SOCIAL IMPACT
Fair Trade and Contract Cultivation
Unlike soybeans and other crops, sesame plants overseas are often grown by small-scale farmers. Sesame seeds harvested by those farmers are collected in one place and imported into Japan. Since it is difficult to trace the original producers, we conduct fair trade and contract cultivation with our overseas partners, and use “Sesame seeds that show the faces of the producers” in a portion of our products.
Kuki purchased fair trade certified white sesame seeds from the Del Campo Agricultural Cooperative, which has acquired fair trade certification in the Republic of Nicaragua.We will be a bridge between sesame farmers and our consumers.
Utilization of Solar Energy and hydroelectric systems
In April 2011 Kuki established a new Oil Filling Factory and effectively installed solar panels on one side of the roof space.Kuki received certification for renewable energy generation machines in September 2012, and registered the facility as a solar power plant. Photovoltaic power from the Oil Filling Factory creates 76.9 kilowatts. As a company that not only uses energy but also “creates” energy, Kuki will continually promote environmental initiatives.
Kuki’s Manure Factory is located within the southern part of Mie Prefecture in a town called Taiki. In an environment surrounded by mountains, we manufacture organic fertilizers using sesame oil residue and sesame seed skin etc. as raw materials. At the Manure Factory, hydroelectric power is generated using the water flowing from a nearby river. Along with solar power generation, we are using natural energy.
Forest Conservation Activities
Kuki is the proud owner of a forest. Why is the food company Kuki Sangyo, a comprehensive maker of sesame, the owner of a forest you may ask?
It is to carry out global environmental protection of forests. As a corporation, managing forests will bring great benefits to the environment. We have high hopes for maintaining the global environment and will continue in our efforts for forest conservation.
