Harmony with nature, Biodiversity

Thorough management of chemical substances and reduction of substances of concern

The regulations to administrate the usage and discharge of substances of concern which have adverse impact on ecosystems and human health are being strengthened. Additionally, companies are required to implement measures to thoroughly manage and reduce the substances of concern throughout the entire product lifecycle, from production to disposal, and comply with various related regulations.
As a MONOZUKURI (manufacturing) company, it is a social responsibility to reduce the substances of concern. JTEKT not only reduces the amount of substances used and discharged during production, but also identifies and thoroughly manages the substances of concern contained in its products.

Biodiversity conservation

The diversity of living things on Earth is rapidly disappearing due to the shrinking of habitats from the expanded destruction of nature, and "preventing the loss of biodiversity" is one of the SDGs goals. Corporate activities depend on the benefits we receive from the natural world, and at the same time, they have a significant impact on biodiversity. This is why it is important that companies are proactively involved in biodiversity conservation activities such as protecting the natural habitat. In JTEKT's Biodiversity Conservation Action Guidelines (formulated in March 2011), JTEKT positions biodiversity conservation as an important social issue supporting lives and livelihoods, and is expanding the circle of activities related to biodiversity by promoting initiatives at each plant that make the most of local characteristics.

Environmental Action Plan 2025 / FY2022 Activity Result

Category Initiative items Target and initiative policy FY2022 Activity Result Assessment
Thorough management of chemical substances and reduction of substances of concern (1) Reduction of substances of concern in production activities ① Reduce volume of discharged/transferred substances regulated by PRTR
② Reduce substances of concern by fully eliminating the use of VOC in the cleaning processes
① Emissions and transfers of substances regulated by PRTR: 31.1t (-1.2 t vs FY2021)
② Started long-term operational tests on production lines using alternative oils
Biodiversity conservation (2) Biodiversity initiatives ① Promote environmental protection activities based on the Biodiversity Conservation Action Guideline
② Promote biodiversity conservation activities in the JTEKT group "connecting with the community"
Increase the number of activity participants to over 3,000 in the entire JTEKT group by FY2025
① Organize environmental education for children and participate in activities sponsored by local governments
② Participation in Biodiversity Activities in FY2022
Participants of 1,956 employees in the entire JTEKT group

Total elimination of the substances of concern contained in products.

Reforming the Product and Environment Committee

The Product and Environment Committee was established to strengthen the management of chemical substances contained in products. It works in collaboration with seven working groups with different roles, and conducts activities on a global basis, including the collection of regulatory information on substances of concern, policy development, determination of alternatives, switching of products, and internal and external education and auditing.

Product and Environment Committee

Major FY2022 results

Major initiatives in the Education and Audit WG

The Education and Audit WG promoted the following activities on a global basis with the aim of fostering awareness and a climate.

  • The contents of the check sheet have been reviewed with the aim of strengthening internal audits, and the expansion of the coverage is under consideration for the next fiscal year.
  • In addition to in-house lectures, e-learning education is launched during Environment Month, which is held every June.
  • Subject extraction and countermeasures have started by analyzing the results of in-house lectures and environmental month e-learning comprehension tests and questionnaires.
  • Sharing what was learned in the external lectures with members participating in the Product and Environment Committee
  • Roles and rules for the preparation of past troubles collection are reviewed and published on a regular basis.
  • Regular publication of Basic Learning
  • A three-minute video on the importance of managing chemical substances in products was created and published on the company website

We will continue to change the way our Product and Environment Committee works and promote various reforms so that we can steadily do what we can't do now, based on the criteria of "for the earth, for the world, for our customers and for the next generation."

Reduction of substances of concern in production activities

In FY2022, JTEKT's emissions and transfers of substances regulated by PRTR was approximately 31.1 t, reduced by approximately 1.1t compared to the previous year.
Of the substances regulated by PRTR, VOC emissions were approximately 27.6 t, and xylene 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene used in the painting process accounted for the majority. To further pursue reduction in use, we will work to completely eliminate the use of kerosene in the production process in accordance with the Environmental Action Plan 2025.

