Exhibition06

A Long Tradition of Sustainability

As our business grows, so too do our responsibilities to global society.

Kikkoman Corporation has sustained soy sauce brewing operations since the early 17th century. Over the course of this long history, we have developed a corporate culture that puts strong emphasis on building positive relationships with society and our stakeholders.
It’s this tradition that can be traced back to our guiding principles drawn up in 1925, shortly after Noda Shoyu Co., Ltd. - the forerunner of today’s Kikkoman - was formed in 1917 through the merger of eight soy sauce brewing family businesses. The management members at that time pledged that the company would pay even greater attention to its social responsibility after the merge. The Kikkoman Group Corporate Principles share the same philosophy today.

The Kikkoman Group Corporate Principles today stay true to the founding philosophy. Building on a long tradition of sustainability, we are working to contribute to help solve social issues through our business activities.

Climate Change

In recent years, many places around the world have faced social issues such as health problems, water shortages, and flooding due to high temperatures and heatwaves. These issues are strongly related to climate change, and are social issues that threaten life, finance, and economic activity on a global scale. In light of this, the Kikkoman Group has set a goal to achieve net-zero CO_₂ by 2050 that it aims to achieve by promoting initiatives to cut at least 50% of CO_₂ emissions by 2030 compared with 2018. We will also update our medium- to long-term CO_₂ emission reduction plans as appropriate in accordance with future technological innovations.

Reduce by more than 50%

Net zero

CO_₂ emissions and reduction targets

Main initiatives • Process Improvements • New Facilities • Renewable Energies • Innovations

Energy efficient facilities

In order to reduce CO_₂ emissions, the Kikkoman soy sauce plants have installed energy efficient facilities. Previous heavy oil boilers, which produced a significant amount of CO_₂ , have been switched to gas boilers, which emit less CO_₂ and produce steam more efficiently. When replacing facilities and equipment, we strive to find environmentally friendly solutions.

Compact gas boilers (Second Production Department, Noda Factory, Kikkoman Food Products Company)

Renewable energy

Renewable energy, also known as clean energy, is one of the most important factors behind reducing CO_₂ emissions, generating energy from natural sources, such as wind, water, and the sun. The Kikkoman soy sauce plants and offices are switching to renewable energy sources.

Solar panels installed on the roof of Main Plant, Kikkoman Foodtech Company.

Environmental
Conservation Programs

Throughout our long history, Kikkoman has developed a corporate culture that places great value on our relationship with local communities. We have conducted various programs with local communities for environmental preservation.

NORTH AMERICA

Kikkoman Foods, Inc., has established a charitable foundation and donated to organizations such as local educational institutions and disaster relief activities. In 2013, the foundation made a USD 1 million contribution to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to advance a study regarding safe and sustainable drinking water.

EUROPE

Since 1997, Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V. has been participating as a main sponsor of the Water Resource Preservation Project in Zuidlaardermeer Lake in the Netherlands to create a water purification mechanism that utilizes natural resources such as aquatic organisms and microbes, pumping water to clean waterways, improve water quality, and increase inhabiting species.

ASIA

Kikkoman (S) Pte. Ltd. supported the development of Kingfisher Wetlands, located along the waterfront promenade of the Gardens by the Bay National Park in Singapore. This nature sanctuary features more than 200 native true mangrove trees, which are expected to support biodiversity. The site also has a wildlife look-out for bird-watchers and nature photographers.

Recycling

We are working to reduce food waste and develop environmentally friendly products to make smart use of precious resources. The Kikkoman soy sauce plants are supporting these efforts through a prioritized recycling process.

Recycling soy sauce byproduct

The remaining byproduct after pressing our raw soy sauce from moromi is known as “soy sauce cake”.
This byproduct had previously been used for many years as fuel for Kikkoman’s factory boilers, but in 2004 we began research on its usefulness as animal feed. In 2006 we installed a drying machine for soy sauce cake, followed by the introduction of packaging equipment in 2007, thereby developing a new sales channel for animal feed.
Soy sauce cake contains fat from soybeans, Vitamin E, Vitamin K1, isoflavones (genistein,daidzein, glycitein) and other functional ingredients that are good for feeding cattle, pigs and poultry. Almost all of the soy sauce cake produced from the soy sauce manufacturing process at Kikkoman’s plants is offered to livestock farmers through feed manufacturing companies.

Recycling
process

Farms
(wheat and soy beans)

Procurement of safe ingredients

Kikkoman
factories

High quality
livestock feed

Livestock feed made from soy sauce byproducts

Livestock

Environmental
Management System

ISO 14001 is an international standard for effective environmental management systems (EMS), developed by the International Organization for Standardization. We believe this is an effective tool by which to promote environmental management with the following Kikkoman soy sauce plants all having obtained ISO 14001 certification.

1997

Noda Plant, Japan

1998

Takasago Plant, Japan

2002

Wisconsin Plant, Kikkoman Foods, Inc., U.S.A.

2002

Kikkoman Foods Europe B.V., Netherlands

2002

Kikkoman (S) Pte., Ltd. (KSP), Singapore

2003

California Plant, Kikkoman Foods, Inc., U.S.A.

Environmental Audits

A team of qualified EMS members conduct internal environmental audits at the ISO 14001 certified production sites, while certification review and renewal are also conducted by accredited external certification bodies. Audit results and evaluations are shared with all concerned companies in order to uphold and improve their environmental management.

Initiatives through Partnerships

The United Nations Global Compact

In 2001, Kikkoman Corporation became the first Japanese company to sign the United Nations Global Compact. Since then, our related activities include becoming a member of the board of the Global Compact Network Japan, a local network of the United Nations Global Compact in Japan.
https://www.unglobalcompact.org

The Consumer Goods Forum

Kikkoman Corporation is a member of the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global network of consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. CGF has been calling for cooperation among companies around the world to solve problems in non-competitive fields. Kikkoman Corporation has participated in several activities with CGF, including the Japan Sustainability Local Group.
https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com

Recognition

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.

ESG benchmarks

Standing for Environmental, Social and Governance, ESG investing is a method of investment that takes into account non-financial factors, such as the natural environment, social issues, and corporate governance, besides financial considerations. Kikkoman is now included in ESG indices such as the FTSE4Good stock index series and MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes.

FTSE Russell (the trading name of FTSE International Limited and Frank Russell Company) confirms that Kikkoman Corporation has been independently assessed according to the FTSE4Good criteria, and has satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series. Created by the global index provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE4Good indices are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.

The inclusion of kikkoman corporation in any msci index, and the use of msci logos, trademarks, service marks or index names herein, do not constitute a sponsorship, endorsement or promotion of kikkoman corporation by msci or any of its affiliates.
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