Biodiversity
DIC Group has formulated the DIC Group Biodiversity Policy. This new policy outlines the Group’s responsibilities, goals and metrics for the biodiversity conservation. It was created with the aim of contributing actively to the conservation and protection of biodiversity while also minimizing the Group’s impact on the environment.
The DIC Group recognizes that the responsible management of biodiversity is crucial not only for the environment, but also for its own success in the long term. Guided by this new policy, which demonstrates its dedication to ensuring a sustainable future, the DIC Group will work tirelessly to achieve its goals and help realize a healthier planet for generations to come.
DIC Group Biodiversity Policy
Article 1 (Purpose)
At DIC Group, we are committed to environmental responsibility and sustainability. We recognize the importance of biodiversity* in maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem, and we are dedicated to minimizing our impact on the environment while actively contributing to the conservation and protection of biodiversity. This Biodiversity Policy outlines our commitment to biodiversity conservation, our goals, and the measures we will take to achieve them.
We acknowledge that the responsible management of biodiversity is not only essential for our environment but also for the long-term success of our business. This policy is a testament to our dedication to sustainability, and we will continue to work tirelessly to achieve our goals and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
* "Biodiversity”, short for biological diversity, means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
Article 2 (Compliance with Regulations)
The DIC Group is dedicated to complying with all relevant national, and international laws and regulations concerning biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and natural resource management. When there is a conflict between national law and international law, we seek ways to respect internationally recognized rules to the greatest extent possible.
Article 3 (Biodiversity Assessment)
The DIC Group conducts assessments on the impact of our business on biodiversity and works to mitigate negative impacts based on the outcome of these assessments.
Article 4 (Local Care)
We conduct our business while minimizing damage to local habitats and ecosystems.
Article 5 (Sustainable sourcing)
The DIC Group propels to source raw materials, products, and services in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on biodiversity. We use supplier management platforms (e.g. EcoVadis) and questionnaires to assess suppliers and encourage their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Article 6 (Pollution Prevention)
The DIC Group employs technologies and practices to minimize the release of pollutants, chemicals, and waste materials into the environment, ensuring that our operations do not harm local ecosystems. We improve downstream recyclability by using 5R* and circular economy principles.
* The 5Rs methodology refers to Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle and Redesign, five key-words in favor of improved circular economy and carbon footprint reduction, all included in the DIC Group operational and product creation activities.
Article 7 (Research and Innovation)
The DIC Group contributes to the conservation of natural capital through biodiversity-friendly products and services, including sustainable sourcing of raw materials. We contribute to industry collaborations with the aim of sustainability benefits.
Article 8 (Education and Training)
We provide education and training programs to our employees and contractors to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Our goal is to foster a culture of environmental responsibility within the DIC Group.
Article 9 (Reporting and Transparency)
The DIC Group will maintain transparent communication regarding our biodiversity efforts and performance. We will regularly report on our progress and work with stakeholders.
Article 10 (Continuous Improvement)
The DIC Group will regularly review and update this Biodiversity Policy to reflect emerging best practices and evolving environmental standards. We are committed to the continuous improvement of our efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity.
Article 11 (Community Engagement)
The DIC Group engages with local communities in our biodiversity conservation initiatives. By building strong relationships and understanding local perspectives, we work towards a common goal of protecting our shared environment.
（This policy is established as of November 15, 2023.）
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Basic Approach
The DIC Group works to grasp the impact of its operating activities on biodiversity, as well as to use land and natural capital in a sustainable manner.
01Biodiversity Preservation Initiatives since 2011
The DIC Group has long recognized the importance of preserving biodiversity. In 2011, a lecture was given by an outside expert on the relationship between corporate activities and biodiversity. The lecture was attended by executives from corporate headquarters, as well as from plants and Group companies across the country, and prompted the launch of a wide range of related initiatives, examples of which are given below.
- ① Initiatives designed to ensure an effective grasp of the relationship between the Group’s operating activities and biodiversity at all stages of its products’ life cycle, from R&D and the procurement of raw materials through to end-of-life disposal or recycling.
- ② Obtaining a third-party assessment of management of the natural forest and gardens on the site in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, occupied by the Central Research Laboratories and the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art.
02Biodiversity Preservation Initiatives since 2011
DIC prints the DIC Report, its convocation notice and a variety of pamphlets and other printed materials on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
03Participation in JBIB
In April 2022, DIC joined the Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity (JBIB), a group of Japanese companies committed to preserving biodiversity that works actively to collect up-to-date information and network with other members. As part of this initiative, the DIC Group is conducting study sessions with outside experts and companies from other industries with the objective of promoting more ambitious efforts to preserve biodiversity.
TOPICS
Biodiversity Initiatives at the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art
The satoyama* landscape of the extensive site occupied by the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art and the Central Research Laboratories makes it an ideal home for numerous tree and flower varieties, as well as for an abundance of wildlife. Loved by the community, the site has welcomed approximately 200,000 visitors annually since the opening of the museum in 1990. On this site, originally a cedar forest, the museum is promoting a three-year plan, concluding in 2023, to create a thicket of 300 broadleaf trees, giving careful attention to ensuring an ecosystem that will support coexistence with wild birds and small animals.
*Satoyama is a Japanese term applied to the area between mountain foothills and arable flat land.
The forest and gardens of the site occupied by the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art are always alive with seasonal flowers and foliage.
Museum staff take part in planting seedlings.
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