Initiative to completely eliminate the use of kerosene for purposes other than fuel use

JTEKT is working to completely eliminate the use of kerosene for purposes other than fuel use by FY2025 in order to reduce hazardous substances and risks pertaining to safety and fire prevention.
In FY2022, JTEKT started long-term operational tests on production lines using alternative oils and it has already been partially switched over .We will continue the initiative for the complete elimination.

Proper storage and control of PCB devices

PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl), which were widely used in insulating oils, must be stored, disposed of, and reported according to the Act on Special Measures concerning Promotion of Proper Treatment of PCB Wastes. At JTEKT, PCB is notified to the authorities, properly stored, and disposed of in accordance with this act.
In FY2022, JTEKT disposed of equipment that had been stored as low-concentration PCB waste. In FY2023, we are continuing to identify equipment that may contain low concentration PCB and carry out appropriate treatment after PCB analysis.

Initiatives for soil and groundwater

JTEKT continues to implement ongoing measures at two plants in response to the groundwater pollution caused by trichloroethylene contained in detergents and other materials.
The Kariya Plant is implementing the "prevention of external leaks", and the Okazaki Plant is implementing "complete purification" in addition to the "prevention of external leaks".
To prevent leaks outside the plant premises, we have continually been using the pumping and aeration system (*1) since 1998.
As part of a complete purification, nutrients were injected into the ground in 2020 to enhance the activity of microorganisms that decompose chloroethylene. We are continuing to monitor its progress, as a certain degree of effectiveness was seen from this measure.
JTEKT regularly reports the assessment results of groundwater measurements to government agencies and provides local residents with explanations at community meetings.

*1 Pumping and aeration system: A system of pumping groundwater up and sprayeding, and blowing air from below to aerate and separate organic solvents to be removed by adhering to activated carbon.

Measured trichloroethylene value (maximum)

FY2021 FY2022 Current status
Kariya Plant 0.629mg/L 0.313mg/L Purifying
Okazaki Plant 0.004mg/L 0.008mg/L Purifying

(Environmental standard: 0.01 mg/L)

Initiatives to replace CFC devices

Production of HCFC refrigerants has been discontinued since 2020 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol and Ozone Layer Protection Act. JTEKT is gradually updating our R22 air conditioners. By 2025, JTEKT will discontinue use of air conditioners using R22 to contribute to ozone layer protection and CO2 reduction.

Initiatives for biodiversity

Biodiversity Conservation Action Guideline

In order to reduce the environmental burden created by our business activities and bemindful of biodiversity, JTEKT established the Biodiversity Conservation Action Guidelines in March 2011 based on the Environmental Action Plan 2015 of our JTEKT Group Environmental Vision.

Biodiversity Conservation Action Guideline

Biodiversity Conservation Action Guideline

Biodiversity Conservation Action Guideline

JTEKT's aspiration

JTEKT's biodiversity conservation activities focus on the three main initiatives of 1) protecting the rare living species that inhabit or grow at each plant, 2) enhancing the local natural environments surrounding each plant and 3) developing environmentally-minded professionals in order to achieve conservation of biodiversity on an ongoing basis. We engage in activities to protect the rare living species at each plant based on objective evaluations incorporating the viewpoints of experts and academics.

Biodiversity risks and opportunities in business activities

JTEKT's business activities and natural capital are influenced by each other. In the life cycle of our business activities, which begins with the procurement of raw materials, we see the use of resources such as water and energy, as well as emissions into the air and water as risks. We also see these as opportunities for biodiversity, such as mitigating climate change by reducing CO2 emissions through the provision of products that improve the environmental performance of vehicles, etc., and maintaining the function of recharging water sources through forest conservation activities, which leads to a reduction in the risk of flood damage at the site of our business.

