Promotion of EMS (Environment Management System)
ISO14001 Certified
Acquisition of ISO14001 certification
The Kikkoman Group believes that ISO14001 set out by the International Organization for Standardization is an effective tool for promoting our environment management system, and when the Kikkoman Noda Plant (currently the Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Company) acquired the certification in May 1997.
In June 2011, the Kikkoman Group obtained the multi-site ISO14001 certification for its major facilities in Japan and further strengthened its environment management system.
Following the drastic amendments to the ISO14001 in September 2015, the Kikkoman Group renewed its existing environment management system (EMS) to comply with the new international standards (ISO14001:2015) and included a plan to train auditors who are qualified to conduct internal audits accordingly. In June 2017, the group re-acquired the certification in compliant with the new standards.
Practice of ISO14001
The Kikkoman Group regularly organizes meetings inviting managers from its group companies, establishments, and environment-related facilities (including wastewater treatment and industrial waste storage facilities) to exchange information with the ISO14001 Secretariat members and facilitate their interaction, as well as to share various environment-related matters, such as implementation and amendments of laws and regulations, ISO14001-compliant practice at other establishments, the operating status or problems at environment-related facilities, know-how and new technologies to prevent pollution and conserve environment.
（November 2024 at Hokkaido Kikkoman Co.）
The environmental close-call incident report requires reporting of incidents that could potentially result in environmental pollution or other problems during corporate activities. The term “close-call” refers to events that elicit fear or anxiety in the workplace. When an environmental close-call occurs, the workplace must investigate the cause of the incident, consider measures to prevent recurrence, and summarize a report. The members of each workplace can learn from these reports distributed and enhance its ability to prevent environmental pollution and other problems.
Audit to maintain ISO14001 certification
We are working to further improve the level of environmental management by regularly renewing and maintaining ISO14001 certification by an external certification body, as well as promoting the sharing of information among business sites through horizontal deployment of audit results.
(April 2023 at Kikkoman R&D Center)
(April 2023 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
ISO 14001 Certification Training for Internal Auditors
In September 2024, we held a certification training for internal environmental auditors, inviting a specialized lecturer from outside the company. This time, the same training was held for different audiences, with the morning session held in a group format and the afternoon session held remotely.
A total of 47 employees from Kikkoman Group companies participated in the course, learning about the Environmental Management System (EMS), ISO 14001 requirements, and internal environmental audits, and became new internal environmental auditors.
(September 2023 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
(September 2024 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
ISO 14001 Intensive Courses
In 2022, we conducted an 11.5-hour long intensive course (split into five sessions over two months) where internal auditors (including the candidates) in the group companies can learn about the detailed operations in line with the ISO14001:2015, such as goal settings, compliance, performance measurement, and risk management, in order to further enhance the EMS practices on site. Kikkoman Foodtech Company, a manufacturer of seasonings, held an intensive course between May and July with 14 participants from its four plants. They confirmed problems unique to each plant even for the same production process and acknowledged the importance of preparing plant-specific manuals and establishing a sustainable system.
ISO Intensive Courses
(May 2022 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
Collaborative Workshops with the ISO14001 Area EMS Office
In fiscal year 2024, Kikkoman Environment Department employees served as lecturers for collaborative workshops targeting the EMS office at each business location within the Kikkoman Group. The goals of these workshops were:
- ISO14001: Understand the 2015 standard requirements
- Understand and confirm area manuals and management regulations
- Strengthen communication between participants
（Nagareyama Kikkoman Co.,October 2024）
（Kikkoman Soyfoods Co. Gifu Plant,October 2024）
Responsible Industrial Waste Processing
The Kikkoman Group sorts industrial waste, whilst reducing and recycling waste products to the furthest extent possible. In Japan, we use specialized collection and transportation companies as well as intermediate treatment facilities which have obtained government permission to conduct these services. Furthermore, we have established the “Kikkoman Group Waste Guidelines” to commit to responsible processing. During FY 2023, there were no instances of serious wastewater or waste material leaks, nor occurrences of pollution or environmental damage during the transport of hazardous waste materials within the Kikkoman Group.
Guidelines for Waste Disposal
The Kikkoman Environment Department has set forth guidelines for our entire group to facilitate the continuance of responsible processing in compliance with laws and regulations (Waste Management Laws) for the processing and clean-up of waste materials. As these guidelines cover basic directives beginning with the storage of waste materials (including valuable waste materials) to the confirmation of extraction and final disposal completion, in addition to complying with waste material processing regulations and other relevant laws, they also stipulate Kikkoman Group rules for:
○ Issues that are difficult to determine or address under existing laws and regulations
○ Actions (compliance) that go beyond the legal requirements of the waste generator
Furthermore, these guidelines are subject to periodic reviews and revised as necessary when relevant laws and regulations are amended.
