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For the Earth with “iki-iki”(happiness and health) Products
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| Sales of Environmentally-friendly Products |
We believe that an increase in sales volumes of environmentally-friendly products will lead indirectly to a reduced impact on the environment. Takara Shuzo set the development and sales of environmentally-friendly products as our ISO14001 targets. Our product development division has endeavored to achieve at least two developments or improvements in our products. The sales division has set themselves the goal of increasing the number of retailers dealing with bulk sales of shochu, thus making environmental activities part of daily sales operations. Moreover, the category “sales volume of environmentally-friendly products” has been incorporated in our Green-Ink Accounting to raise employee awareness.
Our environmentally-friendly products are products that give due consideration to the environment in terms of raw materials, container manufacturing and recycling and that have a lower impact on the environment than ordinary products. Among the environmentally-friendly products sold by Takara Shuzo, we incorporate bulk sales, returnable bottles, our EcoFrost bottles, our Ecology Bottle, Organic Hon-Mirin and Organic Hon Ryori Seishu products into our Green-Ink Account calculations. Sales volumes of these products amounted to 36,263 kiloliters in fiscal 2004.
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Returnable bottle, stay-on tab, foldable paper carton
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Review of the OCIA organic product certification for Takara Organic Hon-Mirin
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Removable cap for easier separation
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Development and Improvements in Environmentally-friendly Products in Fiscal 2004
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Environmental Product/Material
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Description of Environmental Considerations
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| 1. Takara Organic Hon Ryori Seishu |
Takara launched a cooking-sake made only from organic rice and organic rice malts and certified as OCIA organic. The container is an ultralight bottle, for which Takara obtained the ECO mark. |
| 2. Inside plug for 1.8-l glass bottle for sake |
Inside plugs for 1.8-l glass bottles made of metal and plastic materials have been changed to 100% plastic plugs (for Sho-Chiku-Bai “Gokai”) |
| 3. Cardboard for outer boxes for large PET bottles |
Quantity of paper used in outer cardboard boxes for 4-l and 2.7-l PET bottles has been reduced. |
| 4. Inner boxes for gift products |
Quantity of paper used in inner boxes for year-end gift products (twin 1.8-l sake bottle packs and triple 720ml sake bottle packs) has been reduced. |
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| Response to the Law for the Promotion of the Selective Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging |
Since the Law for the Promotion of the Selective Collection and Recycling of Containers and Packaging came into force in 1997, as a container user, we have entrusted the recycling of waste containers and packaging to the Japan Container and Packaging Recycling Association, and paid them a commission in proportion to sales volumes. In fiscal 2004, Takara Shuzo paid 140 million yen (including tax) in defrayment costs. This signifies that recycling involves considerable costs in addition to energy. Based on the 4Rs concept, before recycling Takara Shuzo examines which is more feasible: the “refuse” system involving bulk sales or the “reuse” system with its returnable bottles.
The returnable system allows consumers to return their empty bottles to the retailer. Bottle dealers then collect and wash the returned bottles and they are then reused as containers. This system is suited to a resource recycling society. However, changes in lifestyles and distribution systems have resulted in a continual reduction in the numbers of bottles returned. Takara is involved in developing an infrastructure for a “reuse” system by introducing returnable bottles for a wider range of products as well as by participating in setting up the bottle washing companies and a P-Bako (plastic case) rental companies necessary to maintain the system.
Returnable Bottle Collection Flow (Bottle Dealer Route)
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