In Cascais, Portugal, at the UN’s Sustainable Blue Economy Investment Forum held on June 28, 2022, NYK joined 150 major companies* having a combined market capitalization of 1 trillion euros in taking action for a healthier ocean by signaling a commitment to a healthy ocean by becoming a signatory to the UN Global Compact** Sustainable Ocean Principles. NYK is the first Japanese company to become a signatory.

More information: publications/Sustainable+Ocean+Principles.pdf (d306pr3pise04h.cloudfront.net)

Launched in September 2019, the Sustainable Ocean Principles provide a framework for responsible business practices across sectors and geographies, building upon and supplementing the principles of the UN Global Compact to achieve the world community’s ambitions as laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal 14 of “Life Below Water.”

NYK has become a signatory with the understanding that the direction of the company’s Life Below Water*** efforts, indicated below, are in line with the purpose of the Sustainable Ocean Principles.

NYK has been continuing fuel saving activities for many years by improving the operational efficiency of ships in order to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which causes acidification, from ships. The company is also actively engaged in research and demonstration projects aimed at introducing LNG fuel as a bridge solution to decarbonization and putting zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia into practical use. CO₂ is also one of the greenhouse gases (GHG) that brings about global warming, and its reduction is urgently needed in response to climate change.

In 2020, NYK started using its vessels to obtain samples of microplastics together with the Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT), and NYK and CIT have since conducted joint surveys on the distribution and impact of microplastics in the ocean. We believe that the results of these surveys will contribute to the early resolution of marine plastics pollution, which may affect marine biodiversity.

Since 2021, NYK has begun to contribute to environmental DNA research**** as an activity that contributes to the sustainable use of marine resources. This research makes it possible to grasp the current state of marine ecosystems, which has not yet been elucidated, and it is expected that the research results will be utilized for effective utilization of marine resources and formulation of future natural capital management plans.

The marine environment conservation efforts are positioned as a priority theme that the NYK Group should work on as “Return on Earth.” As a good corporate citizen, the NYK Group will continue to actively tackle social issues and contribute to the realization of a better global society, including environmental conservation.

In February 2021, NYK released the “NYK Group ESG Story,” which aims to further integrate ESG into the company’s management strategy and promotes activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through business activities. In March this year, NYK released the updated “NYK Group ESG Story 2022,” which introduces initiatives for integrating ESG into the Group’s management strategies set forth in the "NYK Group ESG Story" and provides a partial explanation of the Group’s sustainable growth strategy from a long-term perspective. To strongly promote ESG management, the NYK Group will promote the creation of new value as a sustainable solution provider.

<The NYK Group ESG Story>
A guideline detailing concrete efforts to integrate ESG into management strategies of the NYK Group.
Details: https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2021/esg-story_01.html

<The NYK Group ESG Story 2022>
Details: https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2022/20220324_01.html

* A full of list of Sustainable Ocean Principles signatories can be found at the following link:
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/ocean/signatories

** UN Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest sustainability initiative for the United Nations and the private sector (companies and organizations) to join hands to build a healthy global society. The Compact advocates 10 principles for protecting human rights, eliminating injustice, responding to the environment, and preventing corruption. NYK expressed its support in 2006 and is promoting voluntary efforts to act as a good member of society and achieve sustainable growth.
Website: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/

*** SDG 14: Life Below Water
Adopted at the United Nations Summit in September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are 17 goals and 169 targets for a sustainable world by 2030. The 14th SDG, Life Below Water, states, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development." Efforts for this, scientific management plans for marine resources, and support for developing countries have been set as targets.

Website: https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/14-life-below-water/

**** Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to biological DNA that exists in the environment, such as in water or soil. The ecosystem can be grasped by extracting and analyzing biological DNA from water and soil collected in the field. eDNA is attracting attention as an epoch-making method for realizing multipoint and high-frequency biological surveys, which was not easy with conventional survey methods. Compared to conventional biological survey methods that rely on capture and direct observation, the work at the survey site is overwhelmingly less.