The Nisshinbo Group’s Contributions to the SDGs

The Nisshinbo Group contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its biodiversity activities.
The Group manages key performance indicators (KPIs) as part of systematic measures to achieve its medium-term environmental targets regarding strengthening of biodiversity conservation activities.

SDGs in Focus: Goals and Targets and the activities of the Nisshinbo Group

The Nisshinbo Group is promoting activities to conserve biodiversity, with particular focus on SDG Targets 14.2 and 15.5. Our Group is promoting activities such as preservation of natural habitats, preservation of important ecosystems and protection of threatened species at our locations in Japan and overseas, in accordance with the Aichi Targets^*.

* Aichi Targets: Targets to be met by 2020, set at the 2010 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

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  14. Life below water

  Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

• Target: 14.2

  By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

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  15. Life on land

  Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

• Targets: 15.5

  Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened specie.

Participating in the Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership

Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. participates in the Japan Business and Biodiversity Partnership, a group that engages in activities to conserve biodiversity. The Partnership is composed of 491 economic organizations, businesses, NGOs, and local governments.

The Company’s activities to conserve biodiversity began in fiscal 2015, and 9 activities are continuing in Japan.

The Fourth Medium-Term Environmental Targets, activities for which began in fiscal 2019, call for the development of biodiversity conservation activities at five overseas sites. In fiscal 2019, biodiversity conservation activities began at two overseas sites.

Activities to Conserve Biodiversity

Nine domestic sites

Company, Business Site	Related Aichi Targets Details of Preservation Wildlife Being Protected
Japan Radio Co., Ltd.	Target 6: Preservation of marine resources Activities: Gathering of basic data on the preservation of marine resources in Tokyo Bay collaborating with the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Wildlife being protected: Habitat survey of Whitespotted conger, conducted from a fisherman’s perspective
Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. Head Office & Factory	Target 5: Preservation of natural habitats Activities: Afforestation and preservation of a forest near business sites, the “Forest of Nagano Japan Radio” (Matsushiro-machi, Nagano, 0.4ha) Wildlife being protected: Ecosystems or endemic species cultivated in Japanese larch forests (species to be protected not specified)
New Japan Radio Co., Ltd. Head Office and Kawagoe Works Japan Radio Glass Co., Ltd. Head Office Plant	Target 11: Preservation of important ecosystems Activities: Preservation of the Shingashigawa River waterfront environment near business sites (Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture) Wildlife being protected: Flora and fauna near the Shingashigawa River (species to be protected not specified)
Nisshinbo Brake Inc. Tatebayashi Plant	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Preservation activities at the Nakanonuma Nishinuma swamp in Ora-machi, Ora-gun, Gunma Prefecture Wildlife being protected: Carassius auratus subsp.2 (Ministry of the Environment: Threatened category II), etc.
Nisshinbo Mechatronics Inc. Miai Machinery Plant	Target 11: Preservation of important ecosystems Activities: Habitat creation for dragonfly varieties at the on-premises Masuda Park Wildlife being protected: Dragonflies (anticipated arrival and breeding of the Asian Bluetail, the lessor emperor and other dragonflies)
Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. R&D Center Nisshinbo Chemical Inc. Toke Plant	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Surveys, protection and propagation of valuable species living in the surrounding forest (Onodai, Midori-ku, Chiba) Wildlife being protected: Cephalanthera falcata (Thunb.) Blume (Ministry of the Environment: Threatened category II)
Nisshinbo Textile Inc. Fujieda Plant	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Preservation of water quality at a pond on the plant site Wildlife being protected: Japanese rice fish (Ministry of the Environment: Threatened category II)
Nisshinbo Textile Inc. and two other companies Tokushima Plant	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Propagation of fish fry donated by Tokushima Prefecture in fire protection water tanks and release into the river several years later Wildlife being protected: Golden venus chub (Tokushima Prefecture: Threatened category IA; Ministry of the Environment: Threatened category IB)

Two overseas sites

Company, Business Site	Related Aichi Targets Details of Preservation Wildlife Being Protected
Shenzhen NJRC Technology Co., Ltd. (China)	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Environmental conservation activities at business sites Wildlife being protected: Cyathea spinulosa (Japanese name: Hego) and Davidia involucrata (Japanese name: Hankachinoki) (China's top priority protection level)
PT. Nikawa Textile Industry (Indonesia)	Target 12: Preservation of endangered species Activities: Environmental conservation activities at business sites Wildlife being protected: Cycas Javana (Indonesian endangered species EN)

Start of Activities to Conserve Biodiversity

Shenzhen NJRC Technology Co., Ltd., in Guangdong Province, China, started biodiversity conservation activities using green spaces within its business sites. In China, we planted two plants, Cyathea spinulosa and Davidia involucrata, which are plants of national priority. We observe the plants and record their growth while regularly watering and pruning them and conducting pest control. In the process, we obtain valuable expertise.

Cyathea spinulosa is an evergreen, large woody fern that reaches a height of 4m and has large leaves over 2m in length, fanning out like an umbrella. The region of origin is widely distributed from Southeast Asia to Okinawa. Export permission forms are required to trade this plant under Annex II of the Washington Treaty.

Davidia involucrata is a deciduous tree that originates in the vicinity of Yunnan Province, Sichuan Province, China. Two leaf-like parts called braces hang down to wrap the flowers, looking like a white handkerchief. It arrived in Japan from China in the 1950s and can now be seen in plant gardens such as Koishikawa Botanical Gardens in Tokyo.

Conservation activities for the endangered species Cycas Javana

In November 2019, PT. Nikawa Textile Industry in Indonesia planted Cycas Javana, which is on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List, at its business sites and started biodiversity conservation activities. The trees planted on this occasion were evaluated for endangered status (EN) by IUCN and confirmed to be protected species.

In this activity, we planted Cycas Javana, an endangered species. Over the next two years, we will observe the plant’s growth regularly and maintain it, acquiring expertise in the process.

The stem is 2 to 4m high and the stem is 15 to 20cm wide. Leaves are bright green, glossy and flat and grow to lengths of 40 to 60cm. Its range is distributed across the islands of Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Participation in environmental conservation activities to enrich ecosystems

At THAI NJR CO., LTD., six employees participated in environmental conservation activities sponsored by Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) in July 2019. This was an activity to plant trees and build weirs together with government agencies and local residents in a forested area upstream of the Faikungnam River in Makeua Chae Subdistrict, Meuang Lamphun District, Lamphun Province.

The aim of this activity was to enrich the ecosystem by reducing the flow of water, by building weirs in a stream (maximum river width of about 3m) that runs through the mountains behind the industrial park. Main materials used were natural materials such as bamboo and stone. The weirs will also serve as homes for aquatic organisms. Moreover, the pool of water created provides a watering hole for forest animals such as deer, elephants and wild birds, even during the dry season of the river. It can also provide water for the villagers during times of drought.

Mangrove reforestation activities

Nisshinbo Somboon Automotive Co, Ltd. (NSA) in Thailand has been conducting mangrove planting activities in the Rayong Prefecture in collaboration with the Company and its union since 2018.

In 2018, prior to tree planting, the company received a lecture on tree-planting methods and the history of the decline of mangroves, and 14 employees planted 170 mangroves. In 2019, a total of 120 people participated in the tree-planting program (67% of all employees), and 200 trees were planted.

Mangrove forests and the following wetlands are said to be the ecosystems with the highest biodiversity. This activity contributed to the conservation and restoration of related ecosystems through the conservation of mangrove forests.