Creating a Society that Respects the Natural World
The Obayashi Group has formulated the Environmental Policy and been implementing initiatives throughout the supply chain to realize a decarbonized, recycling-oriented society that has respect for the natural world. For the realization of a society that respects the natural world, we established the Approach to Biodiversity and the Biodiversity Policy in 2009, in addition to the Environmental Policy, to promote specific initiatives across our businesses, including conservation of biodiversity and greening measures.
Approach to Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the foundation for the sustainability of various living creatures, including humans, animals and plants, and it should be passed on to future generations. Biodiversity has benefited human social activities and has supported the unique rich culture and safe living. Based on the Obayashi Environmental Policy, we will recognize the impact of our business activities on biodiversity and work to reduce the burden and preserve biodiversity.
Biodiversity Policy
- Contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainable usage of biological resources through business activities.
- Actively propose to society the technologies that contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and develop effective technologies that harness and coexist with nature.
- Promote the creation of a sustainable society through energy and resource conservation, 3Rs, green procurement, measures against harmful chemical substances, etc., and strive to reduce the environmental burden on biodiversity.
- Strive to conserve biodiversity at our facilities.
- Strive to communicate with society to improve the effectiveness of biodiversity initiatives.
- Work to raise awareness of nurturing biodiversity through environmental education and public relations activities.
Established May 19, 2009
Target for Realization of Society That Respects the Natural World
The Environmental Policy sets out efforts to reduce environmental impact through the Group's entire business activities for the realization of a society that respects the natural world. To realize a society that coexists in harmony with nature, we believe it is necessary to ensure that business (human) activities are compatible with conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems or with sustainable utilization of natural capital. To this end, we are currently implementing technological development, demonstration experiments, and other initiatives while also discussing target setting.
Analysis of Current Situation and Issues Regarding Initiatives for Realization of Society That Respects the Natural World
The Group implements natural symbiosis initiatives for the purpose of conserving ecosystems and biodiversity at the time of construction. Meanwhile, we see that our primary challenge is to increase initiatives covering the upstream (such as procurement of raw materials, processing, and transportation) and the downstream (such as quality control, maintenance, and management) of our supply chain.
TNFD Disclosure
Regarding risks and opportunities related to natural capital, in June 2023 Obayashi Corporation endorsed the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). In order to understand medium- to long-term impacts that nature-related problems have on its businesses, the Company selected the areas with a greater impact in its value chains, extracted dependencies and impacts in these areas, and identified risks and opportunities. Then, in February 2025, the Company conducted the LEAP analysis and disclosed the information in line with the TNFD recommendations. In addition, the Company has disclosed its nature symbiosis-related R&D expenses as part of the TNFD disclosure, and plans to set more specific targets.
Greening with Native Species
The Obayashi Corporation Technology Research Institute has been conducting greening experiments using grassland plants to have a clear understanding of construction and management conditions appropriate for grassroot plants, which are rapidly decreasing in Japan. We have also commissioned Biome Inc. to conduct a plant distribution survey in which citizens participate using a smartphone app. This experiment has allowed us to obtain data useful for selecting appropriate locations to collect seedlings and seeds used for greening projects. We aim to establish technology that will lead to greening proposals for customers.
Surveys of Birds
Obayashi conducted surveys of birds in various green spaces and city streets, including the Akasaka Intercity AIR and Shinagawa Intercity properties it had constructed, to verify whether the development of green spaces would improve urban biodiversity. The surveys showed that birds, such as the Japanese white-eye and Japanese titmouse, appeared frequently in urban areas with developed green spaces, suggesting that this type of greening helps improve urban biodiversity to a certain extent.
Biotopes
At Kainokuni Ecopark, a waste disposal site constructed by an Obayashi joint venture company (the JV), we created two biotopes with the aim of preserving living organisms and the natural environment. The JV, in charge of the maintenance and management of the site for 20 years after construction, has conducted surveys and maintenance to conserve a variety of fireflies, dragonflies, frogs, and other species. Ponds and wetlands are arranged to provide diverse habitats for organisms. The survey results confirmed the presence of the targeted organisms for conservation each year and indicated that the creation and regular maintenance of the biotopes helped maintain and improve biodiversity.
Going Forward
The Obayashi Group has been continuously and proactively working to develop technologies for conserving biodiversity and to expand their application to businesses. We will accelerate our efforts to contribute to the mitigation of risks that our business activities could pose to natural capital and the creation of opportunities, as shown in the TNFD disclosure. In addition, we will set targets for the realization of a society that respects the natural world according to the implementation status and social circumstances.
