Sustainability
Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) held in Montreal Canada in 2022. It set a goal of being Nature Positive, which means taking action to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. Moreover, the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) announced in 2023 call for companies to be aware that nature-related issues are related to strategic risks. They also encourage companies to identify and disclose their dependence and impacts on nature through their business, as well as the accompanying risks and opportunities.
In light of these international trends, the NGK Group emphasizes our relationship with nature, and recognizes the importance of understanding the degree of dependence and impact that our entire value chain has on nature. We see protecting and restoring biodiversity as an important issue, and are promoting initiatives to bring about a sustainable society.
Targets and Achievements
In our NGK Group Environmental Vision, the NGK Group makes it clear that our goal is to help achieve coexistence with nature. To this end, we strive to live in harmony with nature by minimizing the environmental burden on ecosystems, and by raising the awareness of each employee through awareness-raising activities. Moreover, one of the themes of our fifth 5-Year Environmental Action Plan is promoting the conservation of biodiversity. In our FY2025 goal, we are promoting initiatives to expand and enhance actions aimed at Aichi Targets.
In FY2024, we investigated trends in and outside Japan to support TNFD disclosure. In addition to following the LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) approach advocated by the TNFD to evaluate risks and opportunities, we assessed our entire value chain from the perspective of dependencies and impacts, and disclosed the results. Hereafter, we will maintain and enhance these initiatives, and work to further develop content for disclosure.
Registration as TNFD Early Adopter
The NGK Group has endorsed the efforts of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and in January 2024, we also registered as a TNFD Early Adopter. Through this, we pledged to comprehensively disclose information related to nature in line with the 4 pillars (governance, strategy, risk and impact management, and measurement indices and targets) advocated by the TNFD by our 2026 disclosure.
However, we disclosed this information in a form compliant with the 4-pillars a year early in FY2025. This disclosure is primarily based on the manufacturing stage LEAP approach evaluation that we implemented during the previous fiscal year.
Nature Conservation Activities for Biodiversity
Initiatives to Increase Environmental Awareness Through the Internal Best Practices Presentation
The NGK Group continually conducts environmental education and awareness activities for employees, while also disclosing information on nature conservation activities. At the internal best practices presentation “NGK-BOX 2024” held in October 2024, members of the ESG Promotion Department presented the NGK Group’s objectives and approaches toward protecting and restoring biodiversity, using the results of an internal survey conducted beforehand. This presentation promoted employee understanding of biodiversity.
Survey of Organisms at NGK Sites and on Land Owned by NGK
The NGK Group believes that biological surveys are important for understanding the local ecosystem and building a foundation for conservation activities. Up until now, we have conducted biological surveys of plants, birds, insects, and other animals on several properties owned by NGK. We have been able to find a diverse array of organisms, and have not yet discovered any invasive species that would require swift action as the result of these surveys. This confirms that the land is being managed appropriately. We have also organized the survey results on panels and other media so that not just employees, but local stakeholders, will be aware of the importance of protecting biodiversity. In FY2024, we used a method known as environmental DNA to survey organisms in the Shinhori River which runs adjacent our headquarters. NGK does not use the Shinhori River for water intake or discharge, but we are considering whether the survey results can be useful for protecting the region’s biodiversity. Hereafter, we plan to look into whether the environmental DNA method can be employed at our other sites as well.
FY2024 Survey Overview
- Date: February 2025
- Location: Shinhori River (Near NGK’s Nagoya Site)
- Company contracted for research: Sunlit Seedlings Ltd.
Social Contribution Activities Related to the Environment
NGK Group sites in and outside Japan carry out social contribution activities in cooperation with local governments, NPOs, and companies. These activities are aimed at contributing to the community in the environmental field, protecting biodiversity, and raising the environmental awareness of employees.
Coastal Cleanup at NGK Ishikawa Plant and NGK CERAMIC DEVICE (NCDK) Ishikawa Plant
Our Ishikawa Plant and NCDK Ishikawa Plant have teamed up with Clean Beach Ishikawa, a shoreline protection campaign that cleans beaches all over Ishikawa Prefecture. Lately, environmental pollution from oceanic plastic waste has become a global concern, and its impact on ecosystems has become a grave problem. In 2024, approximately 80 employees and family members participated in activities to clean the Neagari coastline together with local residents. These activities have been conducted since 1995, with the goal of cleaning 583 km of coastline in Ishikawa Prefecture. Our Ishikawa Plant joined the activities in 2012, and our NCDK Ishikawa Plant joined in 2018.
(NGK Ishikawa Plant and NDCK Ishikawa Plant)
Forest Conservation Activities of NGK FILTECH
Twenty-seven officers and employees of NGK FILTECH (Chigasaki, Kanagawa) and their family members carried out forest conservation activities in the Yadoriki Watershed Forest (Matsuda, Kanagawa) managed by Kanagawa Prefecture, as part of the Kanagawa Reforestation 50 Year Plan endorsed by NGK FILTECH.
In September 2022, NGK FILTECH signed a five-year agreement to be a reforestation partner and contribute to forest conservation and restoration efforts carried out by Kanagawa Prefecture. As such, it is providing support for forest maintenance and other expenses. Under the guidance of instructors, participants listened to explanations about where to observe wildlife in the Yadoriki Watershed Forest, as well as about the plants and animals that live there, and learned about the importance of forest conservation and restoration.
Cleaning Activities by Komaki Site and NGK CERAMIC DEVICE (NCDK)
NGK’s Komaki Site and NCDK cooperated with the Oyama River Cleanup (sponsored by Komaki City) to clean the Oyama River which runs through the eastern side of the Tagami district where the Komaki Site is located. We have participated in the event since the first time it was held, and in FY2024 35 employees and family members took part.
Mangrove Planting by NGK CERAMICS (THAILAND) (ACT)
ACT planted mangroves in Chonburi Province in eastern Thailand. Mangroves not only absorb CO2, but also protect biodiversity by acting as a habitat for various animals. Moreover, they help prevent coastal erosion, meaning that planting mangroves can help increase green areas.
Greening Our Parking Lot
We have launched a green space trial activity using a parking lot at NGK headquarters. By planting seedlings of local native plant species, we aim to help restore local biodiversity.
Participation in Initiatives Related to Biodiversity and Certification by External Organizations
NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami (Forest for Everyone in Mizunami) Certified by Ministry of the Environment as a Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site
NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami is an NGK owned forest located near one of our Group companies. In March 2024, it was certified by the Ministry of the Environment as a Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site. A Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site, is an area certified by the government of Japan where biodiversity is being conserved through private sector initiatives.
Reforestation Activities: NGK Minnano Mori Mizunami (Environment, Community Relations)
Certified as an Aichi Biodiversity Company
In November 2023, NGK was certified as an Aichi Biodiversity Company under the Aichi Biodiversity Company Certification Program (Aichi Prefecture). The Aichi Biodiversity Company Certification Program is a program run by Aichi Prefecture that seeks to promote corporate efforts to conserve biodiversity by certifying companies which are implementing excellent initiatives.
Endorsement of the Keidanren Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation
In January 2022, we endorsed the Keidanren Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation. The Keidanren Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation sets out a resolution and action guidelines for companies and organizations to protect biodiversity.
