The Otsuka group aims to help prevent global warming by promoting both tangible energy-saving activities, such as equipment updating, and intangible activities, including operational improvements. In Tokushima, where most of the group’s production facilities are located, the Tokushima Factory of Otsuka Chemical has installed a gas turbine cogeneration system, which supplies power and steam to various group companies in the same district. Since 2016, an energy conservation subcommittee at the Matsushige Factory, and a Value Engineering Team at the Toyama Factory, etc. have been launched, leading to further revitalization. Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Tokushima Itano Factory was using Bunker A as the fuel for its boilers, but it has converted the fuel to LPG. Due to this, it has been able to reduce its fuel usage by 42Kl (crude-oil equivalent) per year and its carbon dioxide emissions by 340t per year. Furthermore, emissions into the atmosphere of methylnaphthalene, a PRTR substance contained in Bunker A, have become zero. As a result of the fuel conversion the Bunker A tanks have been removed, so there is no longer any possibility of Bunker A leaks, which contributes to risk reduction.
Hanamaki Factory of EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical is progressively switching to LED lighting in manufacturing areas as an energy-saving initiative. Furthermore, it is continuing to switch to equipment and facilities with good energy efficiency in a systematic manner when upgrading equipment and facilities, and engaging in initiatives to reduce power consumption.
Taiho Pharmaceutical is carrying out fuel conversion in order to reduce greenhouse gases. At the end of 2016, it converted the fuel of the kerosene boilers and Bunker A boilers at the Okayama Plant and Okayama Taiho to city gas boilers. As a result, it has reduced CO2 emissions by 440 tons.
Otsuka Foods upgraded the process refrigerators at its four plants and is proceeding with energy-saving and replacement of hydrochlorofluorocarbon R-22. Furthermore, it is progressively changing from its former mercury lamps and fluorescent lights to LED lighting. The Tokushima Factory has upgraded its pasteurization facilities on its beverage production line, reducing the amount of steam and the amount of water use. The Shiga Factory changed the paint on its roof to a type with high heat shield and heat insulating properties in order to curb room temperature rises as a part of its energy-saving measures.

The Otsuka group is focused on improving energy use efficiency in buildings and fuel efficiency in business vehicles. Environmental managers from across the Otsuka group gather together to share information on energy-saving activities in offices to promote each company’s initiatives.
In addition to working to optimize daily energy use, the Otsuka group strives for efficient lighting and air conditioning use in offices. Employees participate in Warm Biz and Cool Biz campaigns that encourage appropriate seasonal office attire. The group has supported declaring no-overtime days and use of air circulators. LED lighting is also being progressively introduced. Actions taken to reduce paper use in printers have raised awareness about paper and energy conservation. Transition to hybrid and fuel-efficient business vehicles is in effect. In fiscal 2017, the green vehicle usage rates for Otsuka Foods, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, and Taiho Pharmaceutical were 92%, 93%, 85%, and 69%, respectively. Additionally the group promotes eco-friendly driving habits with attention on safe driving and accident prevention.
The Kobe Branch of Otsuka Pharmaceutical has cooperated with internal and external parties to reduce its energy consumption; it has updated lighting, humidification, and air conditioning equipment in its rented office space. In addition to these updates, the branch continues to take comprehensive measures such as implementing plan-do-check-act cycles to find new and improved ways to save energy.
The Hanamaki Factory of EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been converting its company-use vehicles to hybrid vehicles, and had achieved an introduction rate of 100% as of December 31, 2017. For business trips, the Hanamaki Factory endeavors to practice “smart move” taking into consideration CO2 emissions reductions by promoting the use of public transportation such as railroads, etc. + car sharing and rental cars. Furthermore, it is taking initiatives to save power. For example, it utilizes Cool Biz and Warm Biz to set the temperature of the air conditioning to the minimum level necessary throughout the year.

