| November 2000 |
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Notice of Environmental Initiatives and Receipt of Minister's
Award from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
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| Based on its environmental philosophy of harmonizing global business activities with the environment, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. works continuously to improve the environment in ways such as reducing the company's environmental impact and using resources effectively. With its basic policy of contributing to a better society, Ajinomoto carries out environmental initiatives on a company-wide level. Specifically, based on the concept of "Zero Emissions," the company promotes resource recycling as well as reduction of waste generation and the volume of externally treated waste. In its products, the company considers the environment in its packaging design by taking measures to (1) reduce resource consumption, (2) enhance recyclability, (3) reduce volume of empty package on disposal and (4) label materials for recycling. This year, Ajinomoto plans to issue its first annual Environmental Report. |
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| For details of Ajinomoto's Basic Environmental Policy, please see the company's Web site: |
| http://www.ajinomoto.com/ |
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| Because of environmental activities such as these, the company's Kyushu Plant recently received the "Minister's Award" in the Resources and Environmental Protection category of the 22nd Food Industry Excellent Company Awards from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This plant has been vigorously carrying out environmental improvement activities, and obtained ISO 14001 accreditation in July 1998. It took advantage of that occasion to bolster its environmental improvement activities, and such efforts were consequently recognized by this latest award. |
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| The reasons the plant won the award and details of the awards ceremony are as follows. |
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Dramatic improvement in resource recycling ratio
Ajinomoto's management has prepared an environmental policy and has long engaged in resource recycling activities, reflecting its commitment to the global environment and a recycling-oriented society. Specifically, in 1995 the company decided to completely abolish ocean dumping of fermentation waste liquor, and achieved this goal in June 1999, two years ahead of schedule. During this period, the Kyushu Plant stepped up its resource recycling and achieved a dramatic increase in its recycling ratio. After improving the recycling ratio from 37 percent in fiscal 1993 to 93 percent in fiscal 1999, the plant is aiming to raise this ratio further to 95 percent in fiscal 2000. |
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Specific measures |
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| a. |
Re-use of recycled resources at the plant
Recycling and use of ammonia water recovered from effluent, use of steam generated by methane gas recovered from waste water through anaerobic fermentation |
| b. |
Utilization of by-products as fertilizer raw materials
Manufacture and sale of organic solid and liquid fertilizers, sale of amino acid waste liquor, dried sludge and waste filter aids as raw materials for fertilizer manufacturing |
| c. |
Collaboration with communities to expand fertilizer applications
Research on the use of fertilizers in farming by the "Organic Materials Research Association," a research group formed by the Kyushu Plant and farmers in the surrounding area. This setup contributed to improving the quality of crops and increasing yields. |
| d. |
Recycling of general waste from offices
Recycling of used paper to paper manufacturers, recycling of used fluorescent lights and dry-cell batteries to the recycling industry, conversion of kitchen refuse from employee cafeteria into compost. |
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| The awards ceremony will be held on Monday, November 27, starting at 1:30P.M., at Ishigaki Kinen Hall (9th floor, Sankaido Building, 9-13, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo/Tel.: 03-3582-7451). |