The NH Foods Group has declared to “pursue sustainability” as a central business policy in its Medium-Term Management Plan 2020, which runs to the end of fiscal 2020. We set this business policy in 3 year term. By all means, we will continuously set targets and work on achieving them.

This business policy, started on April 1, 2018, environmental wise, sets targets based on average values for the period from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2016. Which are reducing CO2 emissions and waste. It all require continuous actions and the Group is actively making improvements to achieve those targets. For example; CO2 and thermal energy, the targets are to reduce 8.0%. For Water consumption, reduction target is 3.0% and for generated waste, 6.0% of reduction is targeted. Moreover, we made a target that we will recycle 94.0% of the generated waste. For more explanation of what the Group is doing for these are written in the next paragraph. (Percentage = average between fiscal 2018~fiscal 2020.)

To achieve the targets that we stated in the business policy, we would like to share four of the main approaches which are:

1. LED light replacement
2. Switching to hybrid vehicles
3. reducing packaging
4. reducing GHG
For 1, we are going to replace almost all lightnings with LED ones in stages at our owned domestic properties. We aim to complete it by the end of March 2021, if not, by March 2022, at latest. For 2, we are going to switch gasoil-powered vehicles to hybrid ones in stages. This only applies to the vehicles used in sales activities in Japan (excluding trucks, mini-vehicles, etc.). This target is aim to complete it by the end of March 2021. However, if we are unable to complete it by then, we will to complete it by March 2022, at latest. In order for us to reduce packaging without losing freshness and flavor of the products and maintain the integrity of products, the Group explores ways to simplify packaging to retain freshness and flavor while reducing the consumption of packaging materials, which applies to 3. As an example, chilled pizza series called, Ishigama Kobo, we reduced the amount of plastic in trays by 34%, compared to earlier Group products in fiscal 2012. Moreover, with a brand, Chuka Meisai, the Group is reducing labels, making packaging film thinner. To be more specific, Chuka Meisai Subuta, was made lighter, resulting in a 24% reduction in packaging weight in fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2003. With 4, we are approaching in many ways and one of them is, Oakey Beef Exports Pty. Ltd., one of the Group, have installed a biogas plant in April 2015 to extract methane gas generated from factory wastewater and use it as a source of energy. By installing this, we are reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 8,000 tons each year. The approaches listed are only four out of many other approaches. We will continuously put an effort to reduce 1-4 and many more every year.

NH Foods Group is cognizant that climate change is a pressing issue in people’s lives and business activities, and we are working to cut emissions throughout the Group such as by reducing CO2 emissions, using energy efficiently, and conducting environment-conscious procurement. These approaches will be able to contribute to the SDGs goal 13.

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