Nissui Corporation

The company does not have a science-based emission reduction target.

The company has revised its target to reduce its CO2 emissions intensity (i.e., tonnes of CO2e per unit) by 15% by 2030, using 2015 as a base year. It also has a target to reduce 30% of its absolute emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2030, compared to FY2018. The target applies to the company's operations in Japan and overseas. It has not set an emissions reduction target for Scope 3 emissions but recognises the importance of putting one in place and lists it as a way to mitigate reputational risk.

The company states that it complies with each country's laws and regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions and is working on reducing them. It also discusses several measures and initiatives focused on reducing emissions in other areas of their value chain. However, despite recognising it as an issue, it does not disclose the specific actions done to help suppliers reduce emissions from agriculture.

The company does not engage in innovative projects to reduce or mitigate emissions from feed farming

The company invests in the Australian seaweed business Seascape Restorations Australia Pty Ltd, which specialises in cultivating Asparagopsis, a type of red seaweed that contributes to reducing methane emissions from ruminants.

The company's total Scope 1 and 2 emissions for its Japan and overseas operations combined is reported to be 319,118t-CO2 in FY2022. It has also reported its Scope 3 emissions for the first time in FY2021, which is 2,545,561t-CO2.

The company discloses emissions disaggregated by business segment and lists Marine Products as a segment. It is still being determined whether this is exhaustive. It mentions that it procures feed supplies for its fish and reports the Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services. However, it does not explicitly mention CO2-equivalent emissions from feed production, and it is unclear which of the company's segments relates to feed production.

The company has responded to CDP Climate Change 2022 and scored a C. A third party audits the company's data on GHG inventory.

The company reports its domestic and overseas emissions. The total Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased from 341,855 t-CO2 in FY2021 to 319,118 t-CO2 in FY2022. It represents a decrease of approximately 6.65% compared to the previous reporting period. However, its GHG inventory is incomplete, as it is unclear to what extent the company's emissions from agriculture and feed production are reported.

The company conducted a climate change scenario analysis recommended by the TCFD using a 1.5‚ÑÉ/2‚ÑÉ and a 4‚ÑÉ temperature-rise scenario in FY2021. It has identified the risks and opportunities, assessed the financial impact in 2030 and looked into measures to mitigate this impact.

The company states that the risk of a decrease in catch and an increase in procurement cost of fish serving as the ingredient for aquaculture feed poses the risk of feed availability. It will develop alternative feed with a low-fishmeal formula to mitigate this risk. It is worth noting that this strategy also poses a risk due to the relative emission efficiency of fish meal. It anticipates a change in the marine environment due to climate change that would decrease the catch of wild-caught and farmed fish. To mitigate this risk, it will enhance on-land aquaculture solutions, develop high-temperature-tolerant breeds and explore places suited to aquaculture. It states the energy cost increase and mentions mitigation measures, such as introducing renewable energy sources. The company discusses the risk of carbon taxes and discloses various mitigation measures for potential carbon taxes. It reports one financially material event resulting from climate risk in FY 2022. It involved a loss of 493 million yen due to red tide damage to aquaculture operations and the mortality of tuna caused by a typhoon.

The company discloses that it invests 5.1 billion yen, which includes 1.5 billion yen, in the re-placement of CFC-free refrigerators in the logistics business to align its capital expenditures with its GHG targets. However, it does not state its commitment to include sustainability metrics in capital expenditure decisions and does not commit to aligning capital expenditures with its GHG targets.

The company states that Nordic Seafoods (Denmark) which is an overseas group company, has converted all soybeans in its raw materials and aquaculture feed to sustainable use through RTRS. However, the company does not disclose that 100% of soy sourced is from areas with no risk of deforestation.

The company does not disclose having a deforestation/conversion-free target for soy.

The company does not report progress against its commitment. Nor did it responded to the CDP Forest Questionnaire in 2022.

The company states in its Suppliers Guidelines that it engages suppleirs on activities that lead to deforestation as an urgent requirement. However, no specific mention of soy is stated in the supplier code of conduct.

The company does not disclose how compliance in monitored or what actions are taken if non-compliance occurs. Further, the company does no disclose the level of traceability it has of its soy supply chain.

The company does not discuss innovations and/or practices to move towards sustainable feed sources.

The company does not disclose the overall proportion of sites certified by a GSSI-recognised scheme. However, the company does include endorsements of the GSSI, ASC, MSC and BAP in its central disclosure, and discloses that specific sites do currently hold each certification. The company is encouraged to improve disclosure on this matter.

The company does not disclose any information related to feed ingredients and policy.

