Sustainability

Sustainability

The Marine Foods Group has adopted a range of medium to long term sustainability initiatives in line with our core philosophy of helping to address social issues.

Implementation Framework

For Sojitz Group, sustainability is our commitment to working with stakeholders to maximize two types of value—Value for Sojitz and Value for Society—through our business operations, with the aim of realizing sustainable growth for both the Sojitz Group and wider society, in accordance with the Sojitz Group Philosophy, as outlined in the Sojitz Group Sustainability Statement.
In a climate of rising public interest in sustainability and the SDGs, and recognizing the significance of this issue to the company, Marine Foods has set up a Sustainability Committee chaired by the president of the company. The committee is responsible for overseeing whole-of-company sustainability initiatives and programs, outlining sustainability principles and strategies, and developing and monitoring various sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability Initiatives

1.Increased Focus on Certified Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture Operations

Marine Foods is actively pursuing more eco-friendly and sustainable business models, most notably by developing closer relationships with seafood suppliers and end clients with a view to boosting levels of certified seafood supplies in our products.

Future

Over 10% sustainable procurement by 2026

FY 2023
ASC/MSC certified procurement 408.9 tons (= 1.1% of total by weight)

2.Diversity

Future

Women to occupy 5% of management positions by 2030

We have introduced business skills training programs for female employees as well as working arrangements designed to enable parents to remain in employment.Marine Foods is committed to providing a welcoming and supportive workplace environment in which all employees can enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

3.Reducing CO2 Emissions

Future

A new monitoring regime to be introduced in 2026 in line with the government target of a 46% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 relative to FY 2013 levels

• Solar panels installed on the roof of the Mie Plant in August 2023 have delivered a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions associated with power consumption.
• Refrigeration and freezer rooms at Kushiro Marusui have been powered by electricity since March 2024, as an environmentally friendly alternative to the previous heavy oil engines.
• Rail freight has replaced road transport for selected goods transfers between distribution centers in Japan since March 2024, thereby reducing CO2 emissions associated with inventory management.
• Energy consumption has been standardized across all domestic and international facilities via stricter monitoring of CO2 emissions.

4.Third-Party Certification for Product Quality and Environmental Standards

Future

ISO14001 certification in FY 2025

• All domestic facilities are ISO9001 certified as of October 2024, with the exception of direct-managed plants, which have FSMS (Food Safety Management System) certification instead.
  The company holds information sessions to promote awareness around certification systems as well as training sessions for internal auditors.
• A procedural manual was released in the lead-up to ISO14001 certification in April 2024, explaining the inclusion of environmental management systems in addition to the existing quality management systems.

5.Enhanced Human Rights Monitoring Throughout the Supply Chain

• In addition to Marine Foods facilities, we are working closely with domestic and overseas suppliers to stamp out human rights violations such as illegal work practices and excessive workplace demands at all levels of the supply chain.
• In FY 2023 we surveyed workplace conditions for foreign technical interns at the Mie Plant and Kushiro Marusui, under supervision from our parent company Sojitz Corporation.No problems or issues of concern were identified.

Learn more about Marine Foods

• Brand Statement and Values

  Learn about the core values that underpin the Marine Foods brand.
  
• Message from the President

  The president of Marine Foods describes his vision and future outlook for the company.
  
• Our Business

  Learn about our various business operations.
  
• Sustainability

  Learn about our sustainability programs and initiatives.