Business and Biodiversity Initiative

Commitment

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings has been actively involved in a variety of biodiversity related activities since the COP8, recognizing that as a company from Japan, the COP10 hosting country, it should encourage the ongoing involvement of the private sector in biodiversity-related issues.

In particular, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings established the basic principles on biodiversity issues in July 2008 and joined the ‘Biodiversity in Good Company’ Initiative on the recognition that this matter is one of the two most important global environmental issues, the other being global warming. In order to accelerate the process, we launched an action plan called Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings' Biodiversity Program in October 2009, and incorporated business processes reflecting biodiversity issues into the company’s business activities.

We will actively support both individuals and companies that participate in biodiversity activities through the development of financial products and services as well by providing information related to biodiversity.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings' Biodiversity Program

Project 01: Contribution to the Success of COP10 in Nagoya as a Business Leader

Project 02: Development of Financial Products and Services related to Biodiversity

Project 03: Consideration of the Company-wide Development of Nature Conservation Program

Project 04: Consideration of Group-wide Sustainable Use of Paper Resources

Preferential Rate Loan for Environmentally-friendly Companies

A company utilizing this loan can enjoy the preferential interest rate described above. In addition, if the company meets Sumitomo Trust’s screening standards, it can expect to gain recognition and enhance its status as a protector of the environment and biodiversity above certain standards.

Development of a Mutual Fund Investing in Stocks of Biodiversity-friendly Companies

Being selected as an investment target of the Sumitomo Trust’s biodiversity mutual fund, a company can expand its financing method. Also, a company, whose biodiversity activities meet the criteria of selection for our fund, can expect to gain recognition and enhance its status as a leading company in this field in Japan. Individuals who are interested in biodiversity issues can achieve a feeling of satisfaction that they indirectly contribute to the solution of the issues by investing in the fund.

Biodiversity- Friendly Development and Construction Consulting

The construction consulting project was adopted as a Model Project for ‘the Promotion of CO₂ Reduction for Housing and Buildings by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for the implementation of ‘Green in the City’ cooling spots. Sumitomo Trust puts to use it solid skills in creating an operation system for an energy conserving building. The building, as a leading model in line with our company, gained recognition and enhanced its status. In addition, it could achieve cost reduction by receiving government subsidies for a part of its maintenance costs. Sumitomo Trust believes that the expansion of this kind of activity will revitalize urban ecology.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings

Best Practice Example

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