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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 plants 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.

Byproducts and Waste Emissions
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Breakdown of byproducts and waste emissions
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Development of "Waste and Recycling Governance"

The CITIZEN Group is actively enhancing its waste and recycling governance, with a specific emphasis on the key aspects: “establishing a comprehensive system that involves both internal and external stakeholders,” “mitigating the inherent risks associated with outsourced waste and recycling operations,” and “promoting transparency by sharing information about our initiatives.” Waste undergoes diverse processing and recycling procedures. In the unlikely event that some of the wastes are improperly disposed of or illegally dumped, depending on the improper consignment, the company concerned may be charged with violating the Waste Disposal and Public Cleaning Law. This might lead to legal consequences, including potential imprisonment, fines, and public disclosure of the involved company's name.

Throughout FY2023, we conducted internal environmental audits at each site and group-wide internal environmental audits at one company and one site within Japan. Any identified risks at one site are communicated to all sites for focused examination. In the same fiscal year, particular attention was given to the management of chemical substances and emergency drills.

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

CITIZEN SYSTEMS

In CITIZEN Systems' healthcare products, the packaging of thermometers for the domestic market has gradually switched from conventional plastic and cardboard materials to "bagasse paper" made from sugarcane for production from 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 in the atmosphere, has been used as the ink for packaging and instruction 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 instruction 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.

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Plastic and cardboard packaging
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Bagasse paper package
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Packages using bagasse paper are marked with the bagasse symbol*3.
  1. Calculated based on the company’s FY2021 domestic shipments.
  2. Based on the standard of “Used Paper Recycling Appropriate Rank List" for printed materials which was established by the Japan Federation of Printing Industries
  3. The mark is granted for the use of paper blended with bagasse pulp made by Gojo Paper MFG. Co., Ltd.

[Case Study]Supporting Greening of Deserts with Proceeds from the Sale of 110,000 Used Batteries for Recycling

CITIZEN RETAIL PLANNING

At the watch retail stores named “on-time” and “move,” operated by CITIZEN RETAIL PLANNING, over 100,000 batteries are replaced annually. The battery replacement process generates a large amount of used silver oxide batteries. We have donated the amount of money from the sale of such used batteries to recycling companies and participated in the Earth Green ACTION program, which supports desert greening initiatives through collaboration with NGOs. Specifically, the program supports greening activities on an artificially desertified area called “Hongshandark Sandy” in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In FY2023, we successfully sold approximately 110,000 used batteries and planted around 28,000 locally suitable seedlings, covering an area of 1.25 hectares. This endeavor has the capacity to absorb roughly 480 tons of CO2 emissions, 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 for fostering sustainability through impactful greening initiatives.

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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 was held for group executives and division heads on the theme of “Circular Economy: Global Frontiers and Corporate Growth Strategies.” The gist of the lecture was that “the ultimate goal of companies in the circular economy is to realize human well-being, and resource recycling is the foundation of business as a means to achieve a sustainable social economy.” This is becoming the beginning of the acceleration of the CITIZEN Group’s sustainability efforts. As part of efforts to promote understanding in the Company, a lecture on resource recycling was held in August 2023, mainly for group executives, and e-learning 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 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*, which does not require regular battery replacement, developed in 1976. Today, we continue to promote the use of sustainable resources by using recycled and upcycled materials for some parts of our watches, thereby contributing to the development of a circular economy and the realization of a recycling-oriented society.

In 2021, a project team 20 young employees began the study on the circular economy on a full scale. In 2022, a subcommittee with the participation of many divisions was set up,, and in 2023, research activities for specific measures were initiated.

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