Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (President and CEO: Yoshinori Isozaki) has established the Kirin Group Plastic Policy, an effort aimed at addressing the challenges of plastic waste, which represent one of the most pressing environment-related social issues.
The Kirin Group understands the fundamental challenges regarding plastic and will accelerate appropriate efforts regarding plastic containers, packaging, and other materials provided by group companies to promote the sustainable use of plastic and the resource circulation. The policy:
- Promoting recycling of PET bottles: The plastic containers, packaging, and other materials provided by the Kirin Group are mostly PET used for beverage bottles and the Kirin Group has used recycled resin for a part of them. The Kirin Group will promote the recycling of PET bottles by aiming to increase this recycled plastic ratio to 50% by 2027. The recycling of PET bottles cannot be promoted without an efficient method for collecting high- quality used PET bottles. The Kirin Group will proactively work with national and local governments, and industry organizations to create an efficient collection and reuse system for high-quality used PET bottles.
- Efforts to eliminate single-use plastic and replace it with other materials: Most plastic waste is comprised of what is referred to as single-use plastic. The Kirin Group will make efforts to eliminate the single-use plastic provided by its group companies and replace it with other materials.
- Improving sustainability of raw materials for PET bottle: The Kirin Group, has made continuous efforts to reduce the weight of our PET bottles from the standpoint of reducing our environmental impact. The company will keep striving toward even lighter bottles in the future. In addition, to improve the sustainability of raw materials for PET bottle, the firm will study the introduction of PET bottle materials derived from non-edible plants to reduce our dependence on petroleum resources.
In addition to the above measures,the company will proactively participate in educational programs to promote plastic recycling, coastal cleanup activities, and other programs.
Kirin Beverage Company, Limited (President and CEO: Hideki Horiguchi) also endorses the Soft Drink Business Plastic Resource Reclamation Declaration 2018 announced last year by the Japan Soft Drink Association, and will take proactive measures to realize the “100% Effective Utilization of PET Bottles by 2030” plan put forth by the industry.