On-Site Verification of Industrial Waste Disposal Contractors
To determine the final processing (landfilling or sale as resource) of industrial waste generated within the Kikkoman Group, planned visits are made to industrial waste processing facilities to conduct on-site verification.
We will continue to conduct on-site verifications to ensure the responsible processing of industrial waste.
Informal Meetings with Industrial Waste Disposal Contractors
To strengthen shared compliance with laws and regulations, the Kikkoman Environment Department holds informal meetings with contracted industrial waste disposal companies. In November of 2021, we held our 4th informal meeting, receiving participation from ten of our major contractors. During the meeting we affirmed the importance of industrial waste disposal support to the Kikkoman Group operations and exchanged opinions on the importance of compliance with laws and regulations. We also discussed the state of internal management necessary for maintaining sustainable business contracts, using case examples of bankrupted processing businesses.
Informal Meeting with Industrial Waste Disposal Contractors
(Kikkoman Noda Head Office, November 2021)
Industrial Waste Management Training
“Industrial Waste Management Training” is conducted for industrial waste managers, primarily those at major domestic offices in Japan. For the training, we invite external experts and compile a wide array of learning content that covers industrial waste classification, relevant laws and regulations, disposer responsibilities, selection of collection, transport, and disposal contractors, outsourcing contracts, handling of industrial waste management slips and electronic manifests, as well as basic management requirements and the latest technology. After the training, a test is conducted to assess the participants' proficiency and competence.
Industrial Waste Management Training
(Kikkoman Noda Head Office, November 2024)
Environmental Orientation for Employees
Training for New Employees
(April 2024 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
(April 2024 at Noda Head Office of Kikkoman)
The Environmental Department of Kikkoman provides training for newly hired employees to promote awareness of environment-related issues and to familiarize themselves with the basics of them. In April 2024, the training session was held for new employees, where they highlighted environment-related issues on a global scale, clarified the Kikkoman Group’s vision and its implemented measures toward resolving such issues, along with the results.
Overseas Visits and Environmental Education for Employees
The Environment Department of Kikkoman chooses one of the overseas regions every year and sends their members to visit the Kikkoman Group's production sites within the region, inspect the environment-related facilities, and provide lectures on environmental matters to employees.
| North America and South America (FY2022) |
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|---|---|
| Asia Region (FY2023) |
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| Europe Region (FY2024) |
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(September 2022 at KDB in Brazil)
(September 2022 at KFI in USA)
(September 2023 at KSP in Singapore)
(September 2023 at SDM in Thailand)
(October 2024 at KFE in The Netherlands)
Environmental education for employees overseas
(October 2024 at JFCEU in Germany)
The Training for Wastewater Treatment Facility Managers
The Training for Wastewater Treatment Facility Managers is a training program for managers of wastewater treatment facilities at the Kikkoman Group's major domestic business sites, where they receive lectures on the latest technologies from experts every year. In FY2024, in addition to the preliminary e-learning and face-to-face training sessions, participants visited the Kurita Innovation Hub, the research and development base of Kurita Water Industries Ltd. and toured the state-of-the-art facilities related to water and the environment.
Training for Wastewater Treatment Facility Managers（July 2024 at Kurita Innovation Hub）
External Evaluations
The Kikkoman Group actively participates in surveys conducted by outside organizations and uses their unbiased and subjective evaluations as a goal to improve and renew its environmental conservation activities.
NIKKEI SDGs Management Survey
In the 2024 survey, the Kikkoman Group received a 4-star rating (standard score of 60.0). Specifically, our standard score for environmental value was 62.5, with high evaluations for the indicators of "Initiatives towards decarbonization" and "Monitoring and reduction of electricity consumption."
Toyo Keizai Corporate CSR Ranking
In the 2025 edition of the Toyo Keizai Corporate CSR Rankings, an evaluation encompassing both financial and social responsibility (CSR) aspects, the Kikkoman Group received a score of 91.3 for the category of “Environment”, ranking 71th among listed companies. Our overall CSR ranking (listed companies) was 165nd, ranking 7th among food production companies.
CDP
A non-profit organization headquartered in the United Kingdom, the CDP’s main activities are to request disclosure of environmental impact countermeasures from companies and public authorities and promote these countermeasures through disclosure.
In 2024, the Kikkoman Group responded to questionnaires on “Climate Change”, “Forests” and “Water Security”, and was selected for the “A List”, the highest score, for “Water Security”.
Furthermore, we received a “B” score for “Climate Change”, as well as a “B” score for “Forests”, which we responded to for the first time.