Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has been rated at the Leadership level^*1 (A−) in the two categories of Climate Change and Water Security in a company survey by the CDP,^*2 an international not-for-profit environmental organization.

The company’s efforts in setting higher than previous medium- and long-term CO₂ reduction targets, formulating action plans, steadily reducing CO₂ emissions and water usage and waste, and actively disclosing information based on TCFD^*3 guidelines led to this ranking.

Toyoda Gosei was recognized for the fifth consecutive year in the Supplier Engagement Rating Leaderboard of the highest-rated companies for formulating supplier environmental activity guidelines to reduce CO₂ over the entire supply chain, the company’s information disclosure on Scope 3^*4 emissions, and other efforts.

• *1 Four levels are set for the CDP evaluation results: Leadership A, A−; Management B, B−; Awareness C, C−; Disclosure D, D−
• *2 A not-for-profit organization (NPO) established in 2000. It is operated with support from institutional investors in various countries and others. It surveys companies’ environmental activities and publishes the results. The annual information disclosure and evaluation process are widely recognized as the global standard in corporate environmental information disclosure.
• *3 Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. A framework for disclosure of financial information related to companies’ efforts to fight climate change, and their effects
• *4 Among greenhouse gas emissions over the entire supply chain, Scope 3 emissions refers to all indirect emissions excluding the emissions by the company itself (Scope 1) and emissions from things such as electricity and heat supplied by other companies (Scope 2). Scope 3 emissions include emissions from procurement of materials and parts prior to production, processing and transport of products after shipment, and disposal.

Toyoda Gosei received the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Commissioner’s Award in the Best Practices category of the FY2021 Energy Conservation Grand Prize (sponsored by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan).

Toyoda Gosei is strengthening its environmental measures to achieve Scope 1 and 2 carbon neutrality by 2030.

In addition to reducing energy use through the elimination of energy waste in factories, innovations in production technology such as downsizing facilities, and the introduction of energy-saving equipment, the use of renewable energy is being expanded, such as by installing solar power generation equipment. These changes and efforts to raise employee awareness through in-house lectures and other means resulted in a 22% reduction in energy consumption in FY2020 compared to FY2015. These various activities have been highly regarded.

On the right is Kazuhiko Nagao, Deputy Chief of the Carbon Neutrality and Environment Promotion Division

Toyoda Gosei received the 10th Anniversary Special Award, the “Biodiversity Award,” at the FY2022 Good Life Awards sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. This award is intended to introduce activities and initiatives implemented throughout Japan that lead to “a lifestyle that is good for the environment and society.” The award commend outstanding organizations and individuals, and encourages their activities with the aim of realizing an environmentally-friendly society. Our efforts to realize biodiversity, based on our “30 by 30 Roadmap”^*9 and including woodland maintenance, plant afforestation, biotope creation, and environmental conservation of Fujimae Tidal Flat, were cited for this award.

• *9 A non-profit organization (NPO) based in the UK that seeks information disclosure on the kinds of efforts major corporations and cities in the world are making for climate change, water management, and other environmental factors, and conducts surveys and evaluations. Surveys are conducted with the endorsement of institutional investors. It is one of the ratings agencies most trusted by investors.

Front row, 7th from left is Kazuhiko Nagao, Deputy Chief of the Carbon Neutrality and Environment Promotion Division

A biotope^*10 developed on company grounds was certified by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) as a “nature symbiosis site” that protects biodiversity.

This is certification by the MOE as an area where efforts are made to protect biodiversity on privately-owned lands. It will help to achieve the “30 by 30”^*11 target adopted at the COP 15 international biodiversity conference in 2022, related to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Heiwacho Plant (Aichi, Japan) biotope that received this certification was created in 2018 using a rainwater regulating pond. The aim was to give rare plants and animals in danger of extinction a place to establish themselves. Currently, an ecosystem with about 95 species of plants and animals has been formed.

• *10 A space where plants and animals can live stably
• *11 An initiative aimed at protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean area by 2030

Recently certified Heiwacho Plant biotope

“Nature symbiosis site” certification logo

Companies and organizations that actively contribute to decarbonization through forest management sponsored by the Forestry Agency were certified as a “Green Partner 2023” in the “Forest Decarbonization Challenge 2023” system of awards and certifications.

Toyoda Gosei received this certification for forest management (woodland maintenance) in conjunction with local governments in its “Kimorino Sato” (Minokamo City, Gifu, Japan) and “Mutsumino Sato” (Shuchigun, Shizuoka, Japan) projects.

These activities contribute to protecting biodiversity and improving the CO₂ absorption function of green spaces, while also serving as opportunities to raise the environmental awareness of employees and their families as they enjoy company events including woodland maintenance, wood crafts, and walk rallies. Toyoda Gosei is also creating products such as pen cases and business card holders that combine the wood from thinned trees in forest management and material remnants (steering wheel leather) generated in production processes.