MC recognizes the importance of striving to create and enhance environmental value, as stated in the Environmental Charter, by undertaking conservation activities and reducing our environmental footprint, including through the prevention of pollution. Moreover, in terms of company-wide management of compliance with environmental laws, regulations, etc., MC takes responsibility as a business that produces waste. To ensure rigorous compliance with laws and regulations related to preventing pollution as well as the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste within MC, internal notifications are sent out, as well as announcements and alerts about meetings and other related events. Furthermore, MC has formulated guidelines and standards for responding to oil spills and soil contamination and disseminates this information internally to ensure thorough understanding.
MC conducts an environmental performance survey for all MC Group companies in order to manage pollution prevention as well as waste reduction, reuse and recycling initiatives on both a non-consolidated and an MC Group-wide basis. On a non-consolidated basis, we set and monitor sustainable and effective reduction targets related to the volume of waste produced in conjunction with Head Office activities, in order to reduce, reuse and recycle waste through operation of environmental management systems (EMS).
| Items | FY2023 targets | FY2023 results | FY2024 targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution prevention | Select projects and conduct oil spill risk survey biannually | Conducted oil spill survey and confirmed proper risk management systems | Select projects and conduct oil spill risk survey biannually |
| Waste production*1Waste produced: Waste produced in conjunction with Head Office activities*1 | Continue waste emission reduction activities (Recycling rate of 96% or more) | 898.5 tons (+82.8% increase from 2023.3 result) Recycling rate 99% |
Continue waste emission reduction activities (Recycling rate of 99％ or more) |
| Toxic waste emissions*2The emission amount of specially controlled industrial waste under the Waste Management Law （Non-consolidated）*2 |
Reduce the emission amout from previous year and continue proper treatment and disposal of the specially controlled industrial waste under the Waste Management Law | 101.4 tons Recycled 100% of infectious waste emitted from in-house clinic, and disposed PCB waste properly and sequentially within legal deadline |
Reduce the emission amount from previous year and continue proper treatment and disposal of the specially controlled industrial waste under the Waste Management Law |
| Use of raw materials*3Use of raw materials: Volume of copy paper used at the Head Office*3 | Continue paper reduction and other efforts (3% reduction from previous year) | 10,047 thousand sheets (-29.2% reduction from previous year) |
Continue paper reduction and other efforts (3% reduction from previous year) |
| Officer in Charge | Kenji Kobayashi (Senior Vice President, Corporate Functional Officer, CSEO) |
|---|---|
| Deliberative Body (A subcommittee under the Executive Committee, a management decisionmaking body) |
Sustainability Committee Important matters related to preventing pollution deliberated by the Sustainability Committee are formally approved by the Executive Committee and put forward or reported to the Board of Directors based on prescribed standards. |
| Department in Charge | Sustainability Dept. |
When reviewing and making decisions on loan and investment proposals, MC conducts a comprehensive screening process which considers not only economic aspects, but ESG factors including pollution prevention as well as the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste. Besides screening new investment and exit proposals, MC also strives to make improvements to existing business investments by monitoring their management practices. Regarding oil spills in particular, oil spill risk surveys are conducted regularly, confirmations are made that oil spill accident prevention and risk management frameworks have been established, and training is conducted to ensure the thorough dissemination of information on these topics. Through these measures, MC is ensuring appropriate risk management to prevent oil spills from occurring.
〈Office Management〉
〈Business Activities〉
Together with MC's affiliate company Lawson, Inc., MC is implementing initiatives using AI and digital marketing to reduce food waste, which has become a pressing issue in recent years.
In May 2024, Lawson launched its next-generation ordering system “AI.CO”, which supports demand forecasting for each product based on data from each store, such as weather and sales performance, and product ordering based on that data. In addition to the product line-up and daily order quantity recommendations that were previously achieved through semi-automatic ordering, the system also provides consistent recommendations for discounts, leading to further reductions in sales opportunities and food loss (disposal loss).
MC subsidiary Mitsubishi Shokuhin Co., Ltd. carries out various efficiency measures to optimize its supply chains through collaboration between the manufacturing, distribution and retail sectors. Working jointly with manufacturers and retailers to enhance logistics efficiency and collaborating with retailers to reduce product return rates and optimize inventory have led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and waste production.
Cermaq is assessing various methods for Life Cycle Analyses.
All Cermaq operations are covered by contingency plans preventing pollution events, all our teams are properly trained for a quick response involving local authorities.
MC formulated its Oil Spill Risk Guidelines in 2012. On a Groupwide basis, MC strives to prevent oil spills, giving due recognition of the environmental burden they could cause. MC makes project decisions taking into account matters such as the products handled and location of the enterprise, conducts oil spill risk surveys regularly, confirms that oil spill accident prevention and risk management frameworks have been established, and conducts training to ensure the thorough dissemination of information on these topics. Through these measures, MC is ensuring appropriate risk management to prevent oil spills from occurring. In addition, there are no major leaks as far as MC is aware.
As a member of the Japan Foreign Trade Council (JFTC), an industry association for Japanese trading companies, MC is helping to formulate and execute “The Commitment to a Low-carbon Society” advocated by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Based on this plan, we are actively promoting the installation of energy- saving equipment in order to reduce energy consumption on a non-consolidated basis. In addition, as a member of the Global Environment Committee established within the JFTC, MC actively engages in a variety of initiatives including promoting environmental compliance, improving environmental performance and disseminating information about industry initiatives with the aim of creating a low-carbon society and a recycling-oriented society. It is essential for companies to achieve sustainable growth while considering the environment. The entire trading industry, not limited to MC, recognizes the role it needs to play from a long-term and global perspective, and it is working to contribute through business activities.
