Policy and Basic Concept
As a global healthcare company, the Eisai Group has established the ENW (Eisai Network Companies) Environmental Policy and conducts business activities with an emphasis on global environmental protection. It is stated that we will “6. Contribute to the realization of a society in harmony with nature by developing business activities that take into consideration the conservation of biodiversity”and as such, we are promoting biodiversity conservation efforts on a global scale.
The Eisai Group conducts its business activities by utilizing natural resources brought by biodiversity. The anti-cancer agent Halaven, which was discovered and developed in-house, is derived from the natural product Halichondria okadai and the conservation of biodiversity is an important issue for our sustainable business activities. For this reason, we have established the Biodiversity Guidelines and share basic principles with all directors and employees with the aim of ensuring that they understand the importance of biodiversity and fulfill their social responsibilities relating to biodiversity.
Eisai Biodiversity Guidelines
Basic concept
The Eisai Group is grateful for the blessings of nature produced by biodiversity and strives to conserve biodiversity and use biological resources in a sustainable manner. We will consider the impact of our business activities on biodiversity and contribute to the realization of a society coexisting with nature based on harmony with the global environment.
Basic policy
- We will strive to understand the impact of our business activities on biodiversity not only in the Group companies but also in the entire supply chain, and conduct corporate management that emphasizes the conservation of biodiversity.
- We will actively promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the prevention of environmental pollution caused by the emission of chemical substances, and the proper disposal of waste as well as the effective use of resources for the purpose of reducing the environmental impact that adversely affects biodiversity.
- We will conduct our business activities in compliance with international laws, regulations, and agreements as well as the fair use of biological resources, including genetic resources to ensure their sustainable use.
- We will raise awareness of our employees regarding the necessity to conserve biodiversity and contribute to the creation of a society that fosters biodiversity through cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders in and outside Japan.
- We will improve our credibility with society through proactive disclosure of environmental information related to the conservation of biodiversity.
Revised on August 5, 2020
Vice President
General Affairs, Environmental and Safety Affairs
Eisai Co., Ltd.
Targets and Actions
Map of Relationships Between Eisai's Business and Biodiversity
In fiscal 2022, the Eisai Group surveyed the relationship between our business and biodiversity with reference to “The Business and Biodiversity Interrelationship Map®” created by the Japan Business Initiative for Biodiversity (JBIB) to understand how our business activities depend on and impact biodiversity (See figure below). As a result, we do not believe that there are any risks that threaten biodiversity in our business activities at this time. However, we have identified the following two long-term risks:
- Impact on biodiversity in surrounding areas due to emissions of hazardous substances into the water and air at operating sites
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The areas surrounding our 13 major operating sites have been identified as risk-monitoring areas.
*13 major operating sites
Kawashima Plant (Gifu, Japan), Tsukuba Research Laboratories (Ibaraki, Japan), Kashima Plant (Ibaraki, Japan), Kobe Research Laboratories (Hyogo, Japan), EA Pharma Fukushima Plant (Fukushima, Japan), Suzhou Plant (Jiangsu, China), Benxi Plant (Liaoning, China), Bogor Plant ((Bogor Province, Indonesia), Vizag Site (Andhra Pradesh, India), European Knowledge Center (Hertfordshire, UK), Exton Site (Pennsylvania, USA), Baltimore Plant (Maryland, USA), G2D2 (Massachusetts, USA)
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- Environmental impact of waste generated from product use (e.g., marine plastic problem)
Setting Mid-term Biodiversity Targets
In order to promote biodiversity conservation activities, the Eisai Group has set new mid-term targets, as shown below, after deliberation and approval at the Company-wide Environment and Safety Committee, chaired by the Corporate Officer for General Affairs and Environment and Safety (at the time). We will accelerate our activities to reduce the impact of our business activities on biodiversity.
FY2025
Each ENW and business site will identify at least one important species in the vicinity of their operating site and implement conservation activities (at least 10 of the 13 major operation sites).
FY2030
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1.All major operating sites have initiated conservation activities for important species in the vicinity of their sites, and species are being preserved and maintained at 7 or more sites.
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2.Introduced eco-friendly materials for product packaging, etc. (introduced in several product items)
Structures and Systems
The Eisai Group has established an environmental management system to promote global activities and is working to strengthen activities to identify environmental risks and establish countermeasures in Japan and overseas.
Promotion Structure and Internal Audits of Environmental Management https://www.eisai.co.jp/sustainability/environment/management/structure/index.html
Initiatives
Since the Kawashima Plant began operations in March 1966, it has been working to preserve the natural environment within the plant under the concept of “All for Patients and Nature.” The Kawashima Plant’s greenery coverage is approximately 50% of the approximately 470,000 m2 site area, and approximately 30,000 trees, including Japanese black pines, are maintained and managed there. Furthermore, the Medicinal Herbal Garden at the Naito Museum of Pharmaceutical Science and Industry, located within the Kawashima Plant, cultivates and conserves about 700 kinds of medicinal and beneficial plants. In particular, we protect 40 of the threatened species (including near threatened species) on the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List.
The Kashima Plant is systematically managing greenery and planting more trees on the premises. EA Pharma (Fukushima Plant) preserves planted forests such as Somei Yoshino cherries and Weeping cherries on its premises. In addition, since FY2020, the Vizag site (India) has undertaken a tree-planting program to promote environmental awareness, and have planted a total of approximately 11,000 trees to date. Furthermore, the Bogor plant (Indonesia) is cultivating the Orchid plant, as it is included as conservative plant by the Indonesian government.
