Environmental ReportSocial Responsibility 2017

Recognizing that our business activities affect the entire planet and that protecting the global environment is essential for our survival and activity, we work voluntarily and proactively to protect the environment under the Nisshin Seifun Group's Basic Environmental Policy, including initiatives to reduce waste and CO₂ emissions and to effectively use resources and energy.

Mid-term Environmental Target of Nisshin Seifun Group

CO₂ Emissions Reductions to Prevent Global Warming

26% CO₂ emissions reduction on fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030 (Japan)
7.8% reduction of consumption rate on fiscal 2013 levels by fiscal 2030 (Globally ex-Japan)

Efficient Use of Resources for Recycling Society

Maintain zero-emission throughout Nisshin Seifun Group (Japan)
Endeavor to achieve zero-emissions at each business site (Japan) by fiscal 2020

Material Balance

We have identified the major environmental impacts of our operations as electricity and water consumption, CO₂ and waste emissions. We strive to promote effective environmental management and reduce environmental impacts through such means as understanding our footprint from production and distribution to consumer use and eventual disposal of residual packaging.

*Based on Act concerning the Promotion of Utilization of Recyclable Food Waste.

Environmental Management

Under the leadership of the Director for Environmental Issues, we implement our Group Environmental Policy to conduct business in an environmental responsible manner. We evaluate each business site, including offices and plants for compliance with laws and regulations through internal audit according to our stringent standards. We also ensure our continuous improvement through group-wide certificated Environmental Management System under ISO14001.

Group environmental audit record
	Number of operating companies	Number of sites	Results
	Number of operating companies	Number of sites	Improvement orders	Improvement recommendations
FY2014	13	23	0	0
FY2015	15	23	0	0
FY2016	14	26	0	1

Climate Protection

We have been thoroughly reviewing the Group-wide use of electricity by introducing energy-efficient facilities at our plants and energy-saving air-conditioners, lighting apparatuses and OA equipment at our offices.
Also, we used green electricity to cover a part of domestic power usage.

Although we accomplished our group’s original target, from the effect of increase in production and by the addition of CO₂ emissions of newly acquired overseas companies, total CO₂ emission has been increased since 2013.

High level of Energy Conservation Throughout the Nisshin Seifun Group

We are working to efficient energy use to reduce environmental impact from our operation. Nine of the fifteen companies within our group subject to the Energy Conservation Act have been achieved “Rank S”* as the highest ranking for excellent companies in energy saving.
The new line launched within the Nisshin Seifun Chita Plant in May 2015 is a state-of-the-art production line with an integration of many milling technologies developed over our company's long history. By installing highly-efficient motors and shorten flour conveying distance by deploying machinery compactly, the line achieves significant energy savings for stable and efficient production of flour.

*The evaluation system under the Energy Conservation Act in Japan.

Introduction of Renewable Energy Facilities

Solar panels installation (Tsurumi Plant of Nisshin Seifun)

The Tsurumi Plant of Nisshin Seifun and the Tatebayashi Plant of Nisshin Foods installed solar photovoltaic facilities. The facility at the Tsurumi Plant is expected to generate power equivalent to annual consumption of 160 households, and to relieve the environmental impact by reducing approximately 250 tons of CO₂ emissions annually compared with thermal power plant.

Waste Reduction

We actively worked on reducing waste on a group-wide basis by improving production efficiency and reviewing procedures at the manufacturing division, as well as strengthening supply and demand and inventory management at the sales division. Additionally we made efforts to promote the use of waste for fertilizers and foodstuffs. As a result, final disposal waste in FY2016 reduced nearly 99.9% from that in FY2000.

Maintaining the Gift of Nature into the Future

Consideration for Biodiversity

The blessings of nature are essential for the business and products of Nisshin Seifun Group.

Biodiversity, business activities and our daily life are inextricably linked. At Nisshin Seifun Group, we provide information and opportunities for employees to understand these link. We are also proud to play a part in maintaining the natural blessing that underpins healthy and happy human life through our support for the authorized NPO Kiritappu Wetland National Trust and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund.

Connecting with surrounding nature

The Nisshin Milling Museum, a cultural facility of the company located in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture where the company identified species of fauna and flora around museum to understand our connection with local nature and living things. This research has revealed that thereare a variety of birds and butterflies coming to the garden of the museum.

In order to conserve local waterside

Planting on the coast in Samut Prakan Province

About 100 employees of Nisshin-STC Flour Milling Co., Ltd. (Thailand) participated in local mangrove reforestation activity. Mangrove forests not only absorb and store CO₂, which is considered to be the major important cause of global warming, but also provide habitats for a variety of living things. Mangrove forests are also expected to protect the lives of local people from disasters such as tidal waves and tsunamis.