Corporate website of Orient Corporation

Sustainability

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Our Group’s Operations

Against the backdrop of the growing sense of crisis regarding the impact of climate change and the conservation of natural capital, calls for environment-related responses from companies are increasing rapidly. Our Group recognizes that it is an important social responsibility for us, as well, to contribute to the realization of a sustainable economy and promote the reduction of the environmental impact of our operations. Accordingly, we are reducing the environmental impact of our business operations and established a plan to achieve net-zero emissions in 2050.

Reducing the Environmental Impact of Our Group’s Operations

Our Group has formulated the following transition plan to realize sustainable business operations, and we are enhancing our environment-related initiatives.

Improve Business Operations: Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Consumption

We are reducing our environmental impact through reviews such as reducing the total number of company-owned vehicles, switching to eco-friendly vehicles, introducing renewable energy, reducing electricity and other energy consumption, and promoting paperless offices.

Objectives (FY2025–FY2029)

  • Promote a 100% switchover to eco-friendly vehicles (EVs, FCVs, HVs, and fuel-efficient vehicles) for company-owned vehicles: Set a target of 90%

  • Reduce amount of copy paper purchased by 15% compared to FY2024 levels

  • Achieve 100% introduction of renewable energy plans at our company-owned buildings

  • Publications: 100% use of FSC-certified or PEFC or other environmentally friendly paper.

  • 100% penetration rate of eco-consciousness when procuring and purchasing office supplies such as stationery and furniture

Please see our transition plan for more details.

Social Contribution Card

We issue social contribution cards that allow cardholders to support environmental conservation activities. The Social Contribution Card  is a system that donates a portion of the amount spent to partner organizations without burdening on the cardholders. By encouraging customers to use the card, we aim to help solve social issues, including environmental problems, and to realize a sustainable society.

Financing with consideration for the realization of a circular society and decarbonization

We are diversifying our fund procurement methods by issuing Green Bonds (unsecured straight bonds) in the form of domestic public offerings.

Green Bond Issuance Results

Date of Issuance Series number Issued Amount Loans Covered
12-Apr-19 The 21st Unsecured Corporate Bond
(Green bonds with inter-bond pari passu clause)
5 billion yen Solar power renovation
20-Jan-22 The 31st Unsecured Corporate Bond
(Green bonds with inter-bond pari passu clause)
5 billion yen Electric vehicle (EV)

Overview of Green Bonds

The 21st Unsecured Corporate Bond
Date of Issuance 12-Apr-19
Issue term 5 years
Issue amount 5 billion yen
Interest rate 0.50%
Use of Funds Refinancing funds raised to cover the cost of installing energy-saving equipment such as solar power generation systems, storage batteries, and eco-cute hot water systems (“solar home renovation loans”)
Acquired Rating
  • A-: Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR)
  • BBB+: Rating and Investment Information, Inc.(R&I)
  • Green1: Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR)
Reporting
  1. Status of Appropriation of Funds Raised
    The funds raised through this green bond have been fully appropriated to refinance the funds raised for solar home renovation loans (funds for redeeming commercial paper).
  2. Environmental Improvement Effects
    The total carbon dioxide emissions reduced by the eligible green projects this green bond covers is 5,402 tons, and the total annual electricity generated is 10,712 MWh. (Theoretical value based on output standards at the time of issuance in 2019)
Investors who have announced their investment (in no particular order)
  1. THE KAGAWA BANK,Ltd.
  2. JAPAN POST INSURANCE Co., Ltd.
  3. Sanjo Credit Associations
  4. Sugamo Shinkin Bank
  5. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co., Ltd.
  6. Nagasaki Medical Association Credit Associations
  7. Boso Credit Associations
  8. Hokkaido Labour Bank
  9. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management
  10. Manulife General Account Investments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Manulife Group)
The 31st Unsecured Corporate Bond
Date of Issuance 20-Jan-22
Issue term 3 years
Issue amount 5 billion yen
Interest rate 0.09%
Use of Funds Refinancing of funds raised for auto loans for electric vehicles (EVs)
Acquired Rating
  • A-: Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR)
  • A-: Rating and Investment Information, Inc.(R&I)
  • Green1: Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR)
Reporting
  1. The funds raised through this green bond have been used in full to refinance (repay commercial paper) the funds raised for loans for electric vehicles (EVs). (As of January 31, 2022)
  2. Environmental Improvement Effects
    The total annual CO2 emissions reduced by the eligible green projects covered by this green bond is 335.62 tons. (Based on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting and Reporting Manual of the Ministry of the Environment at the time of issuance in January 2022)
Investors who have announced their investment (in no particular order)
  1. Asset Management One Co., Ltd.
  2. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co., Ltd.
  3. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management

Third-party evaluation of eligibility (common to all issues)

JCR Green Finance Framework Evaluation
As a third-party evaluation, Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (JCR) has awarded the highest rating of “Green 1” for the eligibility of this Green Bond

Green Bonds Issuance Promotion System Establishment Support Business of the Ministry of the Environment
The acquisition of a third-party evaluation for this Green Bond is eligible for a subsidy under the Green Bonds Issuance Promotion System Establishment Support Business of the Ministry of the Environment.

