*The period of calculation for our environmental performance data was April to March, from FY2011 to FY2014. This was changed to January to December in FY2015, reflecting the change in the fiscal year end.

Achievement and Maintenance of Zero Emissions

Kagome does not waste agricultural products as ingredients as a fundamental policy, and strives to reduce and recycle by-products. In FY2001, we achieved a 100% recycling rate for vegetable-derived by-products and sludge and have been working to maintain this ever since.
In FY2005, we achieved zero emissions* at six of our plants. This has been maintained, except in FY2011 and FY2012 when we were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
*Based on Kagome's own standards, achievement of zero emissions is defined as achieving a recycling rate of by-products at 99% or higher.

Emission of By-Products

In FY2016, the total volume of by-products from our plants in Japan increased approx. 11% from FY2015, to 10,998 tons. The volume per unit of production increased approx. 8.1% year on year, to 27.9 kg/kl.

Compliance with the Food Recycling Act

Act on Promotion of Recycling and Related Activities for Treatment of Cyclical Food Resources (Food Recycling Act) makes it mandatory for food-related business operators to control the emission of food waste and others and also promotes effective use (recycling) of such waste as a resource. Target recycling rates of 85% and 95% (to be achieved by 2014 and 2019, respectively) have been set for food manufacturers.
In response, Kagome has been making company-wide efforts by involving its production, administration, sales, and other departments, aiming to achieve a 95% food-recycling rate by recycling by-products and waste products. Specific measures include stricter segregation of waste and selection of waste disposal service providers capable of recycling waste.
In FY2016, the rate of recycling of cyclical food resources at Kagome declined to 94.5% due to the replacement of the waste disposal service provider.
We will continue to strive to control waste generation and increase the waste recycling rate.

Recycling Center

Kagome has established a recycling center on the premises of each plant to recycle by-products generated in the production process.
For example, at Fujimi Plant, we painstakingly separate ingredient containers such as drum cans and plastic containers, as well as scrap metal and other materials, into as many as 63 items in 19 different categories. We store it in the recycling center as valuable recyclable materials until it is collected by the disposal service providers. In addition, the stored waste is highly visible from the outside. Therefore we ensure that it is separated and arranged properly.