Material Issue 3
To realize a circular bioeconomy by leveraging forests and wood resources
Material Issue 3
Material Issue 3
To realize a circular bioeconomy by leveraging forests and wood resources
Realizing a circular society by making the most of wood, a renewable and natural resource from the forest ecosystem.
Related SDGs



Basic Policy
Against the background of concerns about resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution caused by harmful substances and marine plastics, it is necessary to build a circular economy that thoroughly recycles and makes effective use of resources. Circular economy is an economic model that aims to design products and services that reduce environmental burdens such as disposal and pollution, and to continue to circulate the raw materials and products at a high level.
The Sumitomo Forestry Group realizes a circular bioeconomy centered on wood by running a wood cycle that cascades utilization of timber, which is a renewable and sustainable natural resource, in the forest, wood, architecture, and the field of energy such as biomass power generation and increasing the value of wood resources. For resources other than wood, we will strive to control, reuse, and recycle waste. We will also continue to investigate sustainability of our supply chain for the sustainable use of resources.
Impact on Society and the Environment
Material Issue 3 | Impact (Influence) |
---|---|
To realize a circular bioeconomy by leveraging forests and wood resources Realizing a circular society by making the most of wood, a renewable and natural resource from the forest ecosystem. |
Protecting resources and reducing the environmental impact by advocating for recycling and zero emissions |
Solutions to water issues | |
Improvement of environmental awareness in supply chain |
Management of Material Issue 3 (FY2022)
In Mid-Term Sustainability Targets 2024, Material Issue 3 is divided into 18 evaluation indicators, and management is carried out by incorporating them into annual activity policies and measures of the management department. We also assess the impacts that the material issue has on society and the environment.
Reduction and Recycling of Industrial Waste
Total amount of industrial waste discharged from all branches (kg / building)was 2,585 kg, significantly lower than the 2,837 kg emitted in fiscal 2021, and also lower than the targeted amount (2,709 kg). The steady progress in the adoption of pre-cut materials such as “Kizure Panels” and slates, along with the curbing of the generation of offcuts and other wastes during on-site work, contributed significantly to the reduction of emissions. Currently, pre-cutting of siding is gradually progressing, and we will continue to reduce waste on site.
On the other hand, the recycling rate at new housing construction sites was 94.3%, falling short of the targeted 96%. The main reason for this is the relative decline in the recycling rate due to the shift to pre-cut materials with high recycling rates.
In the medium-term management plan (2022-2024), we aim to achieve 98.0% in the final year of the plan, FY12/2024, by reducing the co-mingled waste ratio through thorough separation of waste at each site.
Results
Ratings in the table below
Achieved: ◯ Not achieved but improved from previous year: △ Not achieved and declined compared to previous year: ✕
Indicators for Evaluation | Managing department | FY2022 target |
FY2022 result |
FY2022 value |
FY2023 target |
FY2024 target |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Final disposal amount (t) consolidated Percentage change from fiscal 2021 |
Sustainability Department | 20,489▲2.7 | 24,294![]() +15.4 |
× | 20,181▲4.1 | 19,905▲5.4 |
Recycling rate at new housing construction sites*1(%) | Housing Division | 96.0 | 94.3![]() |
× | 97.0 | 98.0 |
Recycling rate at housing demolition sites*2(%) | 100 | 99.9 | × | 100 | 100 | |
Recycling rate at the work sites of the renovation business unit*3(%) | 84.5 | 83.2![]() |
× | 85.0 | 85.5 | |
Recycling rate at the work sites of the power generation business unit (%) | Environment and Resources Division | 98.0 | 99.0![]() |
○ | 98.0 | 98.0 |
Recycling rate at overseas manufacturing plants (%) | Timber and Building Materials Division | 99.0 | 98.0![]() |
× | 99.0 | 99.0 |
Recycling rate at domestic manufacturing plants (%) | 99.0 | 99.4![]() |
○ | 99.0 | 99.0 | |
Other recycling rate (%) | Timber and Building Materials Division
Lifestyle Service Division Tsukuba Research Institute |
84.0 | 81.0 | × | 85.0 | 86.0 |
Sustainable timber usage ratio (Overall manufacturing) (%) | Timber and Building Materials Division | 100 | 99 | × | 100 | 100 |
Total amount of industrial waste discharged from all branches (kg / building)*4 | Housing Division | 2,709 | 2,585 | ○ | 2,573 | 2,511 |
Discharge amount of newly built industrial waste(kg/m2) | 20.8 | 20.3 | ○ | 20.1 | 19.8 |
*1Includes new housing construction sites of the Housing and Construction Division, Sumitomo Forestry Landscaping, as well as Sumitomo Forestry Home Engineering.
