Policy and Approach
Skylark Group will work to reduce CO2 emissions in order to help create a decarbonized society.
- Engage in energy-saving activities at our stores, central kitchens and headquarters.
- Work to reduce gasoline consumption in home and store deliveries, and to introduce environmentally friendly vehicles.
- Actively seek to introduce renewable energy.
Targets
Short-term target Unit：t-CO2
| Mid-term target |
By 2030
Scope 1 50.4% reduction from 2018
Scope 2 50.4% reduction from 2018
Scope 3 30% reduction from 2018
Scope 1+2+3 37% reduction from 2018
|
| Long-term target |
By 2050
Scope 1+2+3 Reduce CO2 emissions to effectively zero |
Supplementary Information
- Short-term, medium-term, and long-term targets are based on government policy and SBT (Science Based Targets) standards, respectively.
- Scope of short-, medium-, and long-term targets is consolidated (including overseas and subsidiaries)
Risks and Opportunities
Indicators/KPIs
Internal Carbon Pricing
Skylark Group has introduced an Internal Carbon Pricing (ICP) system starting in 2024 to motivate its employees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The internal carbon price is set at 15,365 yen/t-CO₂ and will be used as a reference for investment decisions on energy-saving measures, introduction of solar power generation equipment, and purchase of electricity derived from renewable energy sources, in order to mitigate climate change.
＜ICP Outline of Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd.＞
- Internal carbon price : 15,365 yen/t-CO₂
- Scheme targets : Capital investment associated with increase/decrease in CO₂ emissions
- Application method : The internal carbon price is applied to the investment in eligible equipment, etc., and together with the converted cost, is used as a reference for investment decisions.
Examples of Action
Introducing LED Lighting
We are actively introducing LED lighting in our stores with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions associated with electricity consumption. At the six new restaurants that have opened mainly in station-front areas, LED lighting is used for all lighting, including customer seats and kitchens. As a result, the amount of power consumed by store lighting is reduced to one-eighth of that of a regular store, leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions. We are introducing LED lighting not only to new stores but also to existing stores, to help realize more environmentally friendly stores.
Introduction of Commercial Fuel Cells
In December 2017, we introduced a commercial fuel cell (Kyocera's 3kW SOFC System) at the Bamiyan Kuniyoshida store in Shizuoka Prefecture. This is the first family restaurant to introduce this model of fuel cell. We have installed these fuel cells at four stores in Shizuoka Prefecture, and by August 2019, we have introduced them at five new Bamiyan stores in Tokyo. The SOFC system is a commercial gas cogeneration system that uses electricity generated by a chemical reaction between hydrogen extracted from city gas and oxygen in the air, and uses the heat generated during power generation for hot water supply.
At stores that have introduced commercial fuel cells, energy conservation and CO2 reduction are achieved by effectively utilizing heat for kitchen equipment and electricity for in-store lighting. We will continue to consider expanding the number of stores that use this system.
Initiatives to Realize a CFC-free and Decarbonized Society
With the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we introduced a hamburger freezer system at our Nishinomiya central kitchen and an ice cooling system at our Sendai central kitchen, utilizing a Ministry of the Environment project in fiscal 2019 to accelerate the introduction of energy-saving natural refrigerant-based equipment for the early realization of a CFC-free and low-carbon society.
A reduction of approximately 300 tons in CO2 emissions per year is expected from the hamburger freezer at Nishinomiya, and approximately 260 tons per year from the chiller unit in Sendai.
Going forward, we will continue to promote the introduction of equipment with a low environmental impact.
Nishinomiya Central Kitchen's Hamburger Freezer System
Sendai Central Kitchen's Ice Cooling System
Introduction of Eco-Chopsticks
As another initiative to reduce CO2 emissions, we are using eco-chopsticks, which are chopsticks that can be used repeatedly instead of disposed after a single use, with the aim of reducing waste and care for the environment.
Examples of Responses to Risks Arising from Climate Change
We are responding to the risks posed by climate change from a variety of angles.
In September 2021, Jonathan developed and sold a meat-free hamburger made with soy meat. As methane gas produced in cow stomachs has a greenhouse effect about 25 times that of carbon dioxide, meat has a significant impact on global warming, so we developed a delicious product that utilizes alternative proteins such as soybeans. We view the inability to obtain the same foodstuffs at lower prices as today due to climate change as one of the future risks of climate change, and we are actively researching, developing, and offering menus that utilize alternative ingredients as a response to this risk.
This product is also described in the digital menu book as "a protein source that is friendly to the future of the earth compared to livestock farming, which has an environmental impact," and we aim to promote environmentally friendly food production together with our customers.
CO₂ Reduction Subcommittee
As a subordinate organization of the Group Sustainability Committee, the CO₂ Reduction Subcommittee was established in 2023 to work across the entire company to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. The subcommittee has been working to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions through the following initiatives.
Accurate Calculations
In 2023, in addition to Scope 1,2 and 3 Category 1 for CO₂ emissions, we have obtained third-party assurance for energy use. By obtaining accurate data for each of the Group's facilities, we are able to identify facilities that use large amounts of energy, leading to reduction measures.
Reduction KPIs Setting
Based on accurate calculations of CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, we set annual KPIs in accordance with SBT (Science Based Targets) standards. In addition to a company-wide KPI to improve energy consumption by an average of 1% or more per year in terms of basic unit, each store and factory has its own annual KPI for electricity and gasoline, and the progress of these KPIs and efforts to reduce energy consumption are reported to the Sustainability Committee on a quarterly basis.
『Energy-Related Usage Reduction KPIs and Results』
Initiatives to Reduce
As an example of our initiatives, we opened an eco-friendly store with virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions, using solar power, CO₂-free electricity, carbon neutral gas, and EV bikes for home delivery.
『Environmentally Conscious Model Store』
We are actively switching to solar power generation as a renewable energy source in our factories and stores, and are working to introduce it to 100 facilities in 2024, setting this as a KPI.
『Installed On-Site Self-Consumption Solar Power Generation Service』
『Introduced Off-site PPA Service Using Solar Power Generation』
In order to achieve the 2030 KPI, we are also considering offsetting CO₂ that cannot be covered by the introduction of solar power generation by purchasing carbon credits.
Training for Employees
We have supplemented knowledge and shared examples of reduction measures by holding online study sessions for store employees and regularly sending out videos with a message from the president to share successful examples of energy reduction measures with stores. In addition, reduction measures and KPIs are determined for each individual store during monthly meetings with superiors and are linked to actions. In this way, we are strengthening education and training to raise employee awareness for reducing energy consumption.