Environmental Report 2020

Involvement with biodiversity

Declaration on Biodiversity Initiatives

The JAE Group reviewed its environmental policies in 2009 and incorporated respect for biodiversity into its basic philosophy, recognizing that human life benefits from many living organisms and that the Group’s business activities may have a considerable impact on them. 
The JAE Group Environmental Report has been published every year since 2002. Looking back on our activities, which were not particularly environmentally conscious at that time, we can still see that they were closely connected to biodiversity. The table below shows several examples that were gathered from the standpoint of preserving the natural environment and local exchanges.
In the business activities of the JAE Group, our raw materials are not directly dependent on biological resources, but the implementation and enhancement of daily environmental management activities such as measures to fight climate change, activities to conserve resources, and the management of chemical substances are understood as biodiversity initiatives.



 The following items are listed in the Declaration on Biodiversity Initiatives, and we will continue these conscientious activities in a balanced, measured manner.
1. Promotion of environmental management with a respect for biodiversity
2. Raising biodiversity awareness and supply chain deployment
3. Promotion of biodiversity protection activities in collaboration with local communities including the JAE Forest Group
 

A review of our biodiversity initiatives

2002   Installed a rainwater infiltration tank under the parking lot of the Akishima Plant
At the time, the purpose was to prevent local flooding, but it is now recognized as water resource protection

2003  The cover of the Environmental Report contains a whale with a water wave design
The cover portrays a whale, the symbol of Akishima City where JAE is located, along with the city’s abundant springs and groundwater 

2003  Schedule for becoming Pb-free and abolishing all harmful chemical substances
Reducing the impact of harmful chemicals on the natural world and ecosystems is seen as behind this

2003  SAE Tenryu River Environment Picnic (Sponsor: Nagano Techno Foundation)
Picked up garbage along the river and removed non-native species

2004 Established JAE Group Forest in Okutama-machi, Tokyo 
Activities that are symbols of environmental management include forest protection and replenishment of water resources

2004  Environmental Advisor System
Set up to establish and maintain environmental quality with business partners, and is also expected to develop the supply chain to include biodiversity in the future

2005  Created tablecloth with kenaf fiber cultivated within YAE
Request made to leading authority “Aoso-ori”: “Hanakobo,” a small workshop for the mentally handicapped in Nanyo-shi, Yamagata Prefecture

2006   YAE participated in introducing the model project “Adopt-a-River” in Yamagata Prefecture 
A new initiative to manage rivers by residents, companies, volunteer groups, governments, etc.

2007   SAE received the 2006 Chairman’s Encouragement Award from the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center for its plant with excellent greening
Since receiving the award, we continue to plant fruit trees that serve as food for birds

2008   SAE participated in Mt. Eboshidake trail maintenance (sponsored by Matsukawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

2011  FAE participated in Mt. Fuji Environmental Beautification and Cleanup Operation (sponsored by Mt. Fuji Beautification Foundation)  

2012  HAE participated in the Iwakiyama Tree-Planting Association (sponsored by a local forest volunteer group)  

2014  HAE Iwaki riverbed cleanup activity  

2014  Akishima cherry’s 10th Anniversary Tree Planting of JAE Group Forest

2018  JAE Group Forest was recognized at the 42nd National Tree-Raising Festival as a contributor to the Greening of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

2020  Support for the Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren and Action Policies.



JAE Group Forest

To restore and preserve forests, we established the JAE Group Forest in fiscal 2004 as a symbol of our environmental management. To help build a prosperous, sustainable society, we are promoting environmental awareness by giving Group employees forest preservation experiences in planting trees and pruning undergrowth. It is also a place that contributes to the absorption of greenhouse gas (CO2) and replenishment(*use cursor to view definitions) of the watershed.

* Thus far, 771 Group employees have planted trees, cleared underbrush where saplings grow, and placed nets to protect against damage from deer. Work was also done to remove vines that were impeding tree grow by clinging to trunks and branches.

 


Overview of JAE Group Forest
Location Aza Osawairi, Hikawa, Okutama-machi
Area 1.33ha
Overview •Three-party profit-sharing afforestation agreement between the JAE Group, forest owners, and Tokyo Development Foundation for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Term: Fifty years starting in 2004
•Tree types: Japanese cypress and broadleaf trees, such as mountain cherry, painted maple, Magnolia kobus, konara oak, zelkova, horse chestnut and Manchurian walnut
State of original site when established (Area 1)
Current state of site (Area 2 and the sign)
Akishima cherry
Mountain cherry

In fiscal 2019, forest preservation training was conducted for 15 employees. With the Tokyo Development Foundation for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries explaining the role played by forests (*use cursor to view definitions), and the Tokyo Forestry Union providing instruction, participants gained an awareness of forest preservation by removing deer nets, observing tree thinning, and giving tree-education lectures (making wood toys and having children interact with trees) from Mori and Ichiba Co., Ltd.

Attending lecture on the multifaceted functions of forests
Attending a lecture
Removal of netting
Tree education lecture

 

Support for Declaration of Biodiversity by Nippon Keidanren and Action Policies.

Keidanren seeks to promote independent initiatives on biodiversity for companies and has issued a biodiversity declaration.
 The JAE Group continues its conservation activities in its forests. In January 2020, JAE agreed Keidanren Biodiversity Declaration and Action Guidelines and we announced the JAE Group's Biodiversity Declaration.
JAE Group’s forest activities shown below.

The JAE Group’s biodiversity initiative is to practice and enhance its everyday environmental management activities, such as resource-saving activities to fight global warming and chemical resource management, and we understand its importance in achieving a sustainable society. We will continue to work on the following issues as our main activities.
1. Promote environmental management and contribute to biodiversity.
2. Raise awareness of biodiversity and deepen the understanding of employees, families, and the supply chain.
3. Promote biodiversity conservation activities in collaboration with the local community, such as the activities of the JAE Electronics Forest.

Biodiversity conservation activities of the JAE Group
 
Description of activities
Opened the JAE Group Forest in 2004 as a symbol of environmental management
In addition to cypress, a total of 3,500 trees such as oak, zelkova, and horse chestnut, which serve as food for wild animals, were planted.

Commended as a contributor to the Greening of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area at the 42nd National Tree-Raising Festival (2018)

Results
In addition to providing a place for employees to raise their environmental awareness through forest conservation work, we contributed to biodiversity conservation, the absorption of greenhouse gases, and the replenishment of the watershed.