The drying process of the gravure printing presses used to print designs and other patterns on film requires a substantial amount of heat and therefore consumes a large amount of energy. Effectively utilizing the heat energy produced from this drying process helps conserve energy. When we replaced the gravure printing presses at the Marugame No. 5 Plant, we installed a waste heat recovery system that contributes to reducing energy consumption by recovering and recycling the pure heat energy emitted after drying, excluding solvents. We also, introduced high-efficiency motors as the printing presses’ drive and fan motors. Through these measures, we expect to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 100 t-CO2 per year.
*The CO2 emission factor (FY2022 emission factor (adjusted)) is calculated using 0.454 (kg-CO2/kWh) for Shikoku Electric Power Co., INC.
— Passing on the baton to the future by reducing our environmental burden —
Considering leading children to the future as our mission, we will strive to reduce the environmental burden in our business activities. For CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) that contribute to climate change, we will aim at a reduction of 37% by 2030 in comparison with the level in 2021 (equivalent to a reduction of 50% compared to 2013). Furthermore, we will promote the provision of products and services to achieve a carbon-free society, aiming for sustainable synergetic development with society.
Okura Industrial Group Environmental Policy
We will protect our irreplaceable global environment and promote business activities that contribute to the sustainable synergetic development of corporations and society.
Okura Industrial Group Environmental Conduct Policies
Environmental Management
By operating the Okura Industrial Group Environmental Management System based on ISO 14001, we have addressed a variety of issues, including compliance with environmental laws and regulations, climate change, energy conservation, resource conservation, and environmental pollution. We will continue to operate the Okura Industrial Group Environmental Management System and to provide safe and reliable products through continuous improvements by all employees.
Scope of ISO 14001 certification and Environmental Management System
Scope of ISO 14001 certification (contents of the appendix)
| Division | Business site | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant. etc. | Subsidiary. etc. | |
| Plastic Film Division | Marugame No. 4 Plant Marugame No. 5 Plant |
Okura Pack Kagawa Co., Ltd. |
| New Materials Division | B Building | |
| Building Materials Division | Takuma Plant | Otomo Kasei Co., Ltd. |
| Corporate Center | Environmental Management Department | |
【Certification Number】JCQA-E-0900
【Registration Date】October 25, 2010
【Recertification Date】October 25, 2022
【Expiry Date】October 24, 2025
Scope of Environmental Management System
| Division | Business site | |
|---|---|---|
| Plant. etc. | Subsidiary. etc. | |
| Plastic Film Division |
Each business unit and each department Marugame No. 4 Plant Marugame No. 5 Plant Chunan Plant Tokyo Branch Office Nagoya Branch Office Osaka Branch Office Hiroshima Sales Office Shikoku Sales Office |
KS Okura Co., Ltd. Kyushu Okura Co., Ltd. Saitama Okura Co., Ltd. Okura Products Co., Ltd. Union Gravure Co., Ltd. Okura Pack Kagawa Co., Ltd. Kanto Co., Ltd. |
| New Materials Division |
Teams within each business unit Each department |
Y.S.CHEMI-TECH Co., Ltd. |
| Building Materials Division |
Planning and Management Department Plants within each buiness unit and each department |
Okura Precut System Co., Ltd. Okura House Co., Ltd. Otomo Kasei Co., Ltd. Shinohara Forestry Co., Ltd. |
| Research & Development Center | Each department | |
| Corporate Center |
Each department DX Promotion Office |
|
| Other | Internal Control / Audit Office |
Okura Hotel Co., Ltd. Okura Information System Co., Ltd. Okura Sangyo Co., Ltd. O.L.S. Co., Ltd. Okura Health Insurance Association |
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations
-
Okura Industrial Group operates the Environmental Management System (EMS) in conformity to ISO 14001:2015. The compliance with legal restraints (laws and regulations, and ordinances) is one of various requirements specified by this EMS.
The Group recognizes that the compliance with environmental legal restraints is an especially important point from a perspective of compliance. Accordingly, in order to achieve it at all business sites in the Group, we have established the following mechanisms. -
・Preparation of check sheet
As major environmental laws and regulations, we selected especially important 31 laws and regulations such as Air Pollution Control Act and Water Pollution Prevention Act. In order to confirm the status of compliance with each of them, we prepare a check sheet. Also, in relation to environmental ordinances provided for by prefectures and municipalities where the Group’s business sites are located, each of the business sites prepares check sheets for relevant ordinances.