Reducing Electricity Consumption and CO2 Emissions

To reduce electricity consumption and CO2 emissions, we are working within the company to do what we can in our immediate surroundings. As a specified business operator under the Energy Conservation Act, we are working to reduce electricity consumption by 1% or more per year. In addition, as a site subject to the Saitama Prefectural Ordinance on the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming and Targeted Emissions Transaction System, we are actively working to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

We are promoting company-wide energy conservation through casual biz, reducing the air conditioning load by applying light-shielding film to the windows of the head office building, reducing the use of ceiling lights and turning off lights, switching to LED lighting in our own buildings, and setting office equipment to energy-saving mode.
In addition to promoting the use of eco-cars in company vehicles, efforts are being made to reduce CO2 emissions by reducing the total number of company vehicles, reducing the amount of petrol used, and reducing mileage by promoting online sales.

Environmental Data

Performance Data

Environmental Accounting

To reduce the environmental impact of our business activities, we have introduced environmental accounting based on the "Environmental Accounting Guidelines 2005" issued by the Ministry of the Environment, which will allow us to quantitatively understand the costs and effects of our environmental conservation activities.

■Reporting Period:
FY 2022 (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023)
FY 2023 (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024)
■Scope of Reporting:
Orient Corporation (standalone)

Environmental protection costs (in thousands of yen)

Classifications Main initiatives 2022 2023 Year-on-year increase or decrease
Investments Costs Investments Costs Investments Costs
Costs within the areas of the business operations Replacement with energy-saving equipments and computers, as well as waste disposals 270,537 190,618 202,227 147,296 ▲68,310 ▲43,322
Upstream and downstream costs Costs incurred for environmental friendly purchases 0 5,066 0 4,813 0 ▲253
Administrative activity costs Disclosure of environmental information 0 38,750 0 59,750 0 21,000
Social activity costs Environment-related donations 0 18,260 0 18,817 0 557
Total 270,537 252,694 202,227 230,677 ▲68,310 ▲22,017

Environmental protection effects

Classifications Measurement Items Unit 2022 2023 Environmental protection effects
Resources input into business activities City Gas Thousand m³ 545 553 8
Petroleum gas t 1 0 ▲1
Kerosene Kl 2 1 ▲1
Electric power Thousand kWh 20,382 19,407 ▲975
Steam GJ 359 331 ▲28
Hot water GJ 339 239 ▲100
Cold water GJ 595 623 28
Others GJ 72 71 ▲1
Total energy input Calorific value GJ 226,082 194,134 ▲31,948
Environmental impact and waste emitted from business activities Greenhouse gas emissions t-CO2 10,764 8,954 ▲1,810

Environmental Data

Energy consumption based on the Energy Conservation Act

  2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Average change in basic unit
over 5 fiscal years
Energy consumption (kl) 6,905 6,709 6,489 5,833 5,590 6,305
Basic unit for energy use
Year on year (%)
97.4 100.1 98.6 91.6 96.1 96.8
Reduction rate (%) ▲3 0 ▲1 ▲8 ▲4 ▲3

Scope of data collection: Kojimachi Head Office, Head Office Annex, Tsurugashima Building, and others (including tenants)

Saitama Prefecture Ordinance on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures (Targeted Emissions Trading System: 3rd Plan Period/FY2020-FY2024)

①Obligations imposed on our company
Reduce CO2 emissions by 22% from the base emissions (reduction of CO2 emissions at target sites during the reduction plan period)

Target site Reduction Plan Period Base emissions (unit year) Reduction rate Single-year emission potential
Head Office Annex Building FY2020 - FY2024 6,286t ▲22% 4,903t
(6,286t×▲22%)

②Performance against reduction obligations

  2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total for 3rd plan period
Base emissions (t) 6,286 6,286 6,286 6,286 25,144
Emissions for the year (t) 4,980 4,963 4,277 3,986 18,206
Reduction (t) 1,306 1,323 2,009 2,300 6,938
Reduction rate (%) ▲21 ▲21 ▲32 ▲37 ▲28

Conservation of Natural Capital and Ecosystems, among others

In addition to climate change-related matters, our Group recognizes that it also has dependencies and relationships which have an impact on the environment that concern natural capital, ecosystems, forests, water, and more. We are continually striving to ensure coexistence and co-prosperity with the natural capital and ecosystems which are the foundation for the survival of all stakeholders, including customers, business partners, and our Group’s executives and employees.

The Orico Forest Project

We work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption by regenerating forests through maintenance activities—including planting, vegetation clearing, and thinning—in forests owned by Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture.
Through this project, we aim to contribute to environmental conservation in Saitama Prefecture over the long term, and to foster environmental awareness among our employees.