Under its corporate slogan, “In order for people to be healthy, everything around them must also be healthy,” the Yakult Group formulated the Environmental Vision 2050 in 2021 to provide further clarification on how it will contribute to realizing a society where people and the planet co-exist as one. Concomitantly, it has decided to aim for corporate management to realize “a value chain that has zero environmental impact.” In addition, to ensure that the Company pursues effective initiatives based on this vision, it utilized backcasting1and included quantitative targets in its formulation of Environmental Targets 2030 and Environmental Actions (2021–2024). In doing so, the Company specified its materiality (important issues) as “climate change,” “plastic containers and packaging” and “water.”
By the end of the period for Environmental Actions (2021–2024), the Company was able to achieve its reduction targets for “climate change” and “water.” However, the significant increase in sales volume prevented the achievement of the targets for “plastic containers and packaging.” Considering progress made and recent societal circumstances, the Company examined new targets for FY2025 and beyond and revised “Environmental Targets 2030.”
When considering the new targets, the Company first expanded the scope of the targets to include all consolidated subsidiaries in Japan and overseas, in addition to the previous scope: corporate headquarters (non-consolidated) and bottling companies in Japan. The Company also reviewed its materiality related to environmental issues and added “biodiversity conservation” to reflect the impact of its business on the natural environment. To facilitate understanding by stakeholders, the terms used for already existing materiality issues have been changed to “Climate change mitigation and adaptation,” “Transition to sustainable plastic containers and packaging,” and “Sustainable water source management.”
Materiality (important issues) | Targets |
Climate change mitigation and adaptation | (Before revision)
|
(After revision) [Scope: Corporate headquarters and all domestic and international consolidated subsidiaries]
| |
Transition to sustainable plastic containers and packaging | (Before revision) Reduce plastic containers and packaging usage (in Japan) by 30% compared to FY2018 levels, or make them recyclable |
(After revision)
| |
Sustainable water source management | (Before revision) Reduce water consumption per production unit at dairy product plants in Japan by 10% compared to the level in FY2018 |
(After revision)
|
water source conservation4activities targeting the amount of water used in products manufactured in FY2030 (at dairy product plants in Japan and overseas) | |
Biodiversity conservation (new) |
impact reduction measures |
Environmental Targets 2030 before revision are listed in Sustainability Report 2024. https://www.yakult.co.jp/english/pdf/sustainability2024_en.pdf#page=22
Backcasting
A way of thinking that starts with envisioning the desired future and then works backward to identify the necessary steps and actions to be taken now to achieve that future
Scopes 1, 2, and 3
Framework for classifying greenhouse gas emissions by source (Simple definitions based on the GHG Protocol)
Scope 1: Direct emissions from fuel used for company’s own business activities
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from generation of electricity, steam and heat purchased from outside company
Scope 3: Emissions from across supply chain related to company’s business activities
FLAG
An acronym for Forest, Land, and Agriculture. It encompasses emissions from land use changes and land management.
Water source conservation activities
Activities to carry out management, tree planting and soil protection in forests located at water sources to maintain and improve the functions of forests to absorb rainwater and slowly supply it to groundwater and rivers.