Environmental Management

Sumitomo Corporation Group Environmental Policy

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.

I. Basic Policy

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.

II. Basic Guidelines

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.

Basic stance with regard to the environment:

To place great importance on protecting the global environment as a good corporate citizen in accordance with the Sumitomo Corporation’s Activity Guidelines.

Compliance with environmental legislation:

To strictly observe legislation related to environmental matters not only in Japan but also overseas, and to abide by any agreements made.

Caring for the natural environment:

To place great importance on preserving the environment, including the natural ecosystem and biodiversity.

Response to climate change:

To place great importance on mitigating climate change and adapting to its impact.

Efficient use of resources and energy:

To be mindful of the finite availability of resources and energy and strive to use them both efficiently and effectively.

Contributing to the building of a recycling-oriented society:

To endeavor to help build a recycling-oriented society by reducing waste and reusing and recycling resources.

Promotion of businesses that contribute to environmental preservation:

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.

Establishment of environmental management:

To use an environmental management system to prevent environmental pollution and set environmental objectives and targets which are regularly reviewed and continuously upgraded.

Disclosure of the environmental policy:

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.

Targets

Sumitomo Corporation Group promotes activities that are beneficial to the environmental improvement and reduce environmental negative impact.

At our compeny, 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 of Sumitomo Corporation 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 Management Structure

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.

※  Our company is one of the ISO14001 integrated certification group companies.
The area within the red frame is our area of responsibility.

Internal Environmental Audit

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.