Impact on biodiversity

We conducted pressure assessments on biodiversity using the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter (BRF)* targeting all JTEKT Group sites and the sites of 40 major Japan suppliers (equivalent to 70% of the procurement amount). As a result, none of the sites were rated as high risk (4.5 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5).
We will continue to promote activities to the maximum extent possible so that our business activities do not have an impact on biodiversity due to emissions into the air and waters or soil pollution.
*WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter (BRF)
Risk tools related to biodiversity published by the World Wide Fund for Nature

Map of JTEKT biodiversity conservation activities

Business locations in both Japan and overseas of JTEKT and the JTEKT group endeavor to promote biodiversity conservation initiatives by connecting the activities of individual plants. Each business location has established activity themes to carry on the activities. JTEKT will continue to promote the initiatives in order to expand the circle of activities.

■Overseas

■Japan

▶ The window for the activity will pop up when you click on the name.

Kokubu Plant Tokushima Plant Tadomisaki Plant Kariya Plant Hanazono Plant Toyohashi Plant Kagawa Plant Nara Plant Iga Proving Ground, Kameyama Plant Toyota Branch Office Kanto Plant (Hamura) Kanto Plant (Sayama) Okazaki Plant Head Office/indirect Departments

Support for the "the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanren"

"JTEKT announced its support for the Declaration of Biodiversity by Keidanrenthe in December 2021.
This initiative aims to enhance the voice of the Japanese business community at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP) and other meetings.
From now on, we will collaborate with the supporting companies and organizations and cooperate with them in this initiative."

Participation in the Ministry of the Environment's "30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity"

JTEKT has been a member of the "30by30 Alliance for Biodiversity" since its founding in April 2022. This initiative aims to achieve the goal of conserving and protecting at least 30% of the country's land and sea area (30by30) toward the goal of halting and restoring biodiversity loss by 2030 (Nature Positive). We will continue to actively participate in initiatives aimed at achieving our goals in cooperation with participating governments, companies and organizations.

Major initiatives - Overseas case

Environmental Activities through Tree Planting <Plant: JAMA>

JAMO in Morocco conducts various environmental activities during Environment Month in June every year, and in FY2022, with the participation of all employees, a total of approximately 200 trees and 1 olive tree were planted in the plant green land. This activity emphasizes the importance of sustainable management of natural resources with a focus on tree planting and provides a comfortable work environment. The purpose of JAMO is to pursue sustainable management of natural resources in all its activities. This means taking care of air, land, water, plants and soil to improve JAMO's well-being and provide a better future for all.

View of tree-planting
View of tree-planting

All-Toyota Green Wave Project

JTEKT participates in the "All Toyota Green Wave Project", which collaborates with Toyota Group companies on biodiversity conservation activities. Through the Green Wave Project, the "conservation activities of the little tern nesting ground" at the JTEKT Tadomisaki Plant developed into a "connecting" activity with three Toyota Group companies (Toyota Industries Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Aisin Corporation) that also have plants in the Kinuura area.
We will continue to expand our initiative so that the Kinuura Port Little Tern Conservation Project can serve as a model for little tern conservation across Japan.

Green Wave Project activity logo
Green Wave Project activity logo

The Nature Conservation Society of Japan

JTEKT joined the Nature Conservation Society of Japan in 2020.
In the future, we will further enhance and expand the framework of our activities by developing an environmental education program in cooperation with the Nature Conservation Society of Japan and collaborating with member companies and groups.

Major initiatives

Iga Proving Ground Arbor Day

In July 2017, the Iga Proving Ground signed the "Forest for Social Contribution" (* 1) agreement with the Mie Forest Management Office. The "JTEKT Iga Proving Ground Natural Symbiosis Forest" covers approximately 25.4 hectares in the national forest surrounding the proving ground.
Arbor Day was held again in FY2022. Under the guidance of a local NPO, the Nishiyama Hometown Preservation Society, members of the Iga Proving Ground and the Kameyama Plant planted cherry, maple and other trees. We plan to continue our tree-planting activities in the future and develop the forest so that the local community can enjoy walking and other activities.

*1: Agreement on activities by companies and others to conserve and improve forests as part of social contribution activities in national forests

View of tree-planting
View of tree-planting