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日本コーンスターチ > Japan Corn Starch Co.,Ltd > Enviromental programs

Envlronmental programs

Overview
Example1
Example2
Certification

Overview

The corn which is the raw material for cornstarch is the grain produced in the largest volume in the world, and there are expectations that it will be a biomass resource for the next generation. Japan Cornstarch is continuing with programs to minimize its environmental impact, not only through the expansion of our company's products that are produced from biomass resources but also through far-reaching environmental measures in the production processes.

Example1

Corn is expected to be an important renewable biomass resource for the post-oil age. The cornstarch made from this corn is a high polymer with glucose as its base monomer and is similar to petrochemicals. By changing the molecular structure, it is possible to change its form into plastics or textiles. We are aiming to establish a cornstarch chemical industry to replace the petrochemical industry as we work towards a much-needed recycling-oriented society.

The Best Remover developed by Japan Cornstarch is an environmentally-friendly aqueous asbestos dust dispersion control agent which is based on renewable corn and which features better cost performance than petrochemical products. It has superior asbestos dispersion control effects as a result of its high ability to penetrate into and wet the asbestos layer. It is able to minimize the amount of airborne dust which occurs during removal of sprayed-on asbestos, and can also be applied by aerial spraying.

This high performance, low cost, and all-natural Best Remover is an environmentally-conscious product which demonstrates the technologies of Japan Cornstarch to the world.

Example2

30% reduction in CO2 achieved by changing fuels

Beginning from January 2010, we changed the fuel used to dry products from type A fuel oil to natural gas. With this change, we have succeeded in reducing CO2 emissions in the drying process by 30%. We expect that our annual CO2 emissions will drop by approximately 3,800 tons.

The use of carbon footprint labeling (as an indication of CO2 emissions over product lifecycles) in the food products industry is continuing to grow, and further CO2 reductions are needed.

In cooperation with the company Recycle One, Inc.*, Japan Cornstarch is calculating the CO2 emissions for each product in order to introduce a carbon footprint system. These calculations are scheduled to be completed at the end of February 2010.

* A consulting company which specializes in the environmental field for the central government, major private companies, research laboratories, business groups, municipal governments, and other parties.

What is a carbon footprint?

This is a mechanism for converting the greenhouse gases emitted by a product over its entire lifecycle (from material procurement to disposal or recycling) to an equivalent amount of CO2, which is labeled on the product.

Operation of recycling facilities

Japan Cornstarch utilizes recycling facilities to recycle usable excess organic materials generated by companies in the complex into high-quality materials for agricultural production.

Pollution prevention measures with consideration for the surrounding environment

Based on Outline for Promotion of Food Product Industrial Parks formulated as national policy for the modernization of the food products industry, the Kinuura food product complex in March 1972 became the only food products complex in the Chubu Region that was approved by the Minister of Agriculture. At the core of this complex, the Japan Cornstarch Kinuura Plant is operating while producing 0% waste.

Certification

Acquisition of ISO14001

This is an international standard for environmental management systems that was established by the ISO in 1996.

This standard requires improvements related to the effects on the environment resulting from the business activities of an organization (company, municipality, etc.), and requires the continuation of business activities that do not impact the environment.

The Japan Cornstarch Kinuura Plant acquired this certification in 2000.

Biomass Mark

Biomass refers to resources derived from living materials.

This mark indicates an environmentally-friendly product which has been approved that it uses biomass and is good in terms of quality and safety.

The Japan Cornstarch product Best Remover has acquired the Biomass Mark.