*2Includes specific construction materials (concrete, asphalt-concrete, and wood waste) under the Construction Material Recycling Law.
*3Includes Sumitomo Forestry Home Tech renovation sites but excludes hard-to-recycle debris and asbestos.
*4Excludes Construction Business Sub-Division.
Reduction of Water Consumption
The Sumitomo Forestry Group's overall water consumption increased to 2,937 thousand m3 from the planned 2,739 thousand m3 due to a large-scale water leakage caused by a damaged underground water pipe that lasted several days at an overseas manufacturing plant, and an increase due to the lifting of lockdowns following the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We will continue our efforts to reduce the amount of water used and to increase the recycled amount, particularly in the manufacturing, which uses a large amount of water.
Results
Ratings in the table below
Achieved: ◯ Not achieved but improved from previous year: △ Not achieved and declined compared to previous year: ✕
Indicators for Evaluation | Managing department | FY2022 target |
FY2022 result |
FY2022 value |
FY2023 target |
FY2024 target |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water consumption(m3) (consolidated) |
All Sumitomo Forestry Group Companies | 2,739,067 | 2,937,395![]() |
× | 2,757,494 | 2,777,269 |
Management of the supply chain
With regard to the " Sustainability procurement survey implementation rate in the supply chain of the domestic housing department " in the domestic detached houses sector, which began in fiscal 2019, we have conducted surveys for more than 90% of our suppliers in terms of material purchases, and we maintained this status in fiscal 2022. The results of the survey have been improving by providing feedback to the supplier, and as a result, the "tier 1 supplier" evaluation (score) has been improved by 0.2 points compared to fiscal 2021. The domestic distribution department of the Timber and Building Materials Division has also begun a new survey of suppliers for fiscal 2022. The implementation rate was 80.6% compared to the planned 80%.
The number of companies that proposed Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification to suppliers was 65 (64.8% of total purchases) compared to the planned 10 (52% of total purchases) as a result of aggressive proposals to suppliers.
Currently, we are marketing and providing the Japanese version of "One Click LCA," software that visualizes greenhouse gas emissions at the time of construction, etc. We will continue to actively utilize this software and provide training and application support for EPD acquisition in order to market and promote the EPD product.
Results
Ratings in the table below
Achieved: ◯ Not achieved but improved from previous year: △ Not achieved and declined compared to previous year: ✕
Indicators for Evaluation | Managing department | FY2022 target |
FY2022 result |
FY2022 value |
FY2023 target |
FY2024 target |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sustainability procurement survey implementation rate in the supply chain of the domestic housing department(%) | Housing Division | 97 | 97![]() |
○ | 97 | 97 |
Certification acquisition rate of incoming PKS (%) | Environment and Resources Division | - | In preparation | - | 100 | 100 |
Average score rate of "tier 1 suppliers” in ESG Survey | Housing Division | Improvement as compared to previous year | 0.2pt improvement | ○ | Improvement as compared to previous year | Improvement as compared to previous year |
Number of EPD acquisition proposals to suppliers (company) Ratio (%) | Timber and Building Materials Division | 1052 | 65 64.8 |
○ | 3066 | 6571 |
Sustainability survey response rate to suppliers (sales ratio) (%) | 80 | 80.6 | ○ | 85 | 90 |
Utilization of Unused Resources
Regarding the volume of unutilized resources handled, the handled volume increased compared to fiscal 2021, but was slightly lower than planned. The main reason for this was a significant drop below the target due to a change in the operation plan at the Mombetsu Forestry Office. On the other hand, the Niihama and Hyuga forestry offices increased the volume handled to compensate for the decrease at the Mombetsu Forestry Office, resulting in an increase in volume compared to fiscal 2021.
Results
Ratings in the table below
Achieved: ◯ Not achieved but improved from previous year: △ Not achieved and declined compared to previous year: ✕
Indicators for Evaluation | Managing department | FY2022 target |
FY2022 result |
FY2022 value |
FY2023 target |
FY2024 target |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unused resources (biomass use) handling volume (m3) | Environment and Resources Division | 18,272 | 18,022 | △ | 18,452 | 19,202 |
- Click here for related information