HOME > Company information > UCC Sustainability Direction > Directly managed farm

Circular
Economy

The UCC Group promotes its business activities from seven perspectives based on the concept of the Circular Economy,
which makes effective use of resources that were previously disposed of and reuses them as much as possible.

より良い資源循環の実現

*The detailed content of the initiative is linked to a Japanese language page.

Design
Improvements

Implement reusable, recyclable or compostable materials and remove unnecessary elements (e.g. excessive material) and make improvements that reduce environmental impact when designing.

Key Initiatives

The UCC Group aims to reduce unnecessary and problematic plastic elements from its packaging and to use lighter and less virgin materials.

  • ・By 2030 100% of UCC own branded products packaging will be designed to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
  • ・By 2030, UCC will reduce the use of petroleum-derived virgin plastic in the containers and packaging of its branded coffee products by 50% per unit sold, compared to its 2017 baseline.

Responsible
procurement

Proactively source and utilise more sustainable materials, such as post-consumer recycled content and certified materials (eg paper/card)

Key Initiatives

UCC aims to increase the use of renewable, recycled, or certified sources in all own brand packaging material.

Increasing the use of sustainably sourced cardboard and paper for products by using recycled or certified sources (FSC or PEFC).

Manufacture

Waste from the production process, such as jute bags, silverskins, coffee grounds after extraction, plastics, etc., are effectively utilised as a new resources.

Sell

Propose and provide products and services that can reduce environmental impact together with our customers and suppliers, such as food loss reduction and repair and maintenance of machines to keep them in use for as long as possible.

Consume
and use

We will make improvements to make it easier for customers to sort and responsibly dispose of waste, and promote the creation of products to support solving social and environmental issues.

  • Label-less Plastic bottle products

  • Compostable PLA fiber is used in some filter paper

Better system
support

UCC will explore efficient collection systems to enhance the processes of material collection, sorting, and recycling. We will engage in various platforms and collaborate through partnerships and networks that extend beyond industry boundaries to address social issues.

Key Initiatives

UCC group will support initiatives to strengthen collection, sorting, and recycling of materials to support the circular economy where it operates. UCC group will also take action to reduce plastic pollution including marine clean-up work activities.

Reuse

Research and develop international partnerships with material manufacturers to increase access to and promote the use of post-consumer recycled materials, thereby stimulating supply and demand in the markets.