In April 2008, Sekisui Chemical Group incorporated items on biodiversity to its Environmental Management Policy. Since then it has strived to preserve biodiversity through both environmentally conscious business and deploying nature conservation activities around the world.

Approach

Sekisui Chemical Group identifies biodiversity as a priority area in its Long-Term Environmental Management Vision, and in March 2011 we established guidelines for related efforts. In accordance with these guidelines, in fiscal 2011 we began at three business sites in Japan assessment of activities such as production processes and land use from the perspective of their impacts on ecosystems. The results confirmed that the loads these sites placed on ecosystems generally were low at the present time. They also showed that through revision of methods such as those for management of flood retarding basins on business sites and periodic management of flora such as trees and reeds in the vicinity, it would be possible to create an environment rich with biodiversity and to provide habitat for a diverse range of creatures. In the future as well we will continue assessment at individual sites and link these to practical

Sekisui Chemical Group believes that continual nature conservation activities conducted at business sites are important as one means of preserving biodiversity. Based on the goal in the Midterm Environmental Plan of conducting nature conservation activities at all business sites in Japan by fiscal 2013, we have deployed forest development activities in seven blocks in Japan. To promote these activities, in December 2011 we concluded a basic agreement with the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization affirming comprehensive cooperation on development of "Sekisui Chemical Forests." In addition, five overseas facilities in the four areas of Europe, the Americas, China, and Asia will advance biodiversity preservation efforts as well.