Food Environment (Water and sourcing)
The Kikkoman Group and "water"
"Water" is one of the determinant factors of the quality of Kikkoman Group’s products such as soy sauce. For the Kikkoman Group, "water" plays a critical role in producing products and its raw ingredients (agricultural produce). It is no exaggeration to state that the Kikkoman Group’s business is supported by "water."
Kikkoman has directed attention toward quality of water since its foundation. We dug a well in the plant and developed facilities to treat water on our own. With enhancements of these facilities, the factory realized an overproduction of clean water and started supplying water to houses in Noda City where the plant was located in 1923. This water supply business continued for 52 years until when it was transfered to Noda City in April 1975. Kikkoman was supplying water to 24,000 residents (5,740 households).
"Water" is precious social resources and we are aware that water conservation is a critical issue.
The Kikkoman Group pursues approaches diligently to make effective use of water and reduce environmental burdens.
Approaches to reduce water consumption
The Kikkoman Group has been striving to reduce the amount of water used in the production bases. We measure the amount of water used during the production activities and control the amount of water in total and per production unit. Based on these dates, we review the existing production processes and introduce more effective measures for saving water.
Reuse of cooling water
Hokkaido Kikkoman Co. thoroughly reuses the clean water used for cooling process to clean equipment in the plant with the aim of reducing the amount of water consumption per production unit.
Reexamination of the humidification method in the koji making room
In FY2018, we reviewed the humidification method in the koji making room at Kikkoman Food Products Co. (First Production Department, Noda Factory) by changing the specification and layout of the equipment. This initiative resulted in reducing the amount of water used in this process by appx. 22,320㎥ per year. This measure is also expected to reduce the use of electricity by shortening the operating hours of compressors.
Inside of the circular koji making room (First Production Department, Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Co.)
Improvement of the CIP cleaning program for plate heaters
In 2022, we reviewed the "rinsing" and "washing" processes in the CIP cleaning program (in-place cleaning process) at Kikkoman Food Products Co. (Second Production Department, Noda Factory) and found the possibility of reducing the amount of water for washing process. Therefore, after investigating the amount of water used in each process, the program was reexamined from the sight of optimization and efficiency in cooperation with the chemical manufacturer for the CIP. As a result, we succeeded in reducing water usage by 56% and process time by 69 minutes.
A plate heater (Second Production Department, Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Co.)
Reduction of water consumption by improving equipment capacity and optimizing the use of cooling and cleaning water
In 2022, employees in charge of ISO in Kikkoman Foodtech Co., Ltd. (Nishinippon Plant) held discussions to optimize the amount of water used there. They promoted efficiency improvement and waste reduction in some processes such as mixing tanks, cooling valves and line cleaning, resulting in reducing the water usage by 3,800㎥compared to FY2020.
Water Usage Reduction by Switch from Water to Air for Oil Cooling Method
While monitoring oil temperature transitions, we have decreased the volume of cooling water used at the Kikkoman Soyfoods Company Ibaraki Plant, reducing water usage for oil cooling. Furthermore, we confirmed that an alternative cooling method using air-cooling is possible. By introducing an air-cooled oil cooler and switching our cooling method, we have been able to reduce water usage by 1,600 m2 (about 17,222 ft2) per year.
Initiatives for Water Conservation
The Kikkoman Group places great importance on water conservation. We have set self-imposed guidelines for water quality standards, including BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of wastewater generated by production activities, that are stricter than those governed by law. We are striving to conserve water environments surrounding our production bases (plants), by reviewing manufacturing processes and equipment, and implementing efficient measures.
Implementation of Ozone Reactor
In October 2013, the Second Production Department at the Noda Factory of the Kikkoman Food Products Company installed an ozone reactor in its wastewater treatment facility as an improvement to further purify treated water before releasing it into the river.
(Second Production Department, Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Company)
(Second Production Department, Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Company)
Participation in Simultaneous Survey of Tokyo Bay Environment
Since 2009, the Kikkoman Group has annually participated in the “Simultaneous Survey of Tokyo Bay Environment” conducted by the Tokyo Bay Renaissance Promotion Council Monitoring Subcommittee, etc. This survey targets Tokyo Bay as well as rivers, lakes and coastal facilities that flow into the bay to clarify mechanisms of pollution impacting the Tokyo Bay. The Kikkoman Group conducts water quality surveying for effluent (treated water) released from its wastewater treatment facility located along the Edo River and shares these results.
August 2023, Noda Factory, Third Production Department Lagoon: Water quality surveying for effluent (treated water)
Facility Upgrades Lead to Reduced Wastewater Chemical Usage
In 2023, we upgraded two screens at Siam Del Monte Company Limited, located in Thailand, to prevent the flow of corn kernels, a raw ingredient, into the drainage basin. As a result, BOD in wastewater was lowered and wastewater chemical use was reduced by 9.7%.
Approaches in the offices
The Kikkoman Noda Head Office building constructed in 1999 was designed to be an "environmentally sustainable office." In keeping with the goal of maintaining harmony with the natural environment and lowering environmental loads, various advanced technological devices are employed.
In the open yard between the Office Building and the Conference Room Building is Water Garden which has a pond for storing rain water as a way to maintain a secure water resource in case of need and to create a pleasing landscape.
Support for Overseas Water Environment Conservation Activities
The Kikkoman Group supports water environment conservation activities by local governments and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in areas where we have production sites, such as the U.S., Singapore, and the Netherlands, to help solve water issues.
