Conservation of Biodiversity

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the new world targets for biodiversity, was adopted at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity held in December 2022. Companies are required to make further efforts to reach these targets.
SII’s business activities are blessed with ecosystem services. At the same time, as a company of influence, the preservation of biodiversity is an important issue for environmental management. SII formulated biodiversity guidelines for action and started specific initiatives in April 2011. Each plant promotes biodiversity to match its special characteristics, including land use that considers biodiversity, activities to raise trees and plants, and coordination with stakeholders, with the goal of realizing a “society that coexists with nature.”

FY 2022 Overview

SII’s goal is to contribute to the realization of a society in harmony with nature—a place of business in harmony with living things. SII works hard from the point of views of attention to biodiversity at the plant grounds, attention to biodiversity with products, and coordination with stakeholders.

In FY 2022 as well, SII worked hard on considerations for biodiversity at the plant grounds based on the SII Group Land-use Guidelines on the Conservation of Biodiversity. SII made progress with the visualization and understanding of biodiversity, for example, by surveying the creatures living on the grounds and sharing these survey results in-house. SII continually worked on product considerations based on the green product system. For the coordination with stakeholders as well, SII also worked hard to nurture Japanese white pine .

Assessment of Land Use

In April 2011, SII formulated the Biodiversity Action Agenda and started biodiversity conservation activities. Subsequently in February 2016, we published the SII Group Land-use Guidelines on the Conservation of Biodiversity, and have been continually implementing activities to use green spaces at our sites and contribute to local biodiversity conservation based on the guidelines. In FY 2022, each site developed a variety of initiatives that take advantage of the characteristics of the sites.

Protecting Endangered Species

In June 2020, the Ohno Unit discovered an endangered* species of golden orchid on its premises. Since then, a protected area has been set up to carefully watch over the species. The Ohno Unit is in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, near the center of the city, and the area around the unit is surrounded by houses. We are very happy that the golden orchid was discovered in such an environment. Every year, we are able to see the flowering plants and in the spring of 2023, we were able to see 17 plants. We will continue to carefully watch over them.

^* Ministry of the Environment’s Endangered Species II

Greening Activities and Flower Bedding

At the two factories of Seiko Instruments (Thailand) Ltd., a total of 320 trees were planted as part of greening activities for the factory grounds. The employees themselves planted five types of seedlings, with an emphasis on dalbergia cochinchinensis. SII will watch the growth of the trees attentively as it promotes greening in the future. Furthermore, these activities are intended to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases through the CO2 absorption of the trees.

Dalian Seiko Instruments Inc. (DSI) in China is also promoting continuous greening, and in FY 2022, a total of 12 trees were planted with the aim of creating multiple layers of greenery. DSI has been continuously working to create green areas that take biodiversity into consideration. The use of pesticides and herbicides is avoided in the maintenance of green areas, and dead branches and fallen leaves are composted and recycled on the premises.

Under the slogan of “year-round, flower-filled workplace,” employees at the Makuhari Unit are working to create flowerbeds. During FY 2022, they successfully planted flowerbeds twice, once in the summer and once in the winter.

Monitoring of living creatures and educational activities

As part of our efforts to provide habitats for living creatures, we have installed birdhouses and bird baths at each of SII's sites. In addition, we conduct a wildlife survey using sensor cameras and other equipment to deepen understanding of the living creatures that inhabit the premises of our business sites, and use the survey results to educate our employees.

At the Sendai plant, sensor cameras were installed to monitor living creatures. Monitoring videos are shown at the entrance of the staff cafeteria as a way to educate employees.

Our Products and Biodiversity

Assessment of Biodiversity Conservation

Our Biodiversity Action Agenda says that SII analyzes and evaluates how products and services impact biodiversity during their life cycles and endeavors to reduce their impact. As part of these efforts, we started a trial evaluation of impacts on biodiversity by using LIME2* from 2012.

*LIME 2: Second Edition of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method based on Endpoint Modeling developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

Addition to Green Product System

In FY 2016, “consideration for biodiversity” was added to the environmental compatibility factors for Green Product Standards (Current Green Products Certification System of Seiko Holdings Corporation). We will continue to do our utmost to enhance our consideration of biodiversity in product manufacturing.

Cooperation with Stakeholders

In order to conserve biodiversity, it is important not only for companies to make independent efforts, but also to cooperate and collaborate with various stakeholders, including local communities, local governments, and NPOs.
In addition to deepening understanding, we are cooperating in the conservation of the genetic lineage of the Japanese white pine. Three SII Units located in Chiba prefecture* has been registered as Supporters for Conserving the Strain of Japanese White Pine (Pinus Parviflora) under Chiba prefecture's Japanese white pine restoration project since February 2016, and has been cultivating the Japanese white pines that are designated as an endangered species. By reporting the growth conditions of these trees to the Chiba prefectural government every October and growing seedlings, as well as deepening understanding about the Japanese white pine, SII is also helping to preserve its genetic stock.

*Three units located in Chiba prefecture are Makuhari Unit (Chiba City), Takatsuka Unit (Matsudo City), and Ohno Unit (Ichikawa City.)