COMPANIES

COMPANIES

Maruwa Co., Ltd.

Banana Paper for a Circular Economy: Achieving an SDG Society A Company
Where People Gather to Communicate with a Society — Helping Bring About a Sustainable Society—

Maruwa Co., Ltd. is a company that works together with the local community and is engaged in problem-solving related to information distribution, that can "also" print. We handle a wide range of services, not just with printed materials but also with digital media and event planning. Because we are a compactly-sized company, our strength lies in our ability to respond quickly and flexibly. Moreover, we support our clients on how to effectively introduce and promote SDGs, leveraging our experience in obtaining multiple third-party certifications for environmental activities. The expertise we provide enhances customers’ corporate value.


Environmentally Friendly Printing and Paper We have received several environmental certifications, including a Green Printing certification. As we have introduced CO2 offset non-carbon printing for ourselves, which reduces CO2 emissions to virtually zero, and we are working to reduce our environmental impact further by offering ethical paper made from renewable resources.

What does it mean that we “also” print? We are a company that goes beyond printing, from proposal to formulation. We do not only handle printed materials. We also offer a full range of services from planning to production, printing, and delivery, including digital areas like videos and websites, and events like workshops and forums. At a small-sized company, our mobility and flexibility allow us to support our clients in driving projects forward more efficiently, eliminating the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors from our coustomers.

Environmentally friendly printing We have obtained various third-party certifications including an SBT certification for small and medium-sized enterprises and Nagoya SDGs Green Partners, as well as ISO certifications. All those form the basis of our environmental activities. In order to contribute to achieving a carbon-neutral society, we are taking the following concrete steps.

Ethical Paper
We promote the use of sustainable papers that include banana paper, which is made from banana stem fibers that would otherwise be discarded, and circular cotton paper, which is made from clothing waste fibers.

Carbon Offsetting
We offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our corporate activities that we are unable to reduce by contributing to efforts toward lower emissions and absorption in other businesses, thereby effectively reducing our CO2 emissions to zero.

Green Printing
Our factory is a Green Printing Certified Factory that meets the printing industry's environmentally friendly standards. We print using 100% vegetable oil ink, which contains more than the required amount of renewable plant-derived oil.

Renewable Energy
Converting 30% of our electricity to Aichi Green Electricty, we are working to reduce our environmental impact by using CO2-free and locally produced energy.

Making use of our SDGs expertise We have been committed to SDGs for a long time, through our environmental considerations and CSR activities. We actively work for our customers' SDGs promotion by generously providing our expertise, which is backed by our third-party certifications. Specifically, we are involved in the following efforts.

SDGs action book
We produce a visualized action book that clarifies the relationship between customers’ businesses and SDGs. This brings awareness that will lead to not only shared goals, but also to increased corporate value and better results in recruiting activities.

SDGsSDGs workshop
We support the introduction and spread of SDGs through hands-on workshops, including backgammon games that allow participants to learn while playing. This can create opportunities for companies to think independently about their own unique values, especially in corporate branding.

Production Examples

  • Environmentally Friendly Printing

    We have received various certifications verifying our consideration of environmental issues, and all production activities at our own factory are carbon negative. We strive to reduce the environmental impacts of the materials we use, such as by suggesting the use of environmentally friendly paper.

  • Booklets (Bulletins, Periodicals, Company Brochures, School Guides)

    In producing regularly publications such as newsletters, internal and external reports, company brochures, and school guides, we always incorporate various considerations and the perspective of the intended readership. We take a branding approach to planning and producing the company brochures and school guides that are so important for companies and schools.

  • User Guides, Instruction Manuals, Etc.

    We produce user guides and instruction manuals in accordance with MUD (Media Universal Design), considering the age and other conditions of the target audience for content that is easy for anyone to understand.

  • Collaborative Calendars

    We create illustrated calendars by illustrator Kazuya Chabata, environmentally friendly calendars, and other calendars in collaboration with art college students and Type B employment support facilities.

  • Original Product Development

    Our "Korokoro Tonton Sugoroku" board game—which we developed in-house in response to our customers asking, "What are SDGs?"—won the Award for Excellence in the MUD Competition recognized by the Cabinet Office. In addition, we are constantly developing original items with the aim of making Universal Design and BCP more familiar.

