Basic Policy

The Sumitomo Forestry Group makes efforts in attaining zero emissions and reducing industrial waste generated, at the same time as promoting reuse and recycling for each operational process in accordance with the Sumitomo Forestry Group Environmental Policy and the internal Industrial Waste Management Regulations in order to build a sustainable and recycling-oriented society. Our material issue is to realize a circular bioeconomy by leveraging forests and wood resources, and we are promoting initiatives to reduce environmental impact, such as protecting resources by advocating for recycling and zero emissions. The Sumitomo Forestry Group has also established measures in each of its divisions to achieve the material issue. We will check the progress of the plan each fiscal year, and by fiscal 2024, the final year of the Medium-Term Management Plan, we aim to reduce the Group's total final processing amount by 5.4% from the fiscal 2021 level, to 19,905 tons; the actual result was 19,971 tons.

Management System

The Sumitomo Forestry Group, based on its Industrial Waste Management Regulations, complies with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act and related laws, and is committed to reducing the generation of industrial waste, ensuring proper disposal, and promoting recycling and reuse.
In addition, we have established basic policies on industrial waste management and have taken necessary measures such as developing regulations and building management systems.
As a management organization, we clarify the management system and management responsibilities, and regardless of the scale of each waste-generating site, we require compliance with company policies and regulations. To ensure proper management of industrial waste, we appoint industrial waste managers (including management supervisors, management officers, and, when necessary, special industrial waste managers).
Furthermore, based on the regulations, we implement measures for abnormal situations and provide education and guidance on industrial waste management to employees and contractors.

Initiatives to Achieve Zero Emissions

The Sumitomo Forestry Group defines achievement of zero emissions as a recycling rate of 98% or more using no simple incineration or landfill for all industrial waste produced by each business site. Based on this definition, domestic manufacturing facilities achieved zero emissions in fiscal 2009 while new housing construction sites achieved zero emissions in metropolitan areas in fiscal 2012. Our overseas manufacturing plants achieved zero emissions in fiscal 2020.

In addition, we aim to achieve zero emissions through more detailed management by dividing them into seven categories of new housing construction sites, domestic manufacturing plants, power generation business, remodeling and renovation business, overseas manufacturing plants, demolition work sites, and other business in consideration of status of business activities and waste generated. In fiscal 2024, we achieved zero emissions at our domestic manufacturing plants.

Trends in Waste Generated and Recycling Rate*

* Figures for Cohnan Kensetsu Inc. are included from fiscal 2022

Regular Purchase and Use of Recycled Products

At Sumitomo Forestry Home Tech, wood waste generated at renovation sites is entrusted to waste disposal contractors. The particle boards made from material recycling by these contractors are regularly purchased and used as protective materials for floors at other renovation sites.

Education on Waste Management

The Sumitomo Forestry Group is taking steps to acquire knowledge so that each person in charge can properly deal with industrial waste generated at construction sites as well as waste generated at offices.

For example, training is also provided for employees who coordinate the processing of industrial waste. In fiscal 2024, 88 persons participated in online training at Group companies in Japan, including newly appointed personnel in charge of industrial waste treatment operations and those responsible for industrial waste management. In addition, technical new employees and newly appointed production managers in the Housing Division undergo our original training program on industrial waste management.

Furthermore, we also conduct education using e-learning. In April 2020, the Sumitomo Forestry Group created an e-learning program on basic waste management to teach the fundamentals of managing waste from offices, including industrial waste, and built a system for employees to undergo this curriculum via the intranet. Additionally, starting in January 2025, an introductory e-learning course titled "Introduction to Waste Management" was launched to enable employees to acquire general knowledge about waste management. Furthermore, starting in 2025, content related to waste management was incorporated into the mandatory e-learning courses for all employees of the Sumitomo Forestry Group.

In addition, production managers in the Housing Division are required to complete the e-learning course "Key Points of Construction Waste Management" and pass the associated test to acquire necessary knowledge for their duties. Furthermore, in response to strengthened regulations on asbestos, the e-learning course 'Preliminary Survey on Asbestos' has been established to promote knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, we also provide education on waste management to external parties. The Housing Division distributes a monthly "Safety, Environment and Quality Inspection Department Information" to its branches to keep them up-to-date on the latest information, and provides guidance and education to construction subcontractors and demolition companies accordingly.

Initiatives on Plastics

Formulating Standards to Handle Plastics

Plastics spread throughout society quickly and brought convenience and other benefits to our lives. However, the reuse and material recycling rate of plastics is still low in the world, compared to other materials. Pollution problems caused by plastics waste flowing into our oceans have become a global issue. The Sumitomo Forestry Group set measures to respond to the issue of plastics in August 2019, and it has been raising awareness in all relevant departments. We are looking into any and all alternatives to plastic goods for novelty item, stationary supplies and even packaging. We have put in place various initiatives from using cans instead of plastic bottles for vending machines and drinks stored at the company unless for a special reason, such as disaster prevention, to not passing out drinks in plastic bottles during meetings. We have also reflected and revised measures for handling plastics in the "Sumitomo Forestry Group Green Purchasing Guidelines".

Compliance with the Plastic Resource Circulation Act

On April 1, 2022, the Plastic Resource Circulation Act came into effect.

This act is designed to promote plastic resource recycling efforts (3R+Renewable) by all entities involved in the design, manufacturing, sale, and supply of plastic products, as well as the discharge, collection, and recycling of waste.

For "high-volume emitting businesses" that emitted 250 tons or more in the previous fiscal year, information on the status of target achievement must also be included and disclosed on the internet or other media (applicable to Sumitomo Forestry, Sumitomo Forestry Home Tech, and Sumitomo Forestry Crest).