DNP to Acquire Third-Party Certification for System Calculating Package Lifecycle CO₂
Has commenced Demonstration Tests in conjunction with SuMPO
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has commenced demonstration tests of the DNP Life Cycle CO2 Certification system in Japan. The new service will provide a third-party certified calculation of the carbon footprint, or CO2 emissions throughout the entire life, of all packaging handled by the company.
The demonstration tests will be conducted in collaboration with the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO), an organization with long domestic experience of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA*1).
The DNP Life Cycle CO2 Certification system will acquire third-party certification for the DNP management system and the tools that automatically calculate the carbon footprint. As a result, it will become possible to acquire third-party certification for calculation results without the need to undertake screening once again, leading to improved reliability.
DNP plans to commence full-scale operations from the spring 2022, facilitating the timely visualization of carbon-neutral initiatives at our stakeholders.
Background to Demonstration Tests
Many domestic and overseas companies regard climate-change as a long term risk factor, and are promoting proactive engagement in a number of areas. These include disclosure corresponding to Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD*2) initiatives, an international disclosure framework, and the setting of reduction targets consistent with Science Based Targets (SBT*3).
In particular, the carbon footprint calculates CO2 emissions of products and services over their entire life cycle. In addition to being useful in the visualization of carbon management as part of corporate business activities and in communication with consumers, carbon footprints are also attracting the attention of investors and financial institutions as a means to improve management assessment.
Over the past 20 years, DNP has calculated the carbon footprint on an in-house basis for all the packages it manufactures, from raw material procurement through manufacturing to disposal. We have given expression to such calculations in product planning and development, and disclosed calculation results on an external basis. In order to acquire third-party certification from external organizations, it has also been necessary to undertake screening for carbon footprint calculation results on a product basis.
In collaboration with SuMPO we began studies aimed at realizing the new system in April 2021, and commenced demonstration tests*4 in October. In order to be able to provide third-party calculation results in a timely manner, the system presently under construction is designed to support carbon neutral efforts at companies throughout the entire life cycle from raw materials procurement, through production and delivery to resource recycling.
DNP Life Cycle CO2 Certification system Features
The system is designed so that the management system and calculation tools, including the preparation of the calculation guideline and installation of internal testers can acquire third-party certification. As the results provided to stakeholders are certified by SuMPO, it is possible to reduce the time and cost required to acquire third-party verification. In addition, it is also possible to stay abreast of the ratios of packaging materials vis-a-vis CO2 reduction targets set by companies, along with CO2 reduction level when using eco-friendly packaging materials.
Going Forward
Through this demonstration project, DNP plans to conclude screening and obtain third party certification by March, 2022, and will launch full scale operations from the spring. We will also build a system capable of providing carbon footprint simulation results for containers made of a variety of materials, and for plastic products, in addition to providing third-party certified calculation results. We will propose LCA-driven environmental burden reduction scenarios, while supporting carbon neutral initiatives in a broad range of industries, including consulting services that measure targeted effects.
DNP’s Environmental Initiatives
The DNP Group constantly considers the synergy between our business activities and the global environment, and is promoting a variety of initiatives targeting the realization of better sustainable society. In March 2020, we established the DNP Group Environmental Vision 2050, and are now accelerating the creation of values designed to achieve the realization of a decarbonized, recycling-oriented society that is in harmony with nature. In particular, we are focused on eco-friendly packaging materials for foods and daily necessities that people purchase on a daily basis. To this end, we have launched the DNP-Friendly Packaging Series, GREEN PACKAGING*5 and are providing society with the three values of the recycling of resources, CO2 reduction, and conservation of the natural environment. Looking to the future, we will forge ahead with the introduction into Japan of SIG Combibloc Group manufactured eco-friendly paper containers, and will endeavour to reduce plastic waste while reducing environmental burdens.