Reducing the weight of the cardboard boxes.
A portion of the inner flap has been cut off from the cardboard boxes, for a reduction of 10g per carton.

While Nissui promotes the downweighting of ice used in its marine products, it has also been taking DW initiatives in terms of its frozen prepared foods. For example, with our "Ookina- Ookina-Yakionigiri," (frozen prepared food for household use), we have been successful in reducing the weight of the cartons by 10g by cutting off a portion of the inner flap of the cardboard boxes. Compression tests have proven that we have also been able to maintain the strength of the boxes. This may only be a 4% reduction in carton weight, as the cartons are 250g to begin with, but it has resulted in the reduction of 11.4t in carton weight on a yearly basis and a 572kg reduction in CO2 emission per year.

If this piece-cutting method, (that is,) cutting away the unnecessary parts of cardboard boxes without compromising their strength, were implemented for all of Nissui' s frozen prepared foods, it would result in a reduction of 110t in carton weight and 5t in CO2 emission per year.

We are also promoting initiatives to review ways to reduce the weight of cardboard liners and flutes (the inner, corrugated layer of cardboard), while maintaining adequate strength, and to eliminate PP strapping bands. PP strapping bands are made of the petrochemical product polypropylene and are used when packing the cartons, but are cut and become waste when the cartons are opened. By using glue made of natural materials for the cartons of all Nissui frozen prepared foods, we have been able to reduce the use of PP strapping bands by 26t and CO2 emission by 78t per year.

Nissui intends to encourage the major marine products companies and the Japan Association of Refrigerated Warehouses to take up DS activities, including the standardizing of pallets, and DW activities, including the shift to the semi-IQF method and the use of dehydrated sherbet ice, mainly through the Japan Fisheries Association, which acts as the liaison for the marine products companies. A study group for modularization began to meet in January 2009. The industry also has a history of standardizing its packing cases through the initiative of the group.

"We do not intend to monopolize the expertise in DS and DW that the Company has accumulated. We have been introducing these activities widely throughout the industry and have been proposing similar initiatives to our peers. Once the industry as a whole adopts these activities, it will, no doubt, dramatically enhance the effects, revitalize the industry and encourage further growth. We hope that by taking the lead and demonstrating the effects of these initiatives, other companies will follow. Furthermore, we hope that these initiatives will not be limited to Japan, and we intend to promote them as an international movement," states Hisami Sakai, Executive Director.

It is hoped that DS and DW in concert with the industry will become a widespread movement not only to reduce costs but also as a way of addressing the urgent task of mitigating the environmental burden. Taking on the role of promoter of such a movement may be considered to be the mission of Nissui, as the industry' s leading company. It is our hope that one day the standards of Nissui will become the standards of the world.