The company does not disclose that marine and soy ingredients are 100% certified or that it does not source these ingredients. It did not disclose a quantitative decrease in FCR by species, or a decrease in FFDRm/FFDRo. The company does not discloses the absolute volumes of fishmeal/fish oil sourced including a breakdown of sourcing from whole fish vs sourcing from by products. Further, it did not disclose the protein conversion efficiency with calculation methodology and workings.

The company does not disclose information about working on alternative ingredients for feed. In 2021, the company researched the biosynthesis of omega-3 fatty acids by marine microorganisms with Kyushu University, Miyazaki University, and Konan University. However, there is no evidence that research and collaboration are ongoing. The company does state in its TCFD report that in response to a decrease in catch and increase in procurement cost of fish serving as the ingredient for aquaculture feed, it is targetting an increase in alternative feed ingredients. Still, it does not disclose any strategy for achieving this ambition. In the latest reporting period, the company conducted a risk assessment into the availability of Japanese Anchovy and Alaska Pollock using a UN FAO model.

The company does not dsiclose the percentage of R&D allocated to novel ingredients development. Further, it does not disclose a target related to feed innovation. It also does not disclose the average EPA and DHA content of salmon it produces.

The company does not disclose information about sea lice management.

The company does not discuss non-medicinal/non-chemical approaches taken to prevent sea lice infestation. It does not disclose investment into cleaner fish husbandry or disclose the mortalities of cleaner fish used.

The company discloses fish escapes for FY2021 and FY2020 for the fish species it produces. The company aims to reduce fish escape to zero and discloses its approach to fish escape prevention. However, the company does not discuss cost or specific prevention measures such as streel core nets, double layer netting, early warning systems, etc. The company aims to reduce fish escape to zero, but the target is not time-bound.

The company does not disclose any activities aimed at reducing the biodiversity impacts of its farming operations and does not disclose a time-bound target to end human-wildlife contact in its operations.

The company does not disclose a management plan in the event of algal blooms.

The company has conducted a water risk assessment and found that none of the group's sites are located in areas associated with the highest water risk level. However, some production sites in Japan, Thailand and the Americas were located in regions subject to water stress. It discloses water consumption in FY2022. The company also discloses various water-saving measures that it has implemented.

The company aims to reduce water usage by 10% per unit by 2023 (compared to 2015). In FY2021, the company achieved a reduction of 15.5% per unit. However, the company has not disclosed the progress of this target in FY2022.

The company discloses the volume of water withdrawn by source for the last reporting year. It did not respond to CDP Water in 2022.

The company does not address water scarcity in its feed supply chain.

The company does not disclose feed water intensity, or the proportion of feed sourced from water stresses areas. Further, the company does not provide evidence that it is investing in sustainable feed production from a water use perspective.

The company does not disclose the proportion of animal protein commodities produced and/or sourced in water-stressed areas.

The company has not established partnerships with third parties to input into sourcing/farming strategy, including water use.

The company reported no incidences of non-compliance with the water in FY2022. It discloses that it has assessed water scarcity from a quantity perspective, however, the company does not mention undertaking an assessment in terms of water quality risk.

The company discloses the quality of water discharged in Japan for FY2022 and provides this data by pollutant: BOD, COD, Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous. Nissui reports its wastewater discharge volumes for Japanese and Overseas operations in FY2022.

The company mentions its processing plant Hachioji has introduced an anaerobic ozone processing facility as part of the waste water treatment process. The quality of wastewater discharged has not improved from the previous reporting period based on disclosed data. However, the volume of wastewater discharged has decreased in the last reporting year.

The company does not addresses nutrient management plans in its code of conduct.

The company has developed a feed formula which it states is highly digestible and not easily dissipated into the sea during feeding, thereby minimising the effect on marine ecosystems. However, this innovation is not related to improving nutrient management during feed farming where crops destined for feed are grown.

The company does not conduct risk assessments to identify high-risk locations and states that some wastewater from production is discharged into public wastewater.

The company takes initiatives to address the problems associated with waste, marine plastics and global warming. It currently promotes using the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) on its sites. Additionally, the company encourages employees to take up clean-up drives around their offices, beaches, and rivers. However, the company does not provide evidence of an engagement strategy with communities near its aquaculture production facilities.

The company commits to a reduction in antibiotic use, enforcing a policy that prohibits the use of critically important antibiotics and mandates that antibiotics are administered only following a confirmed disease diagnosis under a veterinarian's supervision. It embraces several strategies, including the utilisation of hydrogen peroxide solutions to tackle sea lice issues, the application of AI and IoT for health monitoring, and the development of disease-resistant breeds, aiming to lessen antibiotic reliance and enhance farming conditions. However, clearer communication on its stance regarding the routine use of antibiotics and growth promotion would be beneficial.