All business sites within the Group are required to confirm the status of compliance with laws and regulations, and ordinances through the check sheets twice a year. -
Implementation of measures to be checked mainly by the Corporate Center
In addition to the periodical confirmation by each business site, we conduct measures, mainly by the Corporate Center, to confirm the check sheets together with responsible personnel of the business site, and educate employees on environmental laws and regulations. Through these measures, they confirm the check sheets including explanations of the laws and regulations, thereby confirming compliance with laws and regulations while endeavoring to improve responsible personnel’s capabilities. At the same time, we also conduct on-site checks at each business site to make sure that the storage of various fuels, waste storage areas, and facilities in the plants are managed in a manner that complies with laws and regulations.
More than a decade has passed since the operation of EMS started. Aiming at a more sophisticated system for compliance with legal restraints, we will further brush up these measures.
Environmental Management System
We appoint Chief Executive Environment Administrator responsible for management of EMS of Okura Industrial Group and Chief Environment Administrator for Division in each division to improve environmental performance.
Environmental management system
Environmental Education System
Okura Industrial Group has established Environmental Management Rules to operate EMS, clarified capabilities necessary for EMS operation, and systematically implemented education. Preparing programs which summarized basic contents related to SDGs and climate change, “SDGs training” and “Climate change and measures therefor”, we provide all employees with education using e-learning, etc. Additionally, for employees engaged in operations related to the environment (EMS-related parties), we provide e-learning on “Environmental legal restraints” to help them deepen their knowledge on environmental laws and regulations.
EMS capability list
| Item | Required capabilities | Subject person |
|---|---|---|
| Okura Industrial Group Environmental Policy and Environmental Conduct Policies |
Understand details stated in Okura Industrial Group Environmental Policy and Environmental Conduct Policies | All employees |
| Okura Industrial Group Environmental Objectives | Understand medium- and long-term goals stated in the Okura Industrial Group Environmental Objectives | All employees |
| Environmental Management Rules | Understand the Environmental Management Rules defining Okura Industrial Group’s EMS | EMS-related parties |
| Each type of EMS procedure manual | Understand each type of EMS procedure manual which is a subordinate document of the Environmental Management Rules | EMS-related parties |
| SDGs training | Understand basic contents of SDGs through e-learning | All employees |
| Climate change and measures therefor | Understand the latest issues related to climate change and countermeasures therefor through e-learning | All employees |
| Introductory environmental education | Understand EMS in general through e-learning | All employees |
| Environmental legal restraints | Understand the obligations, penalties, and other aspects of legal restrains in each field (air, water quality, etc.) through e-learning | EMS-related parties |
Environmental Action Plan
In order to realize Okura Industrial Group Environmental Policy, the Group has set the Group Environmental Objectives every three years in time with a period of the medium-term management plan. Based on this, each division sets three-year environmental objectives, and each business site under divisions sets one-year environmental targets. In addition, action plans are formulated to achieve them. Progress in the plan is voluntarily managed by each business site, and its achievement is confirmed through a management review to be implemented semiannually.
Material Flows
Climate Change/Energy Conservation
Okura Industrial Group has worked on thorough energy saving activities, upgrading old facilities to highly efficient ones, introducing renewable energy, and reducing waste plastics to be simply burned, in order to decrease CO2 emissions which have impacts on the global warming. The Group will also proceed with countermeasures for risks which were clarified in the scenario analysis for information disclosure in accordance with the TCFD recommendations.
Reducing CO2 emissions through the renewal of gravure printing presses
Gravure printing presses at Marugame No. 5 Plant
Introducing renewable energy
As part of “promoting management for decarbonization (climate action measures)”, Okura Industrial Group is pursuing the introduction of renewable energy. In July 2023, we began operation of photovoltaic power systems (PPA model) at the Package-manufacturing Plant in Kyushu Okura. This was followed in February 2024 by the board press line building and the former sports ground in the Takuma Plant and the New Materials Division’s C Building. Annual CO2 reductions are expected to be 479 t-CO2 for Kyushu Okura, 1,198 t-CO2 for the Takuma Plant, and 307 t-CO2 for the New Materials Division’s C Building. Including the plant in KS Okura’s head office and the New Materials Division’s D Building, whose photovoltaic power systems began operation in 2023, CO2 reductions in 2023 were approximately 870 t-CO2.
We also plan to install photovoltaic power systems in other plants and are working to achieve our environmental objectives.
Kyushu Okura (Package-manufacturing Plant)
Takuma Plant (board press line building)
Takuma Plant (former sports ground)
New Materials Division’s C Building
Topics
Received the Kagawa Decarbonization Initiative Excellence Award
Kagawa Prefecture has set the target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from within the prefecture by 2050. To promote initiatives that will lead to the prefecture’s decarbonization, the Kagawa Decarbonization Promotion Business Award Program awards enterprises within the prefecture that are implementing outstanding initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions. Okura Industrial Group was recognized for its contribution to reducing CO2 emissions by installing a waste heat recovery system and high-efficiency motors when it renewed the gravure printing presses at the Marugame No. 5 Plant, as well as its initiatives to introduce renewable energy by adopting a photovoltaic power generation system using the PPA model at the New Materials Division’s D Building.