In 1993, our U.S. soy sauce production company, KFI (Kikkoman Foods, Inc.), established the charitable foundation, “Kikkoman Foods Foundation Inc.” Through this foundation, KFI donates to local educational institutions and supports disaster relief efforts.
In 2013, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary since KFI began shipments, the Kikkoman Foods Foundation Inc. presented USD 1 million to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This donation was used to establish “The Kikkoman Healthy Waters Environmental Health Laboratories” (hereinafter, the Laboratories) within the same university’s School of Freshwater Sciences to research water environments.
Furthermore, to commemorate the 50th anniversary since the 1973 grand opening of KFI, in June 2023 we presented the University of Wisconsin with USD 5 million to support research on sustainable crops and freshwater. Specifically, we donated USD 3 million to the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to support research on the sustainable production of crops such as soybeans and wheat. Additionally, we donated USD 2 million to the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to support the construction and operation of a state-of-the-art Great Lakes research vessel. These research donations will be used to protect the invaluable resources from which KFI has benefitted since its opening.
Professor Jackson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
researching production of sustainable crops
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes Research Vessel
-
In addition to these initiatives, we also support the maintenance of and mangrove planting around Kingfisher Lake, a freshwater biodiversity sanctuary located in Gardens by the Bay, a park in Singapore, and contribute to a water quality preservation project at Zuidlaardermeer (Lake of Zuidlaren) in Groningen, the Netherlands.
Supplier Engagement
The Kikkoman Group strives to collaborate with suppliers. As part of these efforts, in 2023 the Corporate Planning Department and Environmental Department of the Kikkoman Corporation and the Purchasing Department of the Kikkoman Business Service Company jointly visited 3 companies supplying soybeans, containers & packaging materials, and cartons for discussions.
In these discussions, the Kikkoman Group introduced our philosophy, received an explanation of sustainability initiatives being implemented by each supplier for each of their supply chains, and engaged in dialogue for future collaboration.
Signing of United Nations CEO Water Mandate
The Kikkoman Group is the first Japanese enterprise that signed The CEO Water Mandate in June 2015.
The CEO Water Mandate is a private-public initiative that grew out of a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact, the Government of Sweden, and six committed international enterprises and launched at the Leaders Summit held in Geneva in 2007. (The Kikkoman Group participated in the United Nations Global Compact in January 2001.) The Mandate is an international commitment platform regarding policies, practice, and information disclosure on a wide range of activities to conserve the sustainability of water. CEOs of endorsing enterprises sign the Mandate to commit to advance water stewardship as a member of international partners of water resource conservation.
Participation in the Ministry of the Environment's Water Project
In 2015, the Kikkoman Group participated in the Water Project hosted by the Ministry of the Environment.
Based on the Basic Act on Water Cycle enacted in 2014, the Ministry of the Environment proposes a sound water cycle (JAPAN Water Style) to conserve, use, and return sound water. The Water Project is for enterprises and organizations that actively address such water cycle conservation and recovery to transmit information on their approaches and raise public awareness about the water cycle.
Introduction of conservation activities
Activity introduction at CDP conference event
"CDP Water Security Report 2021 x Water Project" was co-hosted online by the Ministry of the Environment and CDP (an international environmental NGO) in February 2022. This was intended to raise awareness among enterprises and municipalities about importance of a sound water cycle. At the conference, the results of CDP corporate scores on addressing water risk were announced and leading enterprises’ approaches to water security were introduced.
Kikkoman participated in the panel discussions with Meiji Holdings CO., Ltd. as one of leading enterprises. Our general manager of the Environment Department introduced our activities and management for the water environment based on Kikkoman Group’s Environmental policies and Environmental long-term vision.
A lecture at Nagoya Industrial Water Supply Conference
The Nagoya Industrial Water Supply Conference offers opportunities for enterprises that use Aichi industrial water and Aichi Public Enterprise Bureau that manages the water to exchange opinions on stable water usage. It also invites an enterprise that has outstanding achievements in water risk management to its annual general meeting. Kikkoman was invited to speak at the meeting in 2022.
General manager of the Environment Department attended the general meeting in June. He explained that addressing environmental issues was an important part of our management activities. He also introduced our corporate stance to fit environmental activities in business and our specific approaches to conserve water and environments, including actual circumstances from water risk control to control of other various environmental risks.
Initiatives Introduction at the Water Cycle Corporate Collaboration Fair
Hosted by the Cabinet Secretariat Water Cycle Policy Headquarters Office, a “Water Cycle Corporate Collaboration Fair” was held in January 2025 at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism building.
With the goal of deepening and promoting corporate initiatives invested in water cycling through expert lectures and presentations on case examples of the latest initiatives towards water cycling, this fair included a keynote lecture by Professor Taikan Oki of the University of Tokyo, followed by introductions to collaborative examples between corporations and local governments.
As a Water Cycle ACTIVE Company, Kikkoman participated in the panel discussion, and shared an example of “Water Volume Reduction in Operations.”
Utilization of external evaluation systems
Certification as an “Active Water Cycle Company”
The Kikkoman Corporation was certified as an Active Water Cycle Company under the FY 2024 Water Cycle Company Registration and Certification System※governed by the Headquarters for Water Cycle Policy of the Cabinet Secretariat in Japan, in recognition of our corporate initiatives contributing to the water cycle.
This certification recognizes our efforts to efficiently reduce water usage through reassessment of our current processes and implementation of effective measures.
※ A certification system established in FY 2024 to further and promote corporate initiatives by actively recognizing and incentivizing company contributions to the water cycle, thereby encouraging continued and enhanced corporate efforts.
The Kikkoman Group keeps raising our sights and pursuing conservation of food environments.