Company Profile

Company Name Maruwa Co., Ltd.
Founded 1968
Capital 12 million yen
Head Office 211, Hirabari 4-chome, Tenpaku-ku Nagoya, 468-0011 Japan
Representative Maruwa Co., Ltd.
Number of Employees 29
Business Activities
  • General printing: Environmentally friendly printing, commemorative publications, newsletters, surveys, leaflets, catalogs, business cards, VDP, etc.
  • Sales promotions and planning: SDG-related goods, ethical products, seasonal products, etc.
  • Multimedia: Websites, livestream support
  • Others: Planning, event and office management, vanity publishing support, consulting to enhance corporate value

Greenhouse gas emissions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Acquisition of the Science Based Targets (SBT) certification for Small and medium-sized enterprises

【Reduction targets】


・Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% compared to 2018 by 2030


・Identify and reduce Scope 3 emissions


* The above targets are certified at the most ambitious 1.5°C level that can be certified under the current process.

Base year GHG inventory

CO2 emissions of the base year are as follows.


Base Year:2018

・Scope1:21 tCO2

・Scope2：47 tCO2

・Scope3 (Category 1)：912 tCO2


Analysis of risks and opportunities stemming from future climate change

We have assumed the following risks and corresponding opportunities associated with future climate change scenarios.

【Risk】

・Cost increases from more frequent installation and replacement of equipment due to low-carbon technologies becoming more advanced.


・Accelerated shift away from paper caused by change in consumer attitudes


・Delays in procurement and delivery caused by logistics stoppages due to urban flooding, etc.



【Opportunities】

・More customers becoming aware of climate change risks, making it easier for us to promote our environmentally friendly products.


・Raising awareness of the need to reduce environmental impact within our company by working on SBT-level targets, leading to cost cut through efforts for reducing CO2 emissions.



・Increased expectations for companies’ environmental responsiveness encourage corporate initiatives, which leads to the growth of our “Corporate Branding Support through SDGs” business.



・Opportunities provided to develop products using local products grown at local facilities for people with disabilities and to promote local employment.





Efforts to develop new environmentally friendly products

Development of SDGs-based products utilizing banana paper’s unique characteristics

【Product Features】


This product is aimed at companies that promote SDGs and environmental impact reduction.


One issue with banana paper is that it is difficult to see the difference between it and ordinary paper at a glance, despite its higher price range. That is why we aimed to create a product that makes it easy to recognize that it is made from bananas, so as to feel familiar to a wider range of people.


【Points leading to green innovation】


Kipposhi banana paper is made by mixing post-harvest banana stems and leaves with used paper using the Japanese traditional Mino Washi manufacturing method. We are developing products that utilize Kipposhi banana paper. In addition, we have also adopted a method of construction that replaces the conventional lifestyle of relying on paper made from wood chips, leading to the decentralization of raw materials and reduction of energy costs.

  • Developed Products:
    Business cards, business card cases, and business card holders made using Kipposhi banana paper Memo paper made using Kipposhi banana paper

Interview

Background on Participation in this Project

We are actively engaged in CSR activities including non-carbon printing made possible by carbon offsetting, as well as in activities connected to the circular economy. We participated in this project because we wanted to create a product that would be familiar not only to environmentally conscious users but also to general consumers. We chose

Kipposhi banana paper that is made by collecting banana stems grown at a facility for the disabled in Gifu City and mixing them with used paper using the Mino Washi manufacturing method.

Findings and impressions after participating

It was very refreshing to, while developing products using in-house designers under the guidance of an outside producer, be able to look at and study banana paper’s characteristics from various perspectives. The fact that we were able to incorporate our employees into the development system, rather than outsourcing everything to an external company, was also a valuable experience that will lead to our future developments.

Future proposals from our company

Since the Aichi Expo in 2005, we have been actively engaged in CSR activities including environmental and SDGs-based efforts aimed at reaching out to environmentally conscious users. We want this project to further broaden our user base and to help raise users’ environmental awareness.


Utilizing banana stems, typically discarded or burned, for raw materials promotes environmental consciousness. We anticipate that general consumers will embrace locally-produced banana paper, crafted from bananas grown by individuals with disabilities at a nearby facility, as an eco-friendly product. Our aspiration is for this initiative to enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities but also help transform local culture into newfound value. We are dedicated to promoting and selling the banana paper developed through this endeavor with meticulous care.