Biodiversity Conservation
Policy and Approach
Sunstar’s business activities are dependent on the benefits of biodiversity, which may be affected as a result of our business activities. We are keenly aware of this fact, and our main production sites conduct environmental management based on ISO14001, and through cooperation with our stakeholders, we are striving to conserve biodiversity.
We advance initiatives to conserve the biodiversity of the local environment in areas where we source raw materials for products or where our factories are based.
In terms of our materials procurement for our Consumer Business, in August 2021, we joined the non-profit organization RSPO*1, which promotes the production and usage of palm oil with due consideration given to the environment and human rights, and in October Yamanashi Plant began using RSPO-certified palm oil. Going forward, we will increase the percentage of certified palm oil we use. Regarding paper packaging used for products, we are expanding the use of recycled paper and materials sourced from FSC®*2-certified forests, which contribute to the protection of the Earth’s forests. Meanwhile, our factories worldwide actively participate in nature conservation activities in cooperation with local communities.
*1: RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil)
Sunstar’s RSPO membership progresshttps://rspo.org/members/12085
*2: FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) – Independent non-profit group that promotes responsible forest management worldwide and operates an international forest certification system to protect forests.
Mid- to Long-Term Environmental Targets and Results
＊ Scope of data: data for production at the Group’s 15 global plants are integrated excluding U.S. sites in the Consumer Business and Tsubamex in the Industrial Business.
Consumer Business ＝ Oral care products, cosmetics, health foods, and other consumer product-related businesses
Industrial Business = Adhesives and sealants for automobiles, construction and electronics, and metal parts for motorcycles and automobiles
＊ Evaluation criteria: ◎＝Exceeds plan, ○＝Progress almost as planned, △＝Missed plan but making progress, ×＝Worse than current status
＊1 Includes European procurement for consumer business
＊4 Primary packaging materials ( Excluding materials procured by subcontractors for Japanese consumer goods and industrial goods)
＊5 FSC®（Forest Stewardship Council®）
＊6 RSPO（Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil）Our RSPO Membership Progress- https://rspo.org/members/12085
＊7 In-house procurement, mass-balance products in FY2021
«Environmental Data» for details
Major Initiatives
Active use of FSC®-certified paper for product packaging (Japan)
When launching new products or changing product specifications, we adopt FSC®-certified paper for packaging materials, which contributes to forest conservation.
Started procurement and blending of certified palm oil by joining RSPO (Japan)
The Yamanashi Factory of Sunstar Inc. has begun using RSPO-certified palm oil-derived concentrated glycerin, which is environmentally-friendly and abides by human rights, in mouthwash and liquid toothpaste.
Employees participate in activities to promote tap water use (Europe)
At the Sunstar Group Headquarters in Etoy, Switzerland, we support the activities of WfW, a non-profit organization for sustainable water use, and have participated in efforts to promote greater tap water usage by refraining from purchasing beverages in plastic bottles and instead providing tap water dispensers in the office. We also supported WfW’s endeavors to ensure safe access to drinking water and sanitary facilities for all in Mozambique and Zambia.
Employees participate in volunteer work to remove invasive alien plants around Lake Geneva (Europe)
In order to contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity, employees at the Sunstar Group Headquarters in Etoy, Switzerland, regularly participate n volunteer work to remove invasive exotic plants around Lake Geneva, an activity organized by the environmental organization ASL
Major U.S. site for oral care products wins 2019 Landscape Award（Americas）
Our office, factory and development center in Schaumburg, on the outskirts of Chicago, received the Best Natural Landscape Award from the municipal environmental committee. The facility was rated highly for its use of native plants, which reduced the need for artificial watering systems, its high-level storm water filtration, and its contribution to the preservation of biodiversity in the region.
