Conservation of Biodiversity
Nature’s bounty has been the basis of our business since the Edo period. Soybeans from Hitachi Province, present-day Ibaraki Prefecture, wheat from Shimosa Plateau, present-day Chiba Prefecture, Joshu, present-day Gunma Prefecture, and Sagami, present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, as well as salt from Gyotoku, present-day Ichikawa City, and Ako, currently also Hyogo Prefecture, transported to Noda via the Edo River were each gifted by nature to produce Kikkoman Soy Sauce. And it does not end there. The Edo River made it possible to ship our soy sauce on boats departing from Noda, Chiba Prefecture, in the morning and arriving at Nihonbashi, Tokyo, by noon. Furthermore, water from the Edo River was suitable for soy sauce production and helped ensure the high quality of Kikkoman Soy Sauce. The Japanese cedar and bamboo used for casks were also sourced from nature.
Nature’s blessings, including the Edo River, have contributed immeasurably to our soy sauce production in Noda. Rooted in Kikkoman’s long history is our environmental philosophy to “respect the workings of nature and contribute to the realization of a society comfortable to live in through our corporate activities keeping harmony with the environment”. Moreover, Kikkoman Group companies use the naturally occurring raw materials of soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, grapes, seaweed, salt, koji mold and more, as ingredients for our products. A flourishing, vibrant natural environment is vital to the Kikkoman Group. Therefore, we place great importance on people, resources, and climate when addressing environmental issues that call for coexistence with nature and harmony with society. We view this as a first step to “become a company whose existence is meaningful to society”, throughout the world.
１）Participation in the Biodiversity Chiba Company Network
Biodiversity Satellite Station (Kikkoman Soy Sauce Museum)
In April 2013, Chiba Prefecture, where the Kikkoman Noda Head Office is located, launched the “Biodiversity Chiba Company Network” in cooperation with the public and private sectors, to support and strengthen initiatives by municipalities, corporations, nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and educational research institutions aiming at conservation and the sustainable utilization of biodiversity. Kikkoman has participated in this network since its launch. A new information corner, the “Biodiversity Satellite Station”, has been set up inside of the Kikkoman Soy Sauce Museum, where tours are also available, to communicate to visitors the importance of biodiversity.
２）Support for the creation of Kingfisher Lake in Singapore and dedication of the natural heritage “Rain Tree” (Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP))
In 2010, Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP), the Kikkoman group’s production base in Singapore, supported the construction of Kingfisher Lake, which has an environmentally friendly water purification system that utilizes nature within the park, such as aquatic plants, and is located inside “Gardens by the Bay”, a park in Singapore, to commemorate the 25th anniversary since the company’s founding.
The natural heritage “Rain Tree” dedicated by the Singaporean government
This support was highly evaluated, and in recognition of KSP as a corporation which has contributed to the promotion of beautification and greening in Singapore, the government dedicated a natural heritage “Rain Tree” (80 years old) planted in the Fort Canning Park to KSP.
３）Contribution to water quality preservation project in the Netherlands and EDEN Award 2013 (Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V. (KFE))
Since 2000, Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V. (KFE), the Kikkoman Group’s soy sauce production site in Europe, located in Groningen state of the Netherlands, has been a main sponsor of the “water quality improvement project of Zuidlaardermeer (Lake of Zuidlaren) in Groningen state” launched by a local environmental conservation organization with support from the EU and the government of the Netherlands. Donations from KFE were used to pursue this project that includes introduction and management of the Kikkoman Windmill to pump lake water and promote flow into a purification channel, resulting in remarkable achievement of water quality improvement and recovery of wildlife species inhabiting the lake.
In FY2013, these ongoing environmental conservation activities by KFE received high recognition from the government of the Netherlands, and KFE was selected as a winner of the EDEN Award 2013. In FY2017, and in commemoration of the 20th anniversary since founding, KFE committed to continued support of this project.
４）Support for mangrove tree planting program in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP))
Singapore has seen a decline in mangrove forests resulting in the threat of extinction for rare species of tropical plants and animals. The Singapore government is taking proactive measures to address this situation. One example is a mangrove planting program that began in 2015 along the coastline of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a natural reserve located in northern Singapore. In commemoration of the 30th anniversary since its founding, Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP) , the Kikkoman group’s production base in Singapore, donated 500,000 Singapore dollars to support nature conservation activities. such as this planting program, as well as environmental education.
KSP employees and their families participating in planting
(Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, July 2018)
Once a portion of mangrove trees donated by KSP had grown to a good size for planting, KSP employees and their families volunteered to plant these in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve during FY2017-2018.
5）Support for water purification project (Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP))
Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. (KSP), the Kikkoman group’s production base in Singapore, supports the goals and initiatives of the local urban park, “Gardens by the Bay”, in development by the Singaporean government. These goals and initiatives include improvements to the local waterways through purification efforts for water environments inhabited by aquatic plants and animals.
Kingfisher Wetlands
In 2021, and in commemoration of its 35th anniversary since founding, KSP contributed 500,000 Singapore dollars to support the development of “Kingfisher Wetlands”, a nature sanctuary for mangroves and wild birds, adjacent to Kingfisher Lake, for which KSP provides ongoing support. This support contributes to Singapore’s efforts for water purification and decarbonization, and embodies the Kikkoman Group environmental principles of harmony with nature and realization of a sustainable society.