EN

EN

Contribution to a Circulating Society

Contribution to a Circulating Society

The CITIZEN Group Resource Circulating Vision (Established in April 2020)

Long-Term Vision for 2050

Recognizing the importance of resource circulation to not only prevent resource depletion but also reduce GHG emissions throughout the value chain as a means of countering climate change, The CITIZEN Group will contribute to the development of a circular economy and the realization of a circulating society by promoting the sustainable use of resources through resource conservation, 3R activities, zero waste emissions, and the preservation of water resources.

Mid-Term Priority Measures for the Period through 2030

  1. Promoting the use of sustainable resources through resource conservation activities, such as reducing raw material use, using sustainable packaging and containers, switching to digital user manuals and product catalogs, using recycled paper and paper with forest certification, lessening the environmental impact of shipping and packaging materials, reducing paper use at factories and offices, and 3R initiatives.
  2. Contributing to the prevention of global warming and of ocean pollution by plastics by reducing the plastic waste emitted from business sites and reducing single-use plastic containers and packaging.
  3. Promoting the sustainable use of water resources by reducing water use and withdrawal in business activities through means such as water recycling and reducing water use in cleaning.

Waste Reduction Targets

The CITIZEN Group is promoting waste reduction activities in all workplaces, from factories to offices and employee cafeterias, with the aim of realizing a recycling-oriented society through waste reduction and recycling. We have set a domestic recycling rate target of 99.5% or higher and will continue our efforts to recycle resources through the effective use of waste.

Valuables and Waste Emissions
Graph
Composition of Valuables and Waste Emissions
Graph

Development of Waste and Recycling Governance

The CITIZEN Group is actively enhancing its waste and recycling governance, with a specific emphasis on the following key actions: establishing a comprehensive system that involves both internal and external stakeholders, mitigating risks inherent in outsourced waste and recycling operations, and promoting transparency by sharing information about the Group’s initiatives. Waste undergoes diverse processing and recycling procedures. In the unlikely event that some of the wastes are improperly disposed of or illegally dumped due to improper outsourcing, the company that has outsourced that operation may be charged with violating the Act on Waste Management and Public Cleaning. This might lead to legal consequences, including potential imprisonment, fines, and public disclosure of the involved company’s name.

In FY2024, we conducted an internal environmental audit at each site and Group-wide internal environmental audits at six sites of six Group companies in Japan. Any identified risks at one site are communicated to all sites for focused examination. In FY2024, we focused on ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and managing industrial waste appropriately.

[Case Study] Changing Thermometer Packaging Material to Bagasse Paper to Reduce Plastic Use by Approximately 14 Tons per Year

CITIZEN SYSTEMS

Among CITIZEN SYSTEMS’ healthcare products, packaging material for thermometers for the domestic market gradually switched from conventional plastic and cardboard to bagasse paper made from sugarcane, starting with thermometers produced in December 2022 (with some exceptions). This can reduce the amount of plastic used by approximately 14 tons per year.*1

Furthermore, vegetable oil ink, which emits almost no gaseous organic compounds to the atmosphere, has been used for packaging and user manuals, and varnish, which is classified as a non-inhibiting paint in the recycling process,*2 is used for the surface finish. Recycled paper is used for the user manual, which also contributes to waste reduction.

We aim to realize a sustainable, recycling-oriented society by contributing to the reduction of plastic waste and CO2 emissions through optimized product design and the use of environmentally friendly resources.

Photo
Plastic and cardboard packaging
Photo
Bagasse paper package
Image Photo
Packages made of bagasse paper are marked with the bagasse logo.*3
  1. Calculated based on the Company’s FY2021 domestic shipments.
  2. Based on the standard set in the Used Paper Recyclability Rankings List for printed materials compiled by the Japan Federation of Printing Industries
  3. The logo is granted for the use of paper containing bagasse pulp produced by Gojo Paper MFG. Co., Ltd.

[Case Study] Supporting Greening of Deserts with Proceeds from the Sale of 100,000 Used Batteries for Recycling

CITIZEN RETAIL PLANNING

At "on time" and "move" watch retail stores operated by CITIZEN RETAIL PLANNING, over 100,000 batteries are replaced annually. The battery replacement process leaves a large amount of used silver oxide batteries. CITIZEN RETAIL PLANNING has been involved in the Earth Green ACTION program, in which the company donates the proceeds from the sale of those used batteries to recycling companies to support a desert greening initiative through an NGO. Specifically, the program supports greening activities on the Hunshandake Sandy Land, an artificially desertified area in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In FY2024, the company sold approximately 100,000 used batteries, which enabled the planting of about 21,000 seedlings suitable to the local climate in a vast area of 11,000 m2 (around 2.7 acres). Since this program was launched in 2021, a total of approximately 138,000 seedlings have been planted over a total area of 62,500 m2 (around 15.4 acres). These plants are expected to absorb CO2, thereby contributing to global warming mitigation and reducing the spread of yellow sand. To communicate our commitment to customers, we provide an Earth Green ACTION Participation Certificate alongside battery replacements, effectively sharing our dedication to greening endeavors. Together with our valued customers, we endeavor to harness the potential of waste batteries to build a sustainable society through impactful greening initiatives.

Photo
Photo of the 2022 plantation, taken in August 2024
Photo
Photo of the 2023 plantation, taken in August 2024

Contribution to a Circular Economy

The Sustainability Committee not only holds internal discussions on sustainability but also invites outside experts to give lectures. In May 2021, a lecture titled "Circular Economy: Global Frontiers and Corporate Growth Strategies" was held for Group executives and department heads. The gist of the lecture was that the ultimate goal of companies in their commitment to a circular economy is to realize human well-being, while resource recycling is the foundation of business as a means to achieve a sustainable society and economy. This lecture has inspired The CITIZEN Group to accelerate its efforts toward sustainability. As part of efforts to broaden understanding of this issue within the Group, a lecture on resource recycling was held in August 2023, mainly for Group executives, and an e-learning program on the theme of the circular economy was provided to employees.

We emphasize product durability and safety and make efficient use of limited resources throughout the product lifecycle, from raw material procurement and design to resource recovery and reuse. With this approach, we aim to strengthen our efforts to address global environmental problems caused by economic activities, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and environmental pollution, and to provide solutions to them.

Watch Business Initiatives

Watches are products that are worn directly on the customer’s wrist and used for many years. For the past half century, we have been introducing environmentally friendly products, such as the world's first analogue quartz watch equipped with Eco-Drive, * a system developed in 1976 for powering the watch using any kind of light without the need for regular battery replacement. Today as well, we proactively use recycled and upcycled materials for some parts of our watches.

In FY2024, we announced that we would launch a new initiative of using 100% recycled polycarbonate, in principle, as material for the dials of watches equipped with the photovoltaic Eco-Drive system, CITIZEN’s proprietary core technology (unless it involves technical difficulties).

Eco-Drive watches with a recycled polycarbonate dial will appear successively on the market from the spring of 2025 onward.
Furthermore, our watch business provides wristwatch repair services around the world. Repairing tens of thousands of wristwatches a year, we value our bonds with customers.

  • * Eco-Drive:
    CITIZEN’s proprietary technology that powers watches using any natural or artificial light source, eliminating the need to replace batteries regularly. Evaluated from the viewpoint of environmental protection, Eco-Drive was certified as an Eco Mark product in 1996 by the Japan Environment Association (JEA), a first for a wristwatch in Japan.
Back to Top