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View Sumitomo Corporation's Sustainability : Environmental Management
Throughout its 400-year history, the Sumitomo Group has pursued industrial development in harmony with local communities and the natural environment. Based on this foundation, the Sumitomo Corporation Group pursues business activities in such a way as to promote environmental conservation. Recognizing that various initiatives such as creating a low-carbon society that alleviates climate change, preserving biodiversity and the global environment, using energy, water and resources sustainably, preventing pollution and controlling waste emissions are the most important and long-term concerns that all individuals and organizations must address, we have established our Environmental Policy as detailed below.
Sharing this policy, Sumitomo Corporation Group companies are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of their business activities as well as to improving the environment through their business activities, based on the ISO 14001 environment management system.
The Sumitomo Corporation Group recognizes that environmental issues are global in scale and that they are long-range concerns affecting future generations. As a global organization, the Sumitomo Corporation Group, through sound business activities, will strive to achieve sustainable development aimed at both social and economic progress and environmental preservation.
In pursuing its diversified business activities both within Japan and overseas, the Sumitomo Corporation Group shall comply with the following guidelines, and, through cooperation between its Group companies, work to achieve the aims of its environmental Basic Policy.
To place great importance on protecting the global environment as a good corporate citizen in accordance with the Sumitomo Corporation's Activity Guidelines.
To strictly observe legislation related to environmental matters not only in Japan but also overseas, and to abide by any agreements made.
To place great importance on preserving the environment, including the natural ecosystem and biodiversity.
To place great importance on mitigating climate change and adapting to its impact.
To be mindful of the finite availability of resources and energy and strive to use them both efficiently and effectively.
To endeavor to help build a recycling-oriented society by reducing waste and reusing and recycling resources.
To utilize our integrated corporate strength to promote businesses and projects, which contribute to environmental preservation and reduction of the impact of society on the natural environment.
To use an environmental management system to prevent environmental pollution and set environmental objectives and targets which are regularly reviewed and continuously upgraded.
To communicate this Environmental Policy to all people who are working for or on behalf of the Sumitomo Corporation Group, as well as disclosing it externally.
Sumitomo Corporation Group promotes activities that are beneficial to the environmental improvement and reduce environmental negative impact.
At Sumitomo Corporation, EMS Leader identifies the environmental aspects of each department and evaluates their impacts, and identifies risks and opportunities considering relevant compliance obligations. Based on the results, EMS Promoters specify significant environmental aspects, risks and opportunities for each Business Group and the Corporate Sustainability Department reviews them for the entire company. At the Corporate Sustainability Committee, we review the achievement of the environmental targets and decide new objectives for the following year.
| Environmental Objectives | |
|---|---|
| Comply with environmental laws and regulations |
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| Pursue environmentally-sound projects |
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| Manage and reduce environmental burden |
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| Promote environmental education and communication related to environmental issues |
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To achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy by 2050, Sumitomo Corporation set the following long-term goals for electricity consumption, water withdrawal and waste emissions in FY2017.
Each intensity and total amount are for its head office, regional offices, branches, sub-branches in Japan.
| Target | |
|---|---|
| Electricity Consumption | To reduce electricity consumption per square meter by an average of at least 1% annually and at least 20% until FY2035 both from base year of FY2013. |
| Water Withdrawal | To reduce water withdrawal per employee by an average of at least 1% annually from base year of FY2010. |
| Waste Emissions | To reduce waste emissions per employee by an average of at least 1% annually from base year of FY2010. |
The targets converted from long-term goals, results of FY2023, targets of FY2024 are as follows.
