3.2 Actions regarding water resources
Our Commitment
We will reduce water use in production activities and continuously preserve water sources.
Our Approach
- We will promote water saving at our plants.
- We will investigate major hydrographic vulnerabilities at our production sites.
- We will continue to conserve water sources at our production sites.
SDGs Target
Our Achievement
1) Unit Water consumption reduction rate in 2021
2) Water consumption reduction rate in 2030
*Myanmar Brewery, Kyowa Kirin, Kyowa Hakko Bio
Goals for 2021
Myanmar
Brewery
1)
28
%
(in 2021、compared with 2015)
Kyowa Kirin
2) Under consideration
Kyowa Hakko Bio
3)
32
%
(in 2030、compared with 2015)
Basic Thinking
For the Kirin Group, as well as being a basic raw material, water is also an essential resource in growing the agricultural products that are our ingredients. In addition, water is an indispensable resource for washing our production equipment. However, our scenario analysis based on the TCFD recommendations shows that water resources in the locations and basins of our business sites and in raw material production regions are significantly affected by climate change. The Kirin Group recognizes that water resources are shared resources and are closely related to the society, culture, and human rights of people living in basins. We are also aware that water resources are unevenly distributed around the earth, and different countries and regions have different risks associated with water. With this recognition, we are taking appropriate measures based on the circumstances of each region.
Bring water, used as a raw material, to a sustainable state
- Continue to reduce the volume of water use in group operational bases.
- Further promote water source forestation activities in Japan
Solve problems with water in a way that suits the characteristics of basin regions where our business bases are located
- Minimize risk during water-related disasters by reinforcing resilience and efficiency for supply chains.
- Implement water source preservation activities and education programs to preserve water in raw material production areas, thereby solving water issues in the value chain.
Business Location Water Risk Assessment
Highlights of Outcomes
| Challenges | Progress |
|---|---|
| Bring water, used as a raw material, to a sustainable state. | In 2019, Kirin Brewery reduced its industrial water use by 64% and its water consumption rate by 49% compared to 1990 levels. The same year, the Kyowa Kirin Group worldwide including Kyowa Hakko Bio reduced its industrial water use by 23% and its water consumption rate by 26% compared to 2015 levels. Although Myanmar Brewery’s industrial water use rose by 21% compared to 2015 in 2019, its water consumption rate fell by 25%. We continued our Water Source Forestation Activities in 12 locations across Japan, with 1,192 people participating. |
| Solve problems with water in a way that suits the characteristics of basin regions where our business bases are located. | In 2018, we began activities to conserve water sources in tea farms in Sri Lanka. Water sources in highlands are the source of many rivers in coastal cities, making our activities important for all surrounding basins. In Japan, we were able to minimize the impact of typhoon No. 15 and No. 19 in 2019, despite the severe damages they inflicted on the country, because we had been quick to prepare a counter-disaster manual based on the lessons learned from our previous experience with the disruption of the distribution networks caused by the 2018 West Japan Torrential Rain Disaster. Furthermore, in 2019, we proceeded with our efforts as part of the scenario analysis to identify water risks and water stresses in major raw material production areas in more detail. |
