Sustainable Development

Environmental Preservation Activities

Bayer views environmental preservation as an important management objective, and the company's basic philosophy is expressed in the Bayer Health, Safety and Environment Management System. Under this philosophy, Bayer formed its Guidelines for Responsible Care in Environmental Protection and Safety in 1994 so that Bayer Group companies worldwide carry out their activities in line with consistent concepts. Moreover, Bayer is taking an integrated approach to promoting sustainable development for products, and implements the Bayer Eco-Check, which evaluates products based on six criteria: Health, Environment, Life cycle, Technology, Public value and Economy.

As a member of the Bayer Group, Bayer in Japan focuses its sustainable development efforts on Responsible Care activities. In 2001, the management of Bayer in Japan announced its seven-point Declaration of Commitment to Responsible Care. The declaration was designed to confirm and more strongly promote the Responsible Care policies of Bayer in Japan companies in areas such as creating management strategies based on the principles of Responsible Care and ensuring health and safety while reducing environmental impact through the entire product life cycle. Currently, managers in charge of environmental activities at each company hold Responsible Care meetings twice a year, and the decisions made at these meetings are put into practice as group targets.

esponsible Care (image)
Responsible Care refers to the activities in which companies handling chemical substances take voluntary measures for preserving the environment and ensuring human safety and health throughout a product's entire life cycle, from development to disposal.

Sharing of Best Practices at All Companies

In addition to thorough compliance with environmental regulations and other laws, Bayer in Japan has acquired ISO 14001 certification of the environmental management systems of all its major domestic factories, and conducts ongoing activities for improvement. In particular, Bayer is implementing energy-saving measures and other initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in order to combat global warming in line with the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol. Bayer collects annual statistics on carbon dioxide emissions while working to achieve its targets.

In day-to-day Responsible Care activities, Bayer in Japan sets voluntary targets for improvement in areas including product quality management, environmental preservation, factory safety, hazard prevention, and workplace safety and health. These targets are reviewed annually to promote even greater improvement. Cases that show the best results are used as best practices for improvement throughout the Bayer Group.

The six quality criteria of the Bayer Eco-Check

  1. Health - the safety of the product for the consumer, processor, customer and employee;
  2. Environment - an examination of the product's environmental compatibility;
  3. Life cycle -a consideration of all possible effects of extensive emissions on the environment and the dwindling supply of natural resources throughout the entire product life cycle (ecobalance);
  4. Technology - safety of the production processes and availability of the raw materials;
  5. Public value - a look at the acceptance of the product in the overall corporate environment and its value for society;
  6. Economy - the economic opportunities and risks.

Eco-Check

An example of an evaluation using the Eco-Check: In all six areas, the crop protection agent Password is in the green sector, an excellent rating that reflects the sustainable value of the product for the customer and for Bayer.
Declaration of Commitment to Responsible Care by Bayer in Japan
The management of Bayer in Japan declares that;
  1. We define our strategies in line with the principles of Responsible Care.
  2. We ensure health and safety over the entire life cycle of our products; from R&D, production, transport, use and re-use, to disposal. We guarantee that our products and operation are no threat to the environment.
  3. We operate our facilities safely to ensure the safety and health of our employees.
  4. We take measures to reduce the burden on the environment. We are engaged in recycling and reuse of materials. We reduce consumption of natural resources and save energy in our operations.
  5. We provide our customers with necessary information to ensure the safe usage and handling of our products.
  6. We are sensitive to the concerns of the public and authorities regarding our products and operations. We promote an open dialogue with the public and we are committed to increasing public understanding of our operations.
  7. We allocate reasonable resources, including funds, manpower and facilities to realize our Responsible Care policy. We educate our employees so that they realize the importance of our Responsible Care policy.