

Engagement and collaboration with governments, non-profit organizations and local community

Environmental education activities

Cooperative management of groundwater (Tsuruga Research and Production Center)

Tsuruga Research and Production Center of our Group participates in the ”Tsuruga City Water Environment Improvement Roundtable”, which consists of local government officials, academics, residents, companies, and NGOs that have come together for the purpose of groundwater management. The report provides information on measures to achieve the reduction targets promised to the local government and citizens, as well as the results of activities and future plans.

Toyobo Group will continue to work with local communities to properly manage groundwater use in order to conserve biodiversity.

Lake Biwa day event: 100 sites eDNA survey (Research Center)

Participation in local environmental citizen surveys (Research Center)

At our Research Center, we strive to enhance environmental education and engage in dialogue with local communities in line with our environmental policy.
In Otsu City, where the Research Center is located, a local environmental citizen survey is conducted annually to raise citizens’ environmental awareness and compile environmental information. Since fiscal 2020, Toyobo has participated in this survey as the Research Center. Employees and their families who wish to participate observe designated species and record their findings, including species types and locations, on survey forms submitted to Otsu City.
Participants reported that the survey provided an opportunity to observe local nature and that they were pleasantly surprised by the diversity of species, such as acorns and swallows. Going forward, we will continue to promote awareness of nature conservation through participation in such activities.

Promotion of greening at Shikinomori (Japan Exlan Co., Ltd.)

At the Saidaiji Plant of Japan Exlan Co., Ltd., the former company housing site has been developed into the green space park Shikinomori for over 30 years, actively promoting greening efforts. The park features approximately 30 species of trees and is home to wildlife such as cicadas, dragonflies, and rhinoceros beetles. The park is open to the local community and is enjoyed as a place of relaxation, with nearby residents using it as a walking route. It also serves as a space for community engagement, including hosting school field trips.

Forest conservation activities at "Toyobo Future Forest" in Wakayama prefecture

Join the 30by30 alliance

In November 2022, TOYOBO and Toyobo Real Estate Co., Ltd. joined 30by30 alliance for biodiversity to promote activities aimed at halting and restoring biodiversity losses.

• Toyobo joins 30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity

Comprehensive partnership agreement with the town of Aya, Miyazaki Prefecture (TOYOBO Forest in AYA)

In June 2023, we concluded a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Aya town, Miyazaki Prefecture, where one of our Group-owned forests is located.
Aya town has one of the largest laurel forests in Japan, and has been registered as a UNESCO Eco Park by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization) in 2012, receiving high praise worldwide for its efforts to create a community that coexists with nature.
In the future, we will work together to revitalize the Aya town area using our company-owned forests and to coexist with our sustainable manufacturing and conservation of the natural environment.

• Toyobo signs a comprehensive partnership agreement with the town of Aya, Miyazaki Prefecture