Komori’s Environmental Journey and Commitment

Komori Corporation is 100 years old this year and has recently published its annual integrated report for 2022 covering value creation, business strategies, sustainability and its corporate data.

At the end of the 2022 financial year Komori had just over 2,600 employees and a turnover of 87.6 billion yen, about $660 million, producing commercial offset presses (offset sheetfed presses and offset web presses), currency and security printing presses, web offset packaging presses, and printing equipment.

2021 saw the first integrated report which replaced the previous Environment and Social Responsibility report. Interestingly the sustainability section is 23 pages long, 17 pages longer than the 2012 report.

Komori started its environmental journey some time ago, gaining ISO 14001 accreditation in 2001 and establishing a dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility promotion office. In 2013 it established its Green Path Project working on environmental activities. In 2015 it set long term environmental targets in its Eco Vision 2030 and in 2016 established its Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental countermeasure plan and co-ordination office.

Green Path Project

Komori’s work to create eco products involved green procurement and design, the development of environmental underlying technologies and products, work to reduce and improve its Scope 1, 2 and 3 impacts and work to achieve zero emissions and resource recycling. The aim was to create a sustainable business and to promote environmental information disclosure.

In 2015 Komori released a reduction target for Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD). It has released its Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions since 2018.

Eco Vision 2030

The priorities set related to global warming countermeasures, supporting a recycling-oriented society and biodiversity, particularly risk management of chemical substances.

The targets released in 2015 used 2010 as the base year. It committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 30% by 2020 and to reach a 50% reduction by 2030. A carbon neutrality target by 2050 is being planned at present. The 30% reduction was achieved in 2019.

A target for a water input reduction of 10% and zero waste emissions by 2030 has been set.

Progress against the plan

In 2022 Komori bought MBO Group. As a result emissions have increased and the reduction rate reduced to 17%. Relative to the base year, Komori has reduced CO2 emissions every year.

Water usage and general waste volumes increased in 2022, both in total and in intensity relative to turnover. Emissions and transfers of chemical substances subject to the chemical management PRTR regulations fell both in total and in intensity relative to turnover.

Komori’s investment in environmental preservation rose from 7.4 million yen in 2021 to 27.6 million in 2022. Environmental expenditure increased 3% to 114.29 million yen.

Work done

Eco product projects

• Lithrone GX/G advance

• E-Mist (static electricity control apparatus)

• Volatile Organic Solvent countermeasures

• DC Blower

Eco factory projects

• Adoption of solar power generation equipment (645,000 KWh self-generated)

• Upgrade of heat source equipment for energy-efficient air conditioners (35% reduction in gas and 33% in water consumption during the summer) 

• Power usage monitoring equipment

• Reduction of standby power

Eco Communications

• Komori Graphic Technology centre now delivers webinar and remote training for customers.

Komori presented at the Cash & Payments Sustainability Forum in late 2022, bringing many of these initiatives to life in a way that an Environment, Social and Governance Report does not. What this report does include is detailed metrics for each target even when the trend is upwards.

Clearly, Komori’s journey to protect the environment has been a long one.