Environmental Communications
Fostering Environmental Awareness
Sumitomo Pharma conducts a variety of environmental education initiatives aimed at giving employees a broad knowledge of environmental challenges such as global warming, as well as getting employees to participate in a wide range of environmental conservation activities not only within the company but also at home and in their communities. In April each year we provide new employees with education focused on global environmental challenges and Sumitomo Pharma's environmental conservation activities. We also conduct appropriate environmental education for employees in plants and research laboratories, while raising employees' awareness in other workplaces through environmental education and events geared to each site. As June is designated as Environment Month in Japan, several activities are organized to enhance employees' awareness and understanding of environmental issues. As part of this effort, the chairperson of the Environmental and Safety Committee delivers an annual message, regular online environmental education sessions are provided to all employees, and various company-wide events are conducted. In Environment Month 2023, we participated in a recycling initiative※ operated by Askul Corporation in which old plastic file folders were collected at all business sites and employees’ homes for recycling.
- ※https://www.askul.co.jp/kaisya/shigen/clearfolder/ (in Japanese only)
Communication with Investors
As institutional investors become increasingly interested in companies' environmental, social, and governance-related (ESG) performances, we engage in more appropriate disclosure of environmental information and have a dialogue with institutional investors. Since fiscal 2018, we have held ESG Meetings annually to enhance investors' and analysts' understanding of our environmental initiatives, hear the opinions of investors, and reflect them in future initiatives. The meeting for fiscal 2022 was held on December 13, 2022.
For more information on details of ESG Meetings, please see "Presentation/ Webcast."
Communication with Subsidiaries
Sumitomo Pharma and its subsidiaries in Japan (7 companies in fiscal 2022) have an annual meeting to exchange information on environment and safety to enhance levels of management in these areas. In fiscal 2021, six subsidiaries participated. Moreover, we conduct an environment, health and safety (EHS) audit at Japanese subsidiaries and the Suzhou plant of Sumitomo Pharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. in China, our only overseas subsidiaries that has production functions, and we confirm compliance with various laws and regulations and fair and appropriate implementation of voluntary environmental and safety activities. In principle, we conduct EHS audits at two Japanese subsidiaries each year. As for the Suzhou plant, we conducted the EHS audit in fiscal 2019.
Communication with Local Communities
We conduct employee participatory environmental communication activities. Employees at each business site actively take part in environmental conservation activities, such as cleaning riverbeds and community cleanups. We also conducted a forest conservation initiative at the Sumitomo Pharma Forest in Kishiwada City, Osaka, from October 2015 to September 2023 in collaboration with the local non-profit organization Konoyama Conservation Club.
For more information on details of Sumitomo Pharma Forest, please see "Biodiversity."