Sustainability is a key theme
in our work
We believe in the power of advanced technology with a focus on responsibility
Building a sustainable society
Chemistry is playing an increasingly large role in solving societal issues, including those related to the environment, energy and food, as highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
UN Sustainable Development Goals*
In line with Sumitomo Chemical’s Corporate Business Plan, we strive to achieve continued growth for our parent company and to support a sustainable society by creating both economic and societal value.
To realise this vision, Sumitomo Chemical identified four material-related areas for value creation that are directly related to our business:
- Contribution to solving food issues
- Reduction of environmental impact
- Contribution to solving healthcare issues
- Innovation in ICT
These four areas map against many of the Sustainable Development Goals, including:
CDT’s innovation activities are aligned with these goals. Current research interests are:
Materials for healthcare and diagnosis
Materials for clean energy
Materials to reduce environmental impact of industry and infrastructure
Sustainable materials and manufacturing methods
Sumitomo Chemical believes that it is not just the technologies it develops, but also how it develops them which affects the planet, and it addresses several other Sustainable Development Goals through its Responsible Care and Social Activities:
Here at CDT we walk the talk and that’s why we have adopted a number of schemes to reduce our impact on the planet:
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
CDT uses the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both direct and indirect. We take action to:
- To reduce direct emissions generated on site by us (e.g. from natural gas used in central heating)
- To reduce indirect emissions, such as from the generation of electricity that we purchase and how we process wastes and so on
Voluntary offset of unavoidable emissions
We aim to reduce our emissions year on year and, where we are unable to remove these in the short term, we purchase carbon credits to support projects which reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and the generation of greenhouse gases, or which address the impacts of climate change.
Corporate social responsibility
In addition to our ongoing work towards a sustainable future, CDT supports and encourages employees to engage in corporate social responsibility activities including:
- Paid time off to undertake voluntary work related to socially responsible activities aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Donation of IT equipment (computers, keyboards, mice and monitors) that has reached the end of its corporate use to charities
*The content of this website has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. For more information about UN Sustainable Development Goals see https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Sumitomo Chemical Group has been awarded the Gold Standard following EcoVadis’ assessment of the group’s sustainable practices.
EcoVadis, a sustainability ratings agency, works to help companies assess their environmental and social practices across their global supply chain. This award recognises companies whose performance is in the top 5% of all companies rated.
EcoVadis has assessed around 100,000 companies in 175 countries and 200 industries. It reviews policies, practices and achievements in areas such as environment, employment, human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.
The Sumitomo Chemical Group will continue to work tirelessly to further strengthen its sustainability efforts and remain a corporate group trusted by society.
Sumitomo Chemical Group has been named on CDP’s (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) Climate A List 2022 and Water Security A List 2022, where it is recognized as a company delivering outstanding performance in action on climate change and water security, including target setting, actions, and transparency. The company has been on the A List, the highest rating given by CDP, for climate change for the fifth consecutive year, and for water security for the third consecutive year.
Of approximately 19,000 companies that provided information on their environmental efforts for the CDP 2022 scoring, only 45 companies in the world, including 10 Japanese companies, received the highest rating for climate action for five straight years.
Established in 2000, CDP is an international non-governmental organization that collects information on the environmental efforts of leading companies.
Under the management principle of “working to contribute to society through its business activities,” Sumitomo Chemical and all of its group companies unite as one to create economic value and social value to achieve their own sustainable growth, while also contributing to a sustainable society.