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Water Resource Initiatives

Basic approach

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

Water management

We recognize that our business activities are very closely linked to water resources, so we are carrying out initiatives aimed at using these resources effectively, as well as risk assessments.
Within our business activities, the volume of water used in the flour milling business is relatively low, but a certain amount of water is needed for the processed foods business, and prepared foods and other prepared foods business. We are conscious of this issue and under our Environmental Basic Policy, we promote environmental protection such as using water resources effectively, reducing water use volumes, and preventing water pollution.

Medium/Long-term Targets

To address against future water resource shortages, in fiscal 2021 the Nisshin Seifun Group set medium-term targets to be achieved by fiscal 2040. We work for reducing water consumption in our production processes by identifying locations and processes where water can be reduced throughout our group and by reviewing water usage methods.We will also work with our partners at all stages of our supply chain to ensure effective utilization of this finite resource.

Targets

Target for fiscal 2040:
  • Reduction of the amount of water used in plants per unit of production by 30% compared with the fiscal 2022 level
  • This target applies to group companies in Japan and overseas.
  • We have set targets for each region based on the water supply risk level. We aim to halve the amounts of water used in regions with particularly high water risk levels.
Specific water withdrawal per production unit (m3/t)
FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 FY2041
(Target year)
1.14 1.09 1.05 0.86

Specific water withdrawal: Excluding the water that unable to reduce such as by incorporated into products

Overview of water use

We have major production sites in eleven countries, and we monitor the water use volumes and effluent drainage routes of all manufacturing sites in line with Group management standards. In addition to the daily management of water conservation and leakage prevention, we are also working to reduce water use and wastewater per production unit through initiatives such as concentrating production into highly efficient production lines, adjusting our product mix, and carefully planning production. Going forward, we will set targets using appropriate indicators for our Group’s operations in order to making water usage even more effective.

Water use and effluent load

In our flour milling business, we mainly use a dry milling process which uses an extremely small amount of water relative to production volumes.
All our businesses are equipped with wastewater treatment facilities, and we work to perform appropriate management that uses water as effectively as possible.
We will continue to prioritize circular water use and the use of recycled water.

Group total water use (thousand m3) and per unit water use
Domestic water discharge (thousand m3) and per unit discharge
BOD (t)* BOD (biochemical oxygen demand)

Details of environmental data (6.1MB)

Taking care with water resource

Since fiscal 2018, we have been using Aqueduct, an evaluation tool developed by the World Resources Institute, to regularly evaluate water stress and water risk at all manufacturing sites in Japan and overseas and in the regions from which we source raw materials.

Scope of evaluations

Primary raw material sourcing regions: Sourcing regions in eight countries including Japan
Group manufacturing sites: 54 in Japan and 34 overseas*

* As of the end of March, 2021

Carrying out water risk evaluations

The results of water risk evaluations have shown that none of our raw material sourcing regions are at extremely high risk. In order to achieve safe and secure procurement, we conduct supplier evaluations based on our own Group standards and maintain regular communication with business partners, including through site inspections.
At our manufacturing sites in China, which have a relatively high level of water risk compared to sites in other countries, we have found that water stress levels are high. As our production at these sites does not require large volumes of water, this is not a major concern at present, but we monitor water use at each site and strive to reduce per unit water use at sites where it is particularly high.

Water risk in raw material sourcing regions
Referenced Aqueduct 3.0 (2019)
Water stress assessments at production sites (FY2023)
Group-wide Areas with high water stress