Plastic Use in Product Packaging

The Fuji Oil Group is working to reduce our use of packaging at each Group company. We are gathering details on individual companies’ activities and sharing information within the Group.

There has been progress in intergovernmental negotiations to regulate plastic. In response to the serious problem of plastic pollution, at the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima and the 2024 G7 Summit in Apulia, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations pledged to “reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040.” Many countries are strongly calling for the formation of an agreement aimed at developing a fundamental solution to plastic pollution, so future developments in negotiations will bear watching.

Due to the fact that our customers are manufacturers, many of our products, such as oils and fats, are shipped in bulk via tank trucks, one-ton containers, and steel drums. These distribution methods use relatively little plastic. On the other hand, for some products like chocolate, whipping cream, and solid fats, we use cardboard boxes for the outer packaging and plastic packaging materials for the inner packaging. While these packaging materials maintain important functions such as keeping food safe to eat, maintaining food quality, and communicating product information, we recognize that we need to reduce the amount of plastic used. Amid growing concerns about resource depletion and marine pollution, we are promoting the use of thinner and lighter packaging materials and the transition to renewable or recyclable materials.

Reducing plastic use

Some examples of initiatives to reduce product packaging and plastic in FY2024 are as follows: