Experiences from Aeon Corp, Japan, by green products expert advisor to the Green Purchasing Network Japan, Mr. Seiichi Ueyama

1. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION TO
CONSUMERS AND THE SUSTAINABLE
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT by AEON
GROUP
March 21, 2014
Seiichi Ueyama
Senior Adviser, Green Purchasing
Network(Japan)
Former Managing Director in charge of
environmental, AEON RETAIL Co., Ltd.

2. AGENDA
I. Outline of AEON Group
II. TOPVALU (AEON’ Private Brand)
III. Labeling and Disclosing Product Information of TOPVALU
IV. AEON Supplier Code of Conduct (since 2003）and acquisition
of SA8000 certification
V. MSC certification (marine eco-label) / FSC certification(since
2006)
VI. Carbon Footprint initiatives (since 2008)
VII. Design for the Environment（DfE）: 7 environmental aspects
VIII.Example of WRAP (Waste Resource Action Programme)
<Addendum> Disaster Resistant ‘Smart AEON’ – AEON Mall SC
(Great East Japan Earthquake – March 2011)

3. Ⅰ. The outline of Aeon
Group

4. Ⅱ. TOPVALU (Private Brand of Aeon)

6. TOPVALU Ｐroduct
Development

7. TOPVALU Ｐroduct
Development

8. TOPVALU Ｐroduct
Development

9. CO2 Reduction in Products & Distribution
1. Reduction of CO2 emission resulting from the life cycle of products
・We will reduce emission of CO2 from products through the entire product life cycle stages
including material procurement, production, distribution, use and disposal/ recycling stages.
2. Improvement of load efficiency
・Increase load efficiency and introduce “environmentally friendly” vehicles.
Products
Distribution
570,000 ton output
reduction
Weight saving and thinner
packaging
Reduction of transportation distance
+ Increase load efficiency
（TOPVALU Box of Tissues）
Reduction of electricity consumption
（TOPVALU light bulb)
Modal shift＋
use of recycled materials
（TOPVALU lady’s fleece）
Use of bio fuel
（TOPVALU GreenEye organic
banana)
Reduction of waste - Expansion of
refillable product range
（TOPVALU bath cleaner） 9
Example of TOPVALU products ―eco-friendly

10. Ⅲ. Labeling and Disclosing Product Information of TV

14. Ⅳ.-1 AEON Supplier Code of Conduct (since 2003 )
14

15. The time has come when AEON & its suppliers
must be involved and be held accountable
in all the stages of the manufacturing process
Establishment of the AEON Supplier CoC
（Code of Conduct）
Through the AEON Supplier CoC, we, together with our suppliers guarantee
that our businesses comply with global environmental and ethical standards.
AEON requires that its domestic and foreign suppliers comply with social and
environmental responsibility standards.
Ⅳ.-2 A background of supplier CoC
15

16. 1. Child Labour
2. Forced Labour
3. Health & Safety
4. Freedom of Association & Collective Bargaining
5. Discrimination
6. Disciplinary Practice
7. Working Hours
8. Wages & Benefits
9. Management Responsibility
10. Environment
11. Trade
12. Certificate, Audit, Monitoring and Renewal
13. Ban on Gifts
Basis of AEON Supplier CoC requirements
Ⅳ.-3 AEON Supplier CoC Requirements
16

17. Ⅳ.-4 SA8000 History and Definition
• ・Published in late 1997 and revised in
• 2001, the SA8000 Standard and
• verification system is a credible,
• comprehensive and efficient tool for
• assuring humane workplaces.
• ・The SA8000 Standard is an auditable
• certification standard based on
• international workplace norms of
• International Labour Organisation
(ILO)
• conventions, the Universal Declaration
of
• Human Rights and the UN Convention
on
• the Rights of the Child.
17
※
※SA ＝ Social Accountability

18. Supplier management item of SA8000
• AEON has certified and acquired "SA8000"
Ⅳ.-4 The SA8000 certification acquisition
AEON Co., Ltd.
Headquarter employees
security hygiene /
labor circumstances
TOPVALU
Supplier management
A legal compliance request /
inspection monitor enforcement
to domestic and foreign production
trust point factories
SA8000 certification
range
Supplier demands
1.The observance of the requirements of
SA8000
2. Cooperation to SA8000 inspections
3. The enforcement of corrective measures 18

19. SA8000
AEON
Supplier
Code of
Conduct
AEON Business Process
Economy
Society
Environment
Customers, Community,
Shareholders,
Business partners, Employees
AEON
Sustainability
Report
Ⅳ.-4 Acquisition of SA8000 Certification,
Participation in the United Nations Global Compact
United Nations
Global Compact
19

20. Ⅴ. MSC certification(marine eco-label)
/ FSC certification(since 2006)
20

21. Ⅵ.-1 Carbon footprint initiatives (since 2008)
21
〈 Case
1 〉
Carbon footprint initiatives :
Showing CO2 emissions
on our products

22. 22
Productio
n

23. 23
Transportatio
n
and sale

24. 24
Use
and
disposal

25. VII. Design for the Environmental (DfE):
7 Environmental aspects
• Reduce the material input of materials
(consideration of the ecological rucksack ).
• Reduce the energy input of the product.
• Control the release of the toxic material.
• Increase the recycling possibility of materials.
• Maximize the sustainable use of the renewable
resource.
• Extend the durability of the product.
• Increase the service intensity (utility) of the product
(the thorough use of the product function）.

26. 26
(WRAP：Waste Resource Action Program) 2010
VIII. Example of WARP

27. 27

28. 28

29. ヨプ性
We learned a necessity of tough power supply and earthquake –
proof structure in Aeon Ishinomaki SC from the Great East Japan
Earthquake –March 2011
Disaster Resistant ‘Smart AeonーAeon Mall Osaka Dome City SC
(May 2013 open)
<Addendum>

30. The sufferers took refuge from the earthquake in Aeon Isinomaki Shopping
Centers
in the Great East Japan Earthquake
(Two weeks , maximum 2,500 people , March 2011)

31. Healthy consultation and medicine supply by pharmacist
(in Aeon Ishinomaki shopping centers, March 2011)
Handwritten
guide

32. Disaster Resistant ‘Smart Aeon –
Aeon Mall Osaka Dome City SC
1) Aiming to be a disaster-resistant shopping centers
・ This SC can accommodate
13,000 people and supply sufferer
with water & food in case of
emergency
2) Aiming for energy security in
the event of a disaster
・ Self-sufficiency electricity 30%
3) Aiming to reduce CO2 emissions
by 40% through a wide range
of
energy-saving measures
【The Nikkei (newspaper) 29 May

33. Thank you