The company reports a decline in antibiotic usage per tonne for its Coho salmon and trout farming in Japan and Chile. Specifically, usage decreased from 53 grams to 8 grams per tonne for Coho salmon and from 565 grams to 306 grams per tonne for trout in Chile from 2020 to 2021. Antibiotic usage was reduced from 439 grams per tonne in 2020 to 229 grams per tonne in 2021.

The company addresses several facets of animal welfare, including health monitoring to combat skin parasites and sea lice. The company discloses integrating AI and IoT technology to reduce the need for physical handling but does not disclose a full handling protocol. The company states it partners with external entities, including a Chilean university, to conduct research and develop technologies that can improve welfare. The company also says that 100% of their harvested fish, irrespective of species, are desensitised using brain-spiking quickly to minimise fish stress.

The company does not disclose sufficient information to ascertain if it assures a stocking density of lower than 17kg/m3 for salmon at all times.

The company discloses information related to Oita Marine Biological Technology Centre, which researches fish health management and development of aquaculture methods without relying on antimicrobials but does not disclose the R&D spend on optimal environmental enrichment.

The company disclose survival rates for saltwater operations but not for freshwater operations. It does not set a target for mortality nor does it disclose incident-based mortality

The company does not disclose the percentage of mortality events linked to disease outbreaks but does detail some approaches taken to prevent outbreaks, including digitising farming operations to reduce the need for handling and providing live metrics related to health and welfare and proactively treating sea lice.

The company does not disclose any information related to disease management in shrimp farming.

The company does not disclose the direct financial costs linked to the mortality of shrimps.

The company commits in writing to respect all internationally recognised human rights articulated by the International Bill of Human Rights and the core ILO conventions.

The company conducted a human rights risk assessment in the form of a cross-departmental workshop in December 2020. The evaluation involved analysing risks in its value chains from the perspective of general industrial human rights risks and risks specific to fisheries, countries and fish species. The company reviewed risks based on likelihood and severity. Three potential human rights risks were identified: 1) Forced labour and child labour relating to raw materials of marine products (from procurement of raw materials to production), 2) Work environment of foreign technical intern trainees in Japan(production), 3) Labor Safety and Health (fishery and aquaculture). That said, the company does not disclose how it continuously monitors human rights risks and identifies the next action steps in its operations. Regarding suppliers, the company discloses that it requests suppliers to respond to a self-check sheet survey. Some suppliers are also subject to visits and interviews. However, the company does not mention doing audits for all its suppliers. Audits are considered more thorough than self-check surveys. The company has taken several measures to mitigate risk. For example, to reduce the risks in its supply chain, the company has revised its supplier guidelines and distributed and explained them to its Tier-1 suppliers. Furthermore, to mitigate human rights risks in its foreign workforce, it has introduced multilingual support initiatives to disseminate human rights information. The company also conducts various forms of training for its employees and management regarding human rights. In addition, in 2023, the company joined the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER), which aims to address employee grievances at member companies through a platform based on UN Guiding Principles.

The company identified three potential high-priority human rights risks: forced and child labour relating to raw materials of marine product procurement, the work environment of foreign technical intern trainees in Japan, and labour safety and health in fisheries and aquaculture. The company remedies issues relating to the working environment of foreign technical intern trainees by conducting appropriate training, writing contracts and disseminating information in a language that all foreign workers can understand.

The company commits in writing to prohibit child labour, harassment, discrimination and forced labour and asks suppliers to do the same. The company grants each employee five days of paid leave that can be taken if they have suffered a short-term non-occupational injury or illness and have difficulty coming to work. This leave can be taken full-day, half-day, or hourly. However, the company does not mention that it conducts audits ensuring compliance with the aforementioned policies or commits to promoting fair wages.

The company does not state that it conducts supplier audits covering the policies concerning child labour, harassment, discrimination and forced labour. The company has established a whistleblowing system for employees where ethics violations can be reported anonymously. However, this mechanism is not available to suppliers or designed in consultation with stakeholders. The company reports that 21 whistleblowing cases were registered from Japan and overseas sites. The violations have been categorised as harassment-related cases, labour problems and others. However, the company does not include a health and safety category or clearly explain what is included in the "labour problems" or "other" categories.

The company commits in writing to maintaining the health and safety of employees. Only the company's Fine Chemicals General Plant Tsukuba Plant has acquired an ISO45001 certification. The company has health and safety committees in each of its business locations and has established an Occupational Safety and Health Subcommittee with department members in this subcommittee. However, the company does not disclose the percentage of committees at its business locations with worker representatives.

The company reports improvement in injury data as work-related accidents decreased from 133 in FY2021 to 121 in FY2022. The company discloses that no workplace accidents have led to deaths from FY2016 to FY2022. It does not disclose turnover rates.

