Achieving a Society Coexisting with Nature
Targets for 2030 and Progress in FY2022
「The table below shows the progress we made in fiscal 2022 based on the Eco Action Plan 2030.
Evaluation：★★★Achieved ★★Nearly achieved ★More effort needed
- The table can be scrolled left or right.
| Environmental Vision | FY2022 Results | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Eco Action Plan 2030 | ||
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Society coexisting with nature |
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1 ★★★ |
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2 ★ |
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3 ★★★ |
Activities
Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution
Engagement through Clean Ocean Material Alliance
Marine plastic pollution is a pressing global issue. To tackle this problem, it is essential for both public and private sectors to collaborate in promoting more sustainable use of plastic products, as well as in the development and introduction of alternative materials. In light of such circumstances, in January 2019, the Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA) was established with a wide range of business operators involved in the supply chain. As of April 2023, it consists of 486 companies and organizations from various industries. Toyo Seikan Group Holdings has been involved since the preparatory stage as a managing partner and has been actively participating as a key member of the Dissemination & Promotion Working Group, fostering information sharing and collaboration across different industries.
Furthermore, the Group has been actively involved in all five working groups of CLOMA, which were established to implement the Action Plan launched in 2020. The Group has been contributing to the planning of demonstration tests among other tasks. Through these activities, we will continue to contribute to the solution of marine plastic pollution.
Strong Commitment to Plastic Pellet Loss Prevention
Plastic pellets with a size of several millimeters, which are used to make plastic products, could become marine plastic litter if they escape from the plant site. We have been taking measures to prevent the particles dropped on the ground from flowing out the site, including placing metal net on the storm drain. In 2019, to further ensure appropriate pellet management aimed at zero pellet loss, we formulated the Group’s Guidelines for Preventing Plastic Pellet Loss. The relevant group companies have started implementing the guidelines under their respective environment management systems by identifying potential leakage points, taking preventive measures, and conducting daily management processes and auditing.
Pellet-collecting screen set on a rainwater catch basin
Facility Risk Management
We strive to prevent accidents that could negatively impact the quality of public water bodies (such as rivers and oceans) and groundwater. These accidents could be caused by incidents such as oil leaks from plants or discharge of abnormal wastewater due to issues with wastewater treatment.
To achieve this, we adhere to the environmental management systems of each company within our group. In particular, we have established “Toyo Seikan Group Facility Environmental Risk Management Guidelines” in 2021, which we use to regularly manage the degradation of damage of equipment, pipes, tanks, and valves that have a high risk of causing environmental accidents. We will continue to make improvements by implementing the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle based on each company’s environmental management system.
Developing environmental DNA (eDNA) chip to identify alien fishes in dams
Through a joint research with Yamaguchi University and Nippon Koei, Toyo Kohan has found that its gene analysis system with DNA chips developed for medical use can be applied in environmental fields. To monitor alien fishes in dam reservoirs, researchers have generally dived into the reservoirs and caught fishes with a net, which requires costs, time and efforts. With eDNA chips provided by Toyo Kohan, researchers can easily identify what kind of alien species are in dam reservoirs simply by analyzing a liter of water collected from the reservoirs. Alien species are organisms that are non-native to a particular environment and can significantly harm the existing ecosystem as a result of their invasions.
The eDNA chip can detect even a very small amount of environmental DNA (eDNA) shed by alien fishes into the water of dam reservoirs through their feces and scales. Findings of the joint research with the eDNA chip were published in Landscape and Ecological Engineering, an international academic journal, in June 2022.
While expanding applications of its DNA chips for medical purposes, Toyo Kohan will also promote the use of the chips for environmental conservation, including in rivers and dam reservoirs. This contributes to solving environmental issues and achieving the SDGs.
Joining Japan Blue Carbon Network
Interest in blue carbon has increased in recent years from the perspectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of "climate action” (goal 13) and "life below water" (goal 14). As well as plants on land, seagrasses and seaweeds absorb CO2 when they grow. The carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems is known as blue carbon.
Toyo Glass, possessing the technology of sustained-release water-soluble glass*, has been contributing to the promotion of blue carbon ecosystems, including the restoration of seaweed beds, by utilizing the characteristic of the active ingredients in the glass slowly dissolving into water.
Toyo Seikan Group Holdings has recently become a supporting member of the Japan Blue Carbon Network, a non-profit organization. We have been actively involved in sharing information about domestic and international initiatives related to blue carbon and seaweed bed restoration, as well as providing support for these initiatives. Additionally, we have been disseminating information about climate change and marine ecosystems. In October 2022, we participated in a seminar and an on-site workshop held by the Japan Blue Carbon Network in Atami City, Shizuoka. In February 2023, we also discussed new approaches to blue carbon issues with other members. We will continue to protect marine biodiversity and combat climate change, cooperating with diverse research institutions, organizations and companies engaged in blue carbon activities.
Promoting Cleanup Activities Through the Litter Picking App "PIRIKA"
We are using a litter picking app “PIRIKA” to share the progress of our cleanup activities across our group companies.
In fiscal 2022, we had 509 participants in total, who collected 9,536 liters of waste. The most active participant was Toyo Seikan’s Kiyama Plant, with 122 employees joining the effort. We will continue to work on our cleanup activities, together with local communities and business partners.
- PIRIKA activity report on website (In Japanese) https://www.pirika.org/u/5256552586149888
Nippon National Seikan
Ryukyu Seikan Kaisha