Sustainable Packaging

What is environmentally friendly packaging?

In recent years, issues such as micro-plastic pollution and the reduction of carbon dioxide emission have become a topic often talked about. Especially serious is the problem of micro-plastics, and it is said that, if we don’t do something now, in 50 years the amount of plastic garbage in the seas will exceed the amount of marine life. This plastic garbage turns into fine particles, which are consumed and accumulated by fish and other marine organisms, and those marine creatures are eaten by humans, so the possibility of the plastics returning to us on our meal plates is considered a problem. A movement which promotes using environmentally friendly packaging as a solution to this cycle has gained force.

Recyclable packaging

Recyclable packaging has been developed in order to reduce the microplastics pollution. The bags are developed with the goal of being able to pulverize them, returning them to the raw materials, and using those raw materials again to produce a bag. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of waste, and, consequently, to reduce the amount of microplastics.

Biodegradable packaging

Biodegradable packaging was developed with the goal of reducing the amount of microplastics. The biodegradable packing materials are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms inhabiting in the soil, and they eventually return to the soil. These biodegradable packaging can be used in the same way as conventional packaging, and they are expected to contribute to the reduction of the microplastics.

Plant-based materials

Plant-based packaging materials were developed as raw materials close to being carbon　neutral, and they are a substitute for petroleum-based plastic products which emit carbon dioxide while hardly absorbing any. When plants grow from seeds, they absorb carbon dioxide in their photosynthesis process and make organic compounds in order to create the plant body. These packaging materials are thus based on a carbon neutral concept which supposes that, even if carbon dioxide is generated by burning plants, the carbon atoms of the carbon dioxide being discharged in the air are atoms which have originally been taken in by the plants, so the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not affected.

To learn about our sustainable packaging

The disposal and exhaust heat recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTO)

In accordance with the revision of the Air Pollution Control Act in April 2010, we dispose of and purify volatile organic compounds generated in the drying process using regenerative thermal oxidizers, and are actively working to improve the atmospheric environment.

In December 2014, we were selected for the “Project of waste heat utilization through the introduction of next-generation energy saving drying equipment” established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, receiving subsidy from the country, and actively working on reducing CO2 emission by having success in reusing low-temperature exhaust gas generated in the regenerative thermal oxidization process, collecting thermal energy released from RTO in the atmosphere into hot water, and controlling the amount of crude oil used by switching to clean thermal energy and reusing it in the drying process. (Crude oil reduced by 78kL/year, CO2 reduced by 155ton/year)

Update construction of absorption chiller

In January, 2016, an energy saving control function was further enhanced by performing an update of the construction of the system, including incidental facilities of absorption chiller, to further improve on its effectiveness as well as energy consumption by improving the efficiency of the main body of absorption chiller.
By utilizing a temperature sensor and optimally controlling according to the load of the cooling water pump, the power consumption, including the incidental facilities, could be reduced by about 80%. Furthermore, energy consumption and emissions of the entire system could be reduced respectively by about 60% per year compared to conventional facilities.

High-performance energy saving boilers

In January 2017, we introduced high-performance boilers which have a low amount of carbon dioxide emissions and very high heat treatment in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In high-performance boilers, since an economizer is used to heat up the boiler water supply with the exhaust gas waste heat, and the collected waste heat is at a lower temperature than in oil boilers, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions is extremely low, and its heat treatment is very high.

High-efficiency gas heat pump air conditioning

In December 2017, we introduced high-efficiency gas heat pump air conditioning, with excellent energy-saving features, in order to improve on our energy saving. Gas heat pumps are an air conditioning system which drives the compressor of an outdoor unit with a gas engine and performs air conditioning by a heat pump. They utilize natural gas, which has the lowest amount of CO2 emissions when burning as compared to using coal or petroleum as fuel. When heating, the waste heat from the gas used to run the engine is also used, so its energy efficiency is very good, and it ensures high energy saving. It is an environmentally friendly air condition system, with its power consumption at about 1/10 of the consumption of electric air conditioners.

LED Light

With the Minamata Convention coming into force and the strengthening of the obligation to reduce CO2 emissions by the Paris Agreement, we’ve introduced LED lighting in our company’s offices and factories.

Solar Power System

At TAKIGAWA CORPORATION, we feel it is our responsibility to protect the environment and conduct eco-friendly business practices.
In March 2013, we set up solar panels with the capacity to generate 497KW(about 0.5 MW) at our headquarters.
We also seek to contribute to environmental preservation through other means, such as reducing our CO2 emissions and petrol consumption.
In the future, we will continue our eco-friendly business activities.

Solar Panel

Environmental Management System ISO 14001

We aim to be an environmentally friendly company. To that end, all Takigawa Group factories have adopted ISO 14001, the international environmental management system standard established to minimize the environmental impact of our daily corporate activities.

Quality