The company commits in writing to respect employees' freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining per each country's laws and regulations. The company discloses that the unionisation rate for regular employees is 100%. In addition, the company discloses various measures to support freedom of association. For example, the company meets with unions at each business site through its Labor-Management Liaison Council. However, the company does not provide details of any collective bargaining agreements it has entered into and what these mean for employees. The company also requires its suppliers to respect employees' freedom of association.

The company provides a basic statement on the right to collective bargaining but does not disclose the number of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements. The company reports the distribution of its workforce across contractual agreements, including temporary employees, directly hired contract employees and part-timers, across all its operations.

The company discloses that its 30 facilities have FSSC 22000, IFS and BAP certifications, which the GFSI recognises. It reveals that 63% of its sites have obtained GFSI certification. However, it does not confirm whether suppliers are expected to hold GFSI certification nor disclose the portion of those that do.

The company discloses that it conducts inspections at each stage of the manufacturing process, from raw materials to the finished product, to ensure safety and quality standards are met. It publishes data on the status of the acquisition of GFSI-approved standards, breaking down how many sites have achieved various certifications in 2021 and 2022. Whilst the number of audits to achieve certification is not disclosed, it may be inferred that audits are conducted annually at a minimum. However, the corrective action rate is not reported. Further, it does not confirm whether it is developing, or has developed, a consumer-facing technology for food safety.

The company briefly describes the product incident system wherein measures shall be taken immediately, including information sharing with sales contacts, information disclosure, and product recall. However, it does not disclose the number of recall incidents in the reporting period, and none were detected in the media screening.

The company did not disclose any information on market bans during the reporting period, and none were detected on the media screen.

The company has established a sustainability committee chaired by the CEO and comprising executive officers and outside board members who report to the board. In addition, the company conducts a materiality assessment and publicly discloses the outcomes in a materiality matrix. The board determines the key issues to be addressed. Cases identified as being a priority to stakeholders and the business include health, sustainability of marine resources, R&D and innovation, quality and sustainable procurement, food waste and traceability. The company reports holding board-level expertise in sustainability and innovation but not food safety.

The company discloses its compensation incentives and the percentages linked to sustainability performance, such as reducing carbon emissions. The company dialogues with the regional community and local governments on environmental issues, including sustainability of marine resources, reducing environmental impact, and social contribution activities through its business. The company is also a member of SeaBOS, the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship. Some of the initiatives and commitments from this organisation include marine plastic problems, forced labour, a reduction of antimicrobials used, climate change, and work to prevent the bycatch of endangered species. However, the company does not disclose a complete list of trade association memberships, and its policy engagement activities still need to be aligned with the Paris Agreement. That said, it has a process to ensure that the company's policies and sustainability strategies are consistent with its stance on climate change.

The company considers developing fishing methods that cause the minimum damage to living organisms and the environment imperative. It partners with major domestic fisheries companies like Aotearoa Fisheries, Ltd., Sanford, Ltd., and the research institute Plant & Food Research, Ltd. It has successfully developed the PSH (Precision Seafood Harvesting) fishing method, which reduces bycatch and allows the targeted fish to be caught alive. The company is also developing a sustainable next-generation aquaculture system that will halve the period until catching up to six months. In addition, it has an innovation centre that consolidates its research and development activities in one place. As part of its innovation divisions, the company has a Food Safety Research Department, which analyses residual pesticides, veterinary drugs, and food poisoning organisms. The company also benchmarks itself against the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index, SNAM Sustainability Index and S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index.

The company acknowledges protein diversification as a tool to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and, as such, is a core part of its sustainability strategy under actions for climate change and the ocean environment. Further, it acknowledges the opportunity to develop and expand its alternative protein offering in response to consumers' growing demand for low-carbon products. It aims to increase sales in overseas locations to 38% in FY2024 via several actions, including strengthening the alternative protein business. However, it has not yet set an explicit time-bound target to diversify protein sources, nor does it report sales/revenue linked to alternative protein sources.

The company has a few alternative protein products through its European subsidiary, Cite Marine. It also produces plant-based yoghurt and plant-based meat in its Japanese business. In its 2022 Sustainability Report, it discloses that it has launched a series of products using its proprietary soybean meat, "VEGETABLE MEAT," However, as per the website, the vegetable meat product seems to be discontinued in 2023. Its 2022 CDP Climate Change report discloses that its Central Research Institute will launch a research team on alternative protein. Further, it reports that Cite Marine acquired a processing plant and will construct a new one to increase alternative protein products' production capacity. It also mentions several strategies for strengthening and expanding its alternative protein business. This includes its sustainability, new business development strategies, and its mid-term business plan. However, limited details are provided.