Initiatives in logisticsIncrease efficiency in logistics (shipping) and reduce CO2 emissions therefrom
While not having a logistics/transportation division, Okura Industrial Group ships over 30 million ton-kilometers per year. Therefore, the Group falls under a specified consignor set forth in the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use. As a medium-term guideline, the Group targets the reduction of CO2 emissions generated through logistics networks we use by increasing efficiency in logistics related to product shipments and waste transportation. Going forward, we will strive to reduce environmental burdens, taking measures such as close cooperation with logistics providers, decreasing non-constant shipping with an efficient shipping plan, collectively transporting products for destinations in the same direction, and reducing the use of charter services.
Water Risks
In Kagawa that belongs to Seto Inland Sea climate, as there is a small amount of rainfall through a year, drought tends to occur frequently and for a long period. In addition, it has been required to enhance a crisis-management system in an emergency in preparation for the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake, which is expected to occur within 30 years with a probability of 70 to 80%. As a medium-term guideline, Okura Industrial Group has decided to set a target of, by 2024, reducing the water consumption intensity 3% or more from 2021, by appropriately managing water resources.
３R
Okura Industrial Group works, through the supply chain, to reduce amounts of packaging materials and products that end up as waste. Also, aiming at zero plastic waste, we will promote in-house recycling of plastic loss generated within the Group.
Issues to address
- Reducing the amount of waste throughout the supply chain
Striving and achieving success in making products thinner
Recycling waste plastics by recovering and cleansing - Expansion of in-house recycling system
Recycling into secondary materials for internal use and transforming to solid fuel
Reducing waste from plants largely
In order to reduce as many unused (simply burned or buried) waste plastics as possible, we have collected information on business operators engaged in recycling, and shared the information within the Company.
As a medium-term guideline, Okura Industrial Group has set a target of increasing the recycling rate of waste plastics to 80% or more by 2024. To achieve the target, we use a waste management system to calculate the recycling rate and manage progress.
Reducing marine plastics
Recovering waste materials after use, and promoting recycling
Okura Industrial Group will put emphasis on development and commercialization of biodegradable films which are decomposed in natural environment, in order to reduce plastics which run out into the sea. A decomposition rate of the biodegradable film largely depends on an environment. In addition, depending on the resin used, some processes such as sealing may be difficult. To solve such issues, we will offer biodegradable films which meet customers’ needs, using knowledge on resin blending and formulation of additives, etc., as well as manufacturing know-how that we have cultivated as a processor.
We will aim to solve marine plastic issues using the Group’s technological abilities.
Environmental Contribution Products
-
Ecocalmulch
We have made mechanical recycling of used agricultural plastics a reality. Ecocalmulch reduces the environmental impact, compared with thermal energy recovery.
Special Feature -
Solventless acrylic adhesive YUMEN Series
YUMEN Series is environment-friendly, Solventless Low Odor Acrylic Adhesive applied Okura’s proprietary chemical technology and not using organic solvent.
Product Information -
Endo barrier™
The patient stays in a box, and the inserted continuous suction tube forms a negative pressure. This virus infection prevention system for endoscopy prevents droplets from spreading in the examination room and makes endoscopy safer.
Special Feature
Okura Board
“Okura Board”, which is made mainly of waste wood such as construction waste, contributes to a recycling-oriented society by recycling materials to effectively use resources. In comparison with thermal energy recovery in which energy source is obtained by burning waste wood, “Okura Board” contributes to the prevention of the global warming, by curbing CO2 emissions through cascade use of wood materials in which waste wood is recycled to a product.
Carbon storage in Okura Board production
Production of Okura Board in FY2023 was approx. 130,000 tons, with carbon storage (CO2 equivalent) of approx. 180,000 tons*1. Even in consideration of CO2 emissions generated in production activities at Takuma Plant, a manufacturing site, approx. 160,000 tons of CO2 per year is supposed to be stored. It corresponds to an amount of CO2 absorbed by approx. 21 million 40-year-old cedars per year (approx. 21,000 ha)*2.
- *1Calculated with the calculation method for carbon storage set forth in the Guideline for the Labelling of Carbon Stored in Wood Used for Buildings issued by Forestry Agency
- *2Calculated in reference to a website of Forestry Agency “How much do forests absorb carbon dioxide?”
