Measures to Reduce Environmental Impact
Environmental impact of production activities
We’re ascertaining and striving to minimize the overall environmental impact of our production activities.
Environmental impact
CO2 Emissions Intensity
CO2 emissions intensity refers to the volume of CO2 emitted from certain business activities. We calculate CO2 emissions intensity based on domestic plant processing volumes and CO2 emissions from domestic plants, the headquarters and sales as a whole. This is used as a general indicator of energy conservation because it is unaffected by changes in sales or production volume. CO2 emissions intensity decreased in FY2025. We plan to maintain various energy conservation activities, especially at the plants.
Four plants (per yen of processing)
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four plants (per yen of processing) | 1.99 | 2.02 | 2.08 | 1.68 | 1.70 | 1.66 |
Quantitative Changes
The head office, Sales Group, and four plants are striving to conserve energy through means such as adopting high-fficiency equipment. We’re also striving to reduce industrial waste and increase recycling rates.
Electricity use
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four plants | Osaka Plant | 11,784 | 11,801 | 11,296 | 11,017 |
| Tokyo Plant | 7,771 | 8,083 | 9,597 | 9,661 | |
| Nara Plant | 3,782 | 3,446 | 3,330 | 3,407 | |
| Ibaraki Plant | 2,405 | 2,396 | 2,360 | 2,209 | |
| Total | 25,741 | 25,726 | 26,583 | 26,294 | |
| Headquarters and sales as a whole | 802 | 1,013 | 1,052 | 1,076 | |
| Companywide | Total | 26,543 | 26,739 | 27,635 | 27,370 |
Recycling of industrial waste
Each plant recycles as much industrial waste as possible in an effort to reduce the amount of waste ultimately disposed of. Part of the industrial waste from the loss of manufacturing paper and chemical product packaging, and part of the packaging materials that were used as raw and subsidiary materials are now reused in the market as recycled packaging materials, etc. Some industrial waste that cannot be recycled is recycled into solid fuels and other useful resources.
- Industrial waste such as used paper and polythene film is recycled and reused.
Volume of industrial waste recycled
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four plants | Osaka Plant | 5,605 | 5,882 | 5,682 | 5,281 |
| Tokyo Plant | 4,546 | 4,645 | 5,348 | 5,575 | |
| Nara Plant | 7,381 | 6,239 | 5,916 | 6,247 | |
| Ibaraki Plant | 381 | 378 | 317 | 272 | |
| Total | 17,913 | 17,144 | 17,263 | 17,374 |
Recycling rate
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four plants | Osaka Plant | 99.1 | 95.0 | 98.9 | 96.7 |
| Tokyo Plant | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.7 | |
| Nara Plant | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | |
| Ibaraki Plant | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | |
| Total | 99.7 | 98.2 | 99.6 | 98.9 |
Final waste treatment volume
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four plants | Osaka Plant | 49 | 308 | 63 | 178 |
| Tokyo Plant | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | |
| Nara Plant | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
| Ibaraki Plant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 60 | 317 | 72 | 200 |
Appropriate Management of Chemical Substances
The chemical substances we use in manufacturing processes are ascertained for each site and duly managed in accordance with internal standards and applicable laws and regulations. Pursuant to the Act on Confirmation, etc. of Release Amounts of Specific Chemical Substances in the Environment and Promotion of Improvements to the Management Thereof (the PRTR Act), we ascertain and notify the competent authorities of the emissions and transport volumes of chemical substances handled in volumes of 1 t or over per year. We also appropriately manage chemical substances of which less than 1 t is handled per year, based on safety data sheets (SDSs). In FY2025, one type of chemical substance was subject to reporting at the Nara Plant. The table below shows emissions and transport volumes for chemical substances subject to notification under the PRTR Act in the past four years.
Notification of Class I Designated Chemical Substances under the PRTR Act (Nara Plant)
| Chemical substance | Index | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boron compounds | Emissions（air・water・soil・iandfill） | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Transport（transport to sewer） | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | |
| Transport（transport out of business site） | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | |
| Total | 18.7 | 18.7 | 18.7 | 18.7 | |
Putting Water Resources to More Effective Use
The water used at the Tokyo Plant for washing printing ink, paint, and adhesives in the manufacturing process is recycled using a water treatment facility for use as toilet flushing water. This helps conserve tap water and counters water shortages by making more efficient use of our limited water resources.
Fuel conversion at the Ibaraki Plant
PlantIn 2024, the Ibaraki Plant switched from kerosene boilers to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). LPG is a clean energy source, with combustion emissions containing virtually no substances harmful to the environment or to human health. This fuel switch is expected to help control substances that cause global warming and acid rain. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions and costs, the switch has eliminated the risk of kerosene leaks in to soil and groundwater.
Osaka headquarters building earns Kinki Branch Encouragement Award in Carbon Neutral Awards
The headquarters building, which was completed in March 2023, was granted the Kinki Branch Encouragement Award in the 13th Carbon Neutral Awards in 2025 in recognition of its environmental performance. This award is presented for buildings and building utilities that make outstanding contributions to achieving a carbon-neutral society. The headquarters building is certified ZEB Ready in recognition of its energy-saving technologies, including a natural ventilation system, a high thermal insulating exterior, solar panels, and high-efficiency air conditioning. This highly energy-efficient eco-friendly building earned this award as a shining example of an energy-saving office building that helps realize a carbon-neutral society.
Building evaluations
- Zero-emission building accreditation (ZEB Ready, highest BELS evaluation)
- CASBEE accreditation (CASBEE S Rank [highest evaluation])
- CASBEE Wellness Office S Rank (voluntary registration)
Eco-friendly technologies employed
- Natural ventilation and lighting using eco voids at the building center
- Solar panels for power generation
- High-thermal-insulating exterior walls and low-E windows to lessen the air conditioning burden
- Automatic dimming of LED lighting in offices via motion and light sensors
- Air volume control of heat exchangers based on changes in office occupancy (CO2 levels)
Awards received•
- Winner, office section, FY2023 Osaka Environmentally Friendly Architecture Awards
- Silver Prize and Commissioned Jury Prize, 57th Japan Sign Design Awards
- Bronze Prize, Kukan Design Award 2024
- 2025 IEIJ Kansai Good Lighting Encouraging Award
- iF Design Award 2025
Eco-friendly Printing Ink
We offer a full lineup of eco-friendly printing ink for use with packaging materials. This makes it possible to contribute to a carbon-zero society by switching from ordinary inks, made using petroleum-based compound resins and organic solvents, to inks made from biomass materials and water-based inks that use no organic solvents.
Eco-friendly Printing Plastic Bags
To reduce use of petroleum-based compound resins in plastic bags, we’re expanding our lineup of biomass materials. We currently offer 13 types of products that have earned biomass mark certification from the Japan Organics Recycling Association.
Participation in CLOMA
There are calls worldwide to promote efforts to identify solutions for the issue of ocean plastic waste, a new issue recognized on a global scale. In response, the Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA) was launched in January 2019 to promote innovation by strengthening joint efforts among a wide range of parties across industry boundaries and by pooling their technologies and expertise. Since then, we’ve participated in CLOMA’s activities as a core member, mainly by proposing use of paper materials as alternatives to plastic products. We plan to maintain our efforts in related areas, including developing new eco-friendly packages and building systems to help realize a circular economy by exchanging information and working with other CLOMA members.
