Measures to Reduce Environmental Impact

Also known as the CO₂ emissions coefficient, CO₂ emissions intensity refers to the volume of CO₂ emitted from a fixed amount of business activities. We calculate CO₂ emissions intensity by dividing CO₂ emissions converted from electricity, natural gas, and other energy needed in manufacturing using fixed coefficients by plant processing volume. This is used as a general indicator of energy conservation because it is unaffected by changes in sales or production volume.

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. While processing volume increased in FY2023, we were able to improve CO₂ emissions intensity by improving plant efficiency. Although industrial waste emissions decreased, the recycling rate was 98.2%.

• Industrial waste such as used paper and polythene film is recycled and reused.

Volume of industrial waste recycled

（t）

		2020	2021	2022	2023
Four plants	Osaka Plant	5,729	5,430	5,605	5,882
	Tokyo Plant	4,433	4,845	4,546	4,645
	Nara Plant	6,998	7,681	7,381	6,239
	Ibaraki Plant	433	388	381	378
	Total	17,592	18,344	17,913	17,144

Recycling rate

（%）

		2020	2021	2022	2023
Four plants	Osaka Plant	99.1	99.1	99.1	95.0
	Tokyo Plant	100	99.9	99.9	99.9
	Nara Plant	99.9	99.9	99.9	99.9
	Ibaraki Plant	99.9	99.9	99.9	99.9
	Total	99.7	99.7	99.7	98.2

Final waste treatment volume

（t）

		2020	2021	2022	2023
Four plants	Osaka Plant	53	48	49	308
	Tokyo Plant	0	7	4	2
	Nara Plant	7	7	7	7
	Ibaraki Plant	0	0	0	0
	Total	61	63	60	317

The chemical substances we use in manufacturing processes are suitably managed 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 (PRTR Act). In addition, in bag and carton production, we are making steady progress on switching to safe adhesives free of restricted chemical substances. In FY2023, we reduced the volume of substances subject to the PRTR Act by 14%.

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.

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.