Biodiversity
Otsuka Group Biodiversity Policy
Basic Approach
The Otsuka group is conscious of its place as a part of the natural world and acknowledges and appreciates the marvels of our shared planet. Through our business activities, we commit to sharing the beauty of nature with future generations.
Activity Guidelines
- 1Enhance our comprehension of how our business activities relate to biodiversity.
- 2Endeavor to minimize the environmental impact of our business operations that impact biodiversity.
- 3Aim for the sustainable use of resources, such as ecosystem services, and ensure fair and equitable sharing of genetic resources in compliance with international agreements.
- 4Collaborate and partner with stakeholders both in Japan and overseas to preserve biodiversity.
- 5Contribute to promoting public awareness of biodiversity.
Relationship between Biodiversity and Business Activities
Otsuka Pharmaceutical produces and markets various products, including pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and recognizes the interdependence between its business operations and biodiversity. Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to understanding the connection between its activities and biodiversity and is taking measures to mitigate any negative impact.
Major Initiatives
Establishing a biotope
Otsuka Pharmaceutical's Itano Factory is committed to promoting harmonious coexistence with nature and has constructed a plant that benefits people and the environment. To achieve this, the factory's layout was designed to complement the surrounding natural landscape, and the existing habitats for living creatures were preserved by reintroducing plants native to the region. In 1998, a 450-meter-long biotope was created by reusing the cooling water that the plant discharges, providing a natural habitat for diverse aquatic creatures, including dragonfly larvae, water scorpions, and pygmy water lilies.
A further initiative began in 2004 when the company joined a project started by Tokushima Prefecture in cooperation with industry, government, academia, and the public, to protect and propagate the Kawabata-moroko freshwater fish, designated as Endangered Class IB.
Otsuka Group's Annual Fishing Tournament for Non-Native Fish
Since 2009, the Otsuka group has organized an annual fishing tournament for non-native fish in Lake Biwa as part of its social contribution activities to support a project initiated by Shiga Prefecture, which aims to eradicate non-native fish species. The non-native fish caught during the event are collected using designated boxes and then repurposed as chemical fertilizers for the agriculture and livestock industries. This initiative has received high praise from the Policy Department of Shiga Prefecture and the Industry and Tourism Department of Otsu City.
In FY2019, a total of 188 individuals, including family members of Otsuka group employees, participated in the tournament. We will continue to participate in endeavors that enable people of all ages to enjoy and appreciate nature while simultaneously taking part in initiatives to preserve the environment and ecosystem of Lake Biwa.
