To provide value to society and to continue to survive, it is vitally important for the Nichirei Group to secure a sustainable source of ingredients. Moreover, given that raw ingredients are harvested from natural ecosystems for its business, the Group recognizes that it is similarly important for it to address environmental issues in the supply chain—specifically, that it puts effort into energy use and climate change issues, takes into account water usage and impacts on biodiversity, and that it tackles pollution, waste and the efficient use of resources.
Having selected “maintain a sustainable supply chain” as one of the top-priority important items in the Nichirei Pledge (its basic CSR policy), the company established the Nichirei Group Sustainable Supply Chain Policy on April 1, 2017.
Nichirei makes efforts not only for its own business activities, but also to address societal and environmental issues in its supply chain. In proper collaboration with its suppliers and partner companies, Nichirei will work to maintain a sustainable supply chain so that it can provide safe and high-quality products and services in a reliable manner.

To promote efforts to maintain a sustainable supply chain for all of Nichirei Group, the Group established the CSR Management discussion meeting in FY2017. During this meeting, the Group’s common basic policy is examined, issues being faced and efforts being made by each operating company are shared, and so on. The meeting is held six or more times per year, and the results of the discussions are reported to the Board of Directors and the management conference, providing support for operating companies’ efforts to maintain a sustainable supply chain. The Nichirei Group Sustainable Supply Chain Policy was also established through the CSR Management discussion meeting. The Group procures products and services in accordance with the following policy and asks suppliers to also assent to and comply with it.

Nichirei Foods conducts quality assurance audits in the form of factory inspections on each factory of contracted producers about once every two years. As part of this it confirms the implementation status of its Sustainable Supply Chain Policy.
In regard to environmental education within the Group, as part of its Training for New Managers, employees learn about sustainable raw ingredients as well as about the latest trends in Japan and overseas and issues faced by the Nichirei Group. In addition, the following goals have been set as a Group initiative.

・ Procure materials produced or caught in consideration of sustainable utilization and their processed products.
・ Build a recycling system in collaboration with business partners and local communities to make full use of resources.

Mauritanian potted octopi are one of the quality materials used at Nichirei Fresh. For more than 40 years, the company has been working with locals to catch octopi using pots, allowing it to provide high-quality octopus ingredients. This technique is less likely to damage fishing areas and overfishing. The group is working hard to develop sustainable fishing practices by complying with no-fishing periods and no-fishing standards by, for example, using both Brazilian and Mexican wild shrimp.
In addition to constantly offering a reliable supply of safe and secure foods, Nichirei Fresh Inc. will continue to develop and procure quality materials as it focuses on sustainable resources, as well as the importance of having a sustainable environment and society.

Nichirei Fresh developed the Forest of Life Project, which it has maintained together with Indonesia supplier PT. Mustika Minanusa Aurora (MMA) and Tarakan City in North Kalimantan since 2006, and worked on improving the aquaculture industry in partnership with WWF Indonesia and WWF Japan. As a result, this initiative became the first in Indonesia to receive ASC certification*1 for black tiger shrimp in August 2017.
　As of June 2018, Nichirei Fresh has 16 types of marine products that have obtained MSC certification. In FY2018, Nichirei Fresh developed herring roe Matsumae-zuke and herring roe Wasabi-zuke made with MSC-certified Pacific herring (roe) with a business partner that has obtained CoC certification*2. Going forward, with an aim of expanding its sales of sustainable marine products, Nichirei Fresh will continue to increase the number of ASC-certified and MSC-certified*3 marine products it offers.

• *1 ASC certification: Marine products certified by the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) as having been cultivated in a sustainable manner.
• *2 CoC certification: Certification of the management of the processing and distribution processes.
• *3 MSC certification: Natural marine products certified by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) as having been cultivated in a sustainable manner.

Drug-resistant bacteria—bacteria on which antimicrobial agents (antibiotics) no longer work—have become an international issue. To allay consumer anxiety toward this issue, Nichirei Fresh has been committed to raising FA (free from antibiotics) chickens for more than a decade.
In order to treat illness, prevent risks of disease associated with intensive poultry farming, and stimulate further growth, antibiotics, synthetic antimicrobial drugs and other pharmaceuticals are used in the farming of most generally available broiler chickens.
While FA chickens do receive vaccinations, these other pharmaceuticals are not used at all throughout the chicken’s life. Instead, FA chickens are bred using a number of unique methods. As well as being fastidious about their breeding environment, a resistance to disease is developed in chickens by using lactic acid bacteria or other viable agents that benefit their health, as well as herbal medicines (Chinese medicines), to boost their inherent immune strength. FA chickens are kind to humans, kind to chickens, and kind to the environment.