Mr. Emori: Our company is a specialized Trading company that mainly deals in textile products and reused toner cartridges. We are often asked, "Why are you involved in printing even though you are a textile Trading company?" Our company started as a textile Trading company and will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year. Previously, we also had a factory that screen-printed on fabric, and we were involved in both textiles and printing, and we also exported typewriter ribbon fabric to Europe and the United States. Around 1990, our previous president found a business that recycled toner cartridges needed for laser printers within the printing business. We began to handle materials for replacement parts, and as a result, we ended up with two business domains: textile products and toner.

In Europe and the United States, the reuse of toner cartridges has become widespread, so we have begun not only selling parts but also dealing in reused toner cartridges and working to raise awareness. Reused toner cartridges can be used three or four times. It would be a waste to use genuine cartridges only once and then throw them away. We aim for genuine products and reused toner cartridges to coexist. Even before we clearly announced our decarbonized management, our business itself was contributing to CO2 reduction.

Emori: When I became president in 2009, I thought it was important to clarify our corporate philosophy and instill it in our employees as we considered future business growth. It was during this time that I came across the book "The Fifth Competitive Axis" by Peter D. Pedersen. It states that in 2009, "in addition to 'self-transformation ability,' 'market share,' 'quality,' and 'price,' 'environmental and sustainability strategies' will become the new decisive competitive advantage." Furthermore, when I learned that listed companies would be required to disclose non-financial information, I predicted that even small and medium-sized enterprises would need to calculate and disclose their CO2 emission amount.

We started a business of reused toner cartridges, and since we were doing something good for the environment, we thought we should include it in our management philosophy. We then made it clear that, as one of our missions, "We will create resource-saving and labor-saving solutions that are environmentally friendly, and contribute to the transition to a resource-circulating society." This was the beginning of our decarbonized management. We created our purpose together with our employees, and as we began to actively talk about it within the company, we began to receive recognition from many Company. "We will act as a bridge between people around the world and provide valuable information and products that are kind to people and the environment with a click." Clarifying what we should work on together with our employees was the starting point for a major change in the Company.

Emori: Our main efforts are "publicity activity ," "obtaining SBT certification," "visualizing GHG emission amount with Zeroboard ," and "introducing renewable energy." The reused toner cartridges we handle can reduce CO2 emissions simply by being used. Since we are doing something good for the environment, we thought we should promote them to get everyone to use them. Rather than just talking about how our products are cheaper than genuine products, we decided to tout their environmental friendliness as an added value. Three years after the adoption of the SDGs, in 2018, we began to strongly promote environmental messages.

As we continue to pursue decarbonization, we are increasingly being asked to give lectures at gatherings for managers of small and medium-sized businesses. Gradually, people began asking, "What should we do about the SDGs?", so we created a leaflet. We are summarizing our company's efforts on decarbonization and the SDGs and activity them. Rather than directly linking this to our sales, we are working with the desire to contribute to raising awareness of decarbonization and the SDGs.

Mr. Emori: As we worked towards the SDGs, we began to place greater importance on decarbonization, and we realized that Company's efforts needed to be publicly recognized.

Shigeta: As I researched the matter, I learned that there were various frameworks, such as TCFD and RE100, and I realized that we could also obtain the SBT, a small and medium-sized enterprise version. We immediately began preparations and obtained it in 2022. Prior to that, we had obtained certification under Yokohama City's SDGs certification system, "Y-SDGs," and as a "Kanagawa SDGs Partner," and we had been moving forward with our efforts one by one.

Shigeta: You can visualize CO2 emissions yourself by referring to the Ministry of the Environment's guidelines. However, by using "Zeroboard," you can disseminate highly reliable information that has the endorsement of a third party. Also, by simply entering our company's data, you can get accurate figures based on the GHG Protocol, which reduces the amount of work required. By using the reliable tool "Zeroboard," you can rest assured that you are providing reliable information.

Shigeta: We introduced renewable energy to our office and logistics center. Electricity is the responsibility of the management department, so we discussed the matter with them. We were concerned that electricity bills would be high, but when we calculated the actual costs, the figures were reasonable, so we decided to introduce them.

Emori: Because we are a company with only 25 employees, it was difficult to set up a dedicated sustainability department, so we created a dual-role system using existing departments. I think that working on sustainability and the SDGs as an extension of our business, rather than as an organizational structure, was a good approach for a small and medium-sized enterprise.

(Left) SBT certification for small and medium-sized enterprises (Right) Greenhouse gas emission amount data

Four benefits of decarbonized management: "Increase in New business partners," "Increase in PR opportunities," "Stimulate internal communication," and "Strengthen recruitment capabilities"

--What results have you seen as a result of your various efforts?

--It seems that decarbonization efforts are helping to revitalize internal communication and strengthen recruitment capabilities.

Emori: As a result of promoting decarbonization management, ideas have started to emerge naturally from various departments within the company. For example, the overseas procurement team came up with the idea of using biofuels, efforts to use sustainable materials have progressed, and we have started shipping items in bulk to improve loading efficiency for deliveries. This has helped raise employees' awareness of decarbonization, which ultimately leads to more efficient work.

(Top left, center, bottom left) A pamphlet on sustainable products that all employees are working to expand
(Top right and bottom right) A pamphlet on reused toner cartridges in the context of SDGs and decarbonization

Shigeta: Since decarbonization and SDG initiatives have become common topics of conversation, communication within the company has naturally become more active. Conversations like, "It seems like the president gave a speech, but what did he talk about?" and "Will the new product be decarbonized?" are now flying across departments within the company. I feel that this has had an effect on raising employee motivation.

Emori: 65% of our employees are women, and many are raising children. In order to incorporate new work styles, such as working from home, while also taking care of children and elderly relatives, it's important to create a culture where employees feel a sense of mutual appreciation and gratitude. By sharing information about our decarbonization efforts within the company, I feel we've created a culture that values gratitude and consideration.

Mr. Emori: It's also having an effect on recruitment. Some employees have joined us because they wanted to work for a company that is working on the SDGs and they empathize with our efforts. They told us that the deciding factor was that they thought Company was highly socially conscious.

Yuto Hidaka, Functional Materials and Products Department, Joined in 2022
Students around me also say that more and more people are looking for activity with a focus on social skills.

-What are your future prospects?

Mr. Emori: What makes me happy about working on decarbonized management is that employees tell their families about the Company and say that it is a Company where they can work with peace of mind.

We contribute to decarbonization through our business. Our efforts toward decarbonization foster independent human resources who further contribute to society. By creating a virtuous cycle, we aim to be a company that is kind to both people and the global environment.

Thank you very much. We will continue to support your company so that its efforts can create an even more virtuous cycle.

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