Hakubaku, Advocating "Staple Food Reform," Concludes Syndicated Loan with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as Lead Arranger for "ESG/SDGs Promotion Analysis Loan"
Hakubaku concluded a syndicated loan agreement based on "ESG/SDGs Promotion Analysis Loan" with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as the lead arranger. This funding will be allocated to the relocation and capital investment for a new factory, aiming to strengthen its production system and realize a sustainable society.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 12:44 (1h 12m after Collected)
Hakubaku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo City, Yamanashi Prefecture; President & CEO: Shigetoshi Nagasawa; hereinafter "Hakubaku"), a leading grain company advocating for "Staple Food Reform," is pleased to announce the conclusion of a syndicated loan agreement based on "ESG/SDGs Promotion Analysis Loan" with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (hereinafter "SMBC") as the arranger (lead manager), aimed at fundamentally strengthening its production system and realizing a sustainable society.
Funds raised through this loan will be allocated to the relocation expenses and capital investment for a new factory, which will serve as the production base for our main barley products.
## Background and Aims of Concluding This Loan
Under the concept of "Staple Food Reform," our mission is to deliver the inspiring value of grains to modern dining tables. Amidst the recent global rise in health consciousness, expanding our supply system further has become crucial, and this relocation represents an "investment in creating the future" anticipating future demand.
This loan was realized as our initiatives and information disclosure in the environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) aspects, as well as our contribution to achieving SDGs, were evaluated to meet certain standards by SMBC's unique analysis criteria.
## Evaluation of Our ESG/SDGs Initiatives and What We Aim to Achieve Through This Loan
In this analysis, our past activities were evaluated from multiple perspectives. Based on these evaluation points, we will achieve further evolution centered on the following three points through the relocation to the new factory.
### 1. Construction of a Sustainable "Green Mother Factory" and Reduction of Environmental Load
- Evaluation content: Our track record in understanding CO2 emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3) and waste emissions, including those of affiliated companies, and setting numerical targets for renewable energy use and waste reduction were recognized.
- Future outlook: In the new factory, we will further strengthen our environmental management system, which has been highly evaluated as our strength.
By grasping CO2 emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3) and waste data, promoting the use of renewable energy, and implementing thorough resource circulation, we will realize a sustainable production base that connects a rich natural environment to the next generation.
### 2. Further Pursuit of "Food Safety and Security" through a State-of-the-Art Supply System
- Evaluation content: Our stable supply system, including diversification of raw material suppliers, understanding "safe and secure" raw material procurement through on-site visits to production areas, and regular holding of risk management committee meetings, was highly evaluated.
- Future outlook: We will transfer the highly evaluated strict raw material procurement scheme and risk management system to the new factory. By introducing state-of-the-art equipment, we will flexibly respond to diversifying food needs, thoroughly manage risks, and establish a quality control system that promises even greater "safety and security" to our customers.
### 3. Formation of a Strong Organization through Diverse Work Styles and "Personalization" of SDGs
- Evaluation content: Our flexible human resource system, efforts to reduce overtime work, and corporate philosophy and governance stance of "realizing a rich dietary life through business" were evaluated.
- Future outlook: Taking advantage of the relocation, we will expand the utilization of slide-work systems and telework systems to accelerate environmental development that meets the diverse needs of employees. Furthermore, through continuous in-house training, we will integrate SDGs activities into management and grow into an organization that contributes to society through business, with all employees working together.
## Comment from Shigetoshi Nagasawa, President & CEO
The relocation to the new factory this time is a significant milestone in Hakubaku's history, connecting us to the next generation.
Since our establishment, we have been nurtured in this land of Yamanashi, supported by the local community, and have consistently pursued the value of grains. This relocation further solidifies that progress and represents an evolution to stably deliver even safer and higher-quality products by maximizing the use of the latest equipment and technology.
It is not merely a renovation of facilities. It is also an expression of our strong determination to realize "Staple Food Reform," which creates the inspiring value of grains and changes people's eating habits, not only domestically but also widely throughout the world.
We believe that increasing family smiles also means families becoming healthier. To deliver the rich grain food culture that Japan boasts, from here in Yamanashi to dining tables around the world, and to contribute to the health of people worldwide. We, Hakubaku, will earnestly pursue "Staple Food Reform," which re-examines the "quality" of rice, our staple food, with all employees working as one.
Funds raised through this loan will be allocated to the relocation expenses and capital investment for a new factory, which will serve as the production base for our main barley products.
## Background and Aims of Concluding This Loan
Under the concept of "Staple Food Reform," our mission is to deliver the inspiring value of grains to modern dining tables. Amidst the recent global rise in health consciousness, expanding our supply system further has become crucial, and this relocation represents an "investment in creating the future" anticipating future demand.
This loan was realized as our initiatives and information disclosure in the environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) aspects, as well as our contribution to achieving SDGs, were evaluated to meet certain standards by SMBC's unique analysis criteria.
## Evaluation of Our ESG/SDGs Initiatives and What We Aim to Achieve Through This Loan
In this analysis, our past activities were evaluated from multiple perspectives. Based on these evaluation points, we will achieve further evolution centered on the following three points through the relocation to the new factory.
### 1. Construction of a Sustainable "Green Mother Factory" and Reduction of Environmental Load
- Evaluation content: Our track record in understanding CO2 emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3) and waste emissions, including those of affiliated companies, and setting numerical targets for renewable energy use and waste reduction were recognized.
- Future outlook: In the new factory, we will further strengthen our environmental management system, which has been highly evaluated as our strength.
By grasping CO2 emissions (Scope 1, 2, 3) and waste data, promoting the use of renewable energy, and implementing thorough resource circulation, we will realize a sustainable production base that connects a rich natural environment to the next generation.
### 2. Further Pursuit of "Food Safety and Security" through a State-of-the-Art Supply System
- Evaluation content: Our stable supply system, including diversification of raw material suppliers, understanding "safe and secure" raw material procurement through on-site visits to production areas, and regular holding of risk management committee meetings, was highly evaluated.
- Future outlook: We will transfer the highly evaluated strict raw material procurement scheme and risk management system to the new factory. By introducing state-of-the-art equipment, we will flexibly respond to diversifying food needs, thoroughly manage risks, and establish a quality control system that promises even greater "safety and security" to our customers.
### 3. Formation of a Strong Organization through Diverse Work Styles and "Personalization" of SDGs
- Evaluation content: Our flexible human resource system, efforts to reduce overtime work, and corporate philosophy and governance stance of "realizing a rich dietary life through business" were evaluated.
- Future outlook: Taking advantage of the relocation, we will expand the utilization of slide-work systems and telework systems to accelerate environmental development that meets the diverse needs of employees. Furthermore, through continuous in-house training, we will integrate SDGs activities into management and grow into