C&F, as a food logistics provider, sets its materiality, "Establishment of a logistics infrastructure that is friendly to the global environment."
C&F started to operate a joint delivery system ahead of its competitors. The system maximizes loading efficiency by centralizing the management of multiple customers' goods, sorting and transporting them in mixed load by destination. The business model , backed by cumulative knowledge and skills, is a C&F competitive edge . In addition, the joint delivery can reduce the number of operating trucks as a result of enhancing loading efficiency, and therefore can reduce the carbon emissions.
C&F introduces low-carbon emission diesel trucks with high fuel efficiency, trucks with a start-stop system and hybrid electric trucks. C&F also uses retreaded tires as one of the measures to reduce carbon emissions.
In cooperation with car manufacturers and customers, C&F has started studying the operation of small fuel-cell vehicles, which are zero-emission, and electric trucks to make the exhaust gas much cleaner.
With auto-parts manufacturers, C&F also seeks to improve fuel consumption efficiency and to reduce the burden of emission systems through efforts to prevent slow punctures by monitoring a tire pressure remotely, and to take advantage of fuel additives that can clean injectors more efficiently.
With respect to truck driving, C&F's internal rule of 80 km/h max on highways is strictly enforced, while employee education has been conducted on eco-driving and the practice of idling at stops.
In addition, C&F implements a modal shift by using roll-on/roll-off ships, which can accommodate and transport trucks, to reduce the environmental burden.
Aspect of its warehouses
C&F actively introduces LED lighting systems and energy-saving refrigeration systems, including those with a natural refrigerant such as CO2/NH3 and Direct-expansion refrigeration system with CO2, which function with less electricity and help mitigate climate change.
C&F also introduces positive pressure systems, which prevent outside air from coming into logistics facilities and keep warehouses hygienic in respect of moisture-proof, dust-proof and mold-proof.
C&F manages its power usage in peak time with a demand monitoring system and installs solar panels on the facilities to reduce the amount of electricity bought from utility companies. Besides, the electricity generated by solar panels is partly sold to utility companies. C&F installs water-proof sheets with heat insulation effect on warehouses' rooftops to control the rise of temperature and moisture in warehouses. C&F also applies heat-insulating paints with state-of-the-art ceramic technology on rooftops to reflect sunlight by as much as 92%.
Moreover, C&F operates logistics facilities, which are certified by Comprehensive Logistics Efficiency Act from MLIT. With these facilities, C&F integrates logistics functions and streamlines transportations by trucks, leading to environmental conservation.
As for packaging materials including paper, cardboard boxes, polypropylene bands, wraps and films, C&F adopts reusable ones and segregates waste in compliance with the environment management system to save resources.
Especially, in terms of how to collect used cardboard boxes, one of C&F group companies is highly recognized through joint activity with other companies and won the Logistics Environment Award. Previously, used cardboard boxes were collected at each retail store, now they are collected at 5 designated points. With this change, C&F together with other companies contributes to reduce the CO2 emission which recycle companies discharge during their works. A dramatic improvement in efficiency was achieved by using 6-wheeled carts that can collect a large number of used cardboard boxes at one time on the way back to centers after deliveries.
C&F seeks to reduce food waste through observation of operating policies and procedures and upskilling programs for forklift operators to prevent breakage of handled goods.
At the same time, C&F not only conducts the periodic maintenance work of material handling equipment to prevent errors caused by breakdowns, but also introduces equipment such as a forklift with a drive recorder and other devices with new technologies, including automation technology and AI, to prevent human errors.
As for inbound cargo, one of C&F's group companies is an Authorized Economic Operator, who has an adequate security management and compliance system. Under this authorization, customs procedures are simplified, and therefore C&F shortens its lead time and accordingly reduces the risk of food waste.
C&F engages in demand management agency service in two sales offices, one in the center of eastern Japan and the other in western Japan, and will enhance its accuracy of estimating demand to help reduce food wastes.
C&F has promoted teleworking, which saves time for commuting and reduces the amount of carbon emissions during employees' commute. C&F carries out eco-friendly actions in offices; keeping office temperature settings under 28 degrees C, "cool biz", turning the lights off frequently and installing motion sensors for lights in restrooms.
As for office automation equipment, C&F has introduced in all sales offices across the nation, multifunction printers which have a low TEC (Typical Electricity Usage) and are assembled with 100% of electricity derived from renewable energy. C&F also actively introduces laptop PCs which need less electricity to work than desktop PCs. C&F uses recycled paper certified by PEFC (Pan European Forest Certification) and reduces paper usage by introducing computer systems for administrative works and adopting online meetings.
C&F believes that it is a steady and small step but important for managing the number of garbage bags used, which contributes to reduce the amount of waste.
C&F endeavors to realize carbon-offsets by greening facility roofs and walls and introduce vending machines, of which revenue is partly donated to the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization.
C&F will continue to make efforts to enhance efficiency of operations and to reduce the amount of carbon emissions, and will actively introduce new technologies to curb the impact on climate change as an urgent global issues.