| Index | Results of the Base year | Targets of FY2023 | Results of FY2023 | Targets of FY2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity Consumption | Consumption (MWh) | 7,859 | 5,343 | 3,651 | 5,285 |
| Intensity (MWh/m2) | 0.1079 | 0.0976 | 0.0667 | 0.0966 | |
| Water Withdrawal | Withdrawal (m3) | 32,191 | 20,548 | 9,314 | 23,098 |
| Intensity (m3/employee) | 6.93 | 6.08 | 2.43 | 6.02 | |
| Waste Emissions | Emissions (t) | 508 | 324 | 77 | 365 |
| Intensity (t/employee) | 0.109 | 0.096 | 0.020 | 0.095 | |
The Sumitomo Corporation Group has established, based on the environmental policy, the environmental management structure with the Corporate Sustainability Committee as the center of the structure. As for the ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS), since Tokyo and Osaka offices of Sumitomo Corporation acquired the Group's first ISO 14001 certification in June 1999, the coverage of the system has been extended continuously. About 20,000 employees in domestic locations of Sumitomo Corporation and certain group companies participates in these environmental management activities. At the ISO 14001 Group Companies Conference, which consists of Sumitomo Corporation and ISO 14001 integrated certification group companies, we share the environmental activities, and report to Corporate Sustainability Committee if necessary. Depending on the importance of the subject, Corporate Sustainability Committee discusses and reports to the Management Council and the Board of Directors.
(As of April 2024, Sumitomo Corporation and 25 group companies)
SUMITOMO CORPORATION KYUSHU CO., LTD.
SUMITOMO CORPORATION HOKKAIDO CO., LTD.
SUMITOMO CORPORATION TOHOKU CO., LTD.
METAL ONE SUMISHO TUBULAR PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
SUMITOMO CORPORATION GLOBAL METALS CO., LTD.
SUMISHO AERO-SYSTEMS CORPORATION
SUMITOMO MITSUI AUTO SERVICE COMPANY, LIMITED
SMA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
SPACE MOVE CORPORATION
SUMITOMO CORPORATION POWER & MOBILITY CO., LTD.
SUMITOMO SHOJI MACHINEX CO., LTD.
SUMISHO GLOBAL LOGISTICS CO., LTD.
SCSK CORPORATION
SCSK NEC DATA CENTER MANAGEMENT, LTD.
SUMISHO MONTBLANC CO., LTD.
SC FOODS CO., LTD.
CHIBA KYODO SILO CO., LTD.
SMB KENZAI CO., LTD.
S.C.BUILDING SERVICE., CO., LTD.
SUMISHO MATERIALS CORPORATION
SUMISHO METALEX CORPORATION
SUMITOMO SHOJI CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
SUMITRONICS CORPORATION
SUMMIT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
SUMMIT AGRO INTERNATIONAL LTD.
(ref) Percentage of Sumitomo Corporation group's sites covered by ISO14001
Sumitomo Corporation conducts internal environmental audits on an annual basis to ensure the environmental management system of Sumitomo Corporation and group companies with ISO14001 integrated certification are properly functioning.
〈Audit Priority Items〉
（1）proper establishment of environmental targets,
（2）management of progress in implementing the environmental action plan,
（3）evaluation of compliance with legal requirements and
（4）implementation and enhancement of environmental training.
In February 2024, the third-party audits were conducted by an independent auditing organization, Japan Quality Assurance Organization, for the renewal of the current ISO 14001 certification status. We received approval as a result of the audits.
Sumitomo Corporation Group develops a variety of educational programs to help its employees engage in environmental conservation. We raise environmental awareness among all Group employees by organizing such programs as trainings on environmental laws and regulations as well as global environmental issues given by outside experts.
| Theme | Summary | Number of Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Training on the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (release of video) | The management principles, environmental contribution activities and the processes of an environmental management system in accordance with the ISO 14001 international standard. | All year round |
| Training for internal environmental audits | The basics and processes of internal environmental audits, through exercises, to be able to conduct audits effectively. | Twice a year |
| Trainings on industrial waste disposal | Practical knowledge, including responsibilities of industrial waste generators, contract criteria and proper disposal methods. | Twice a year |
| Trainings on environmental laws and regulations | The latest trends in environmental laws and regulations, basic knowledge on these, and points to note to comply with the laws and regulations. | Twice a year |
| Basic environmental education （e-learning） | Sumitomo Corporation Group’s environmental policy and its environmental management system. | once a year |