The Otsuka group is actively pursuing clean energy. It is working to reduce CO2 emissions by installing solar power generation systems. Otsuka Techno has introduced solar power generation at the Naruto head office, Mold Center, and the Wajiki No. 4 Factory. EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical has installed photovoltaic solar panels at its Hanamaki Factory, which partially power the employee cafeteria. Based on its intention to contribute to the promotion of a low-carbon, resources-recycling society in its region, this company is giving some of its industrial waste (animal and plant residues) to Koiwai Farm, one of the leading tourist destinations in the prefecture, for use as biomass together with livestock excreta, etc. Energy utilizing the methane gas obtained through treatment, and compost and liquid fertilizer, are produced at the facility of the contractor to which disposal is outsourced, and then effectively used in Koiwai Farm, etc. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory has installed solar panels on the IV Solutions Information Center at the site of the head office. The amount of electricity generated and the level of CO2 emissions reduction are displayed on an indoor monitor. This display serves to raise the environmental awareness of employees and communicates environmental conservation activities to visitors at the center.
Overseas, in 2017 Otsuka India converted the main fuel for its boilers from coal to bio-fuels such as wood debris, etc., thereby reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 30% compared to the previous year.

Every year the offices and factories of Taiho Pharmaceutical plant bitter gourd, morning glory, and other vine plants to cover sunny windows in order to create green curtains that lower the room temperatures and save energy. This contributes to saving power and building a comfortable workplace environment. For example, large mature leaves help block the strong sunlight in summer, and drop room temperatures by three degrees. The harvested produce is featured on lunch menus in employee cafeterias, which raises the employees’ awareness of energy saving.
At the administration building at the Hanamaki Factory of EN Otsuka Pharmaceutical, more than ten years have passed since the start of the green curtain initiative. The rising of room temperatures is prevented due to the blocking of direct sunlight and the transpiration effect of the leaves and cool air is blown through the rooms due to water vapor emitted from the leaves. To date the company has cultivated morning glory, bitter gourd, and passion fruit, and the thriving green leaves give a visual sensation of coolness and have now become a charming symbol of summer.

Every year since fiscal 2010 Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory and Taiho Pharmaceutical have concluded “Tokushima Cooperative Forestry Project” partnership agreements with Tokushima Prefecture and the Tokushima Forest Conservation Promotion Organization to support forest cultivation projects in the prefecture. This project implements the carbon offset mechanism in a model form, and is an initiative to maintain forests through thinning and afforestation, etc. using contributions from offices and individuals who have concluded agreements. Based on these agreements, the companies maintain and conserve forests through thinning and afforestation, etc., which leads to an increase in the amount of CO2 absorbed by forests and measures to combat global warming.
In 2017 the companies supported Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress thinning projects in 25.9ha of forests at three places inside Tokushima Prefecture (Mima, Miyoshi, and Tokushima City). The cumulative total amount of CO2 absorbed by 2017 was 2,902 tons.
At the tree planting event “Let’s Go to the Collaborative Forest in Nishi-Awa 2017” held in 2017, 165 employees of both companies, including the president of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, and their family members participated, working for the conservation of water and the ecosystem, and deepening exchanges transcending the boundaries between companies and organizations.
Furthermore, Otsuka Techno participates in the consultative meetings of the region to carry out environmental conservation activities in the neighboring Naka River basin and the coast along the river’s estuary, and participates in the tree planting activities organized by the consultative meetings in November every year.
In addition to this, in order to make a contribution to the local community, Otsuka Foods actively participates through tree planting festivals in the building of facilities utilizing the natural environment which is familiar to the community residents, a goal of Onbetsu, Kushiro City.
Overseas, in China where air pollution is becoming more and more serious, the staff of the factory at Otsuka Sims (Guangdong) Beverage are participating in tree-planting activities organized by the Xinhui government on March 10, 2017, Tree Planting Day. Furthermore, in Indonesia each of the operating companies is actively implementing tree planting activities with the objective of forest conservation.