Policy and Approach
Skylark Group will continue to implement initiatives to eliminate plastics in order to create a decarbonized society and reduce environmental impact.
- We will work to reduce the amount of plastics used in our operations.
- For disposable plastics such as containers, cutlery and straws, we will shift from petroleum-based materials to environmentally friendly materials.
- Where the use of plastics is necessary, we will use recycled and/or environmentally friendly materials.
We believe that the Group's continued use of single-use plastics products for delivery and take-out containers and packaging, and its failure to conduct operations such as asking customers whether they need or do not need these products, has a significant negative impact on the global environment.
In response to this, we have set “elimination of plastics” as our materiality (key issue), formulated the above policy, set KPIs, and are promoting improvements by implementing initiatives.
Targets
2026 Target
- Reduce the amount of use of disposable plastics by 50% compared to 2020
- Increase the ratio of environmentally friendly materials for disposable plastics to 50%
2030 Target
- Reduce the ratio of petroleum-based disposable plastics to zero
Reduction targets for products using specific plastics
Cutlery and straw usage for take-out and delivery |
Actual usage in 2020 |
156t |
2022 usage target |
39t(▲ 75%) |
2023 usage target |
0t(▲100%)
|
Risks and Opportunities
Indicators/KPI
Examples of Action
Elimination of Plastic Products
In recent years, wide-area marine pollution caused by waste plastics and global warming have become serious environmental problems worldwide. As a company with around 3,000 stores nationwide, we believe that it is our responsibility to respond quickly to such environmental problems.
Since 2018, we have been working in stages to reduce our use of petroleum-based plastic products.
Progress since 2018
August 2018 |
Announces end to use of petroleum-based disposable plastic straws |
December 2018 |
Offering biodegradable "Skylark Biomass Straw®" made from corn |
July 2019 |
Completed discontinuation of plastic straws in all group stores |
December 2019 |
Converting plastic bags to biomass plastic |
February 2020 |
Switching cutlery from petroleum-based plastics to biomass plastics |
August 2020 |
Changed individual packaging of bamboo disposable chopsticks from plastic to paper |
September 2020 |
Changed some take-out and delivery containers to materials with at least 50% "talc (lime)" |
January 2022 |
Biomass straws replaced with FSC-certifiedⓇ paper straws |
February 2022 |
Cutlery changed from biomass plastic to wood |
December 2022 |
Received the 12th Achievement Award for Promoting Biomass Products (Japan Biomass Products Promotion Council) |
January 2023 |
Cutlery (forks) for take-out and delivery changed to bamboo |
January 2023 |
Charged for cutlery, plastic bags, and Mottainai packs |
Elimination of Plastic Straws
As an initiative to reduce the amount of plastics we use, as of January 2022, we are gradually replacing our existing biomass straws at each store of Skylark Group to FSC Certified Ⓡ paper straws.
Effects of Straw Switching (Amount Used)
- Reduced by 89% compared to 2018
2018 |
Approx. 100 million straws |
2019 |
Approx. 31 million straws
Abolished provision of Skylark Biomass Straws® at the drink bar and instead, are providing them only to customers who request them |
2020 |
Approx. 11 million straws
With the understanding and cooperation of our customers with regard to conservation of resources, the total amount of straws used is decreasing year by year |
Past Activities
Straw Specifications
- FSC Certified Ⓡ Paper straws are available for customers who order the drink bar by request
Individual Packaging of Bamboo Disposable Chopsticks Changed from Plastic to Paper
As of Saturday August 8, 2020, we changed the packaging of our bamboo disposable chopsticks from plastic to environmentally friendly paper at all Skylark Restaurants locations.
Change from Plastic Shopping Bags to Biomass Plastic
In December 2019, we changed our take-out plastic bags from petroleum-derived plastics to environmentally friendly biomass plastic.
Biomass plastics are synthetic resins made from biological resources (biomass), and the material introduced in Skylark is made from raw materials derived from plants (polylactic acid and corn).
From January 2023, we have started charging for plastic bags for take-out from the viewpoint of conserving limited resources. (5 yen per bag)
Changed Cutlery from Biomass Plastic to Wood
In February 2020, cutlery (spoons, forks, and knives) for take-out and home delivery was changed from petroleum-based plastic to biomass plastic. As an effort to further reduce plastic usage, cutlery (spoons, forks, and knives) for takeout and home delivery at each restaurant of Skylark Group was changed from biomass plastic to wood in January 2022.
Effects of
Switching Cutlery |
- Use of disposable biomass plastic cutlery reduced by 75% in 2022 compared to 2020
- Plastic use reduced by 86 tons
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