Japan's Kirin Brewery Meets then Raises CO2-Reduction Goal

Kirin Brewery Co. raised its goal of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in its production, logistics, and office operations in the country from 60% to 65% of 1990 levels, after already achieving its 60％-reduction goal ahead of schedule in 2011, according to the "Kirin Group Business Approach for 2012" report released on January 11, 2012. Originally, it had planned to reach its target by the end of fiscal 2012 (which is the end of March 2013), as laid out in its 2010 mid-term business plan.

Among its key policies, Kirin wants to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities that benefit the public, with a focus on environment-, health-, and alcohol-related issues, plus supporting reconstruction efforts after the earthquake disaster in March 2011. The company plans to promote eradication of drunk driving and drinking by minors, through the promotion of an alcohol-free beverage called KIRIN FREE.

Regarding support for the reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas, Kirin pledges it will donate one yen (about one U.S. cent) for every target product sold towards reviving agriculture and fisheries in the quake-affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima. The company plans to raise 1.5 billion yen (about $1.8 billion) annually, which will be used to help re-establish local farming with machinery and the restoration of aquaculture equipment to help resume tsunami-devastated aqua farming.

Posted: 2012/04/23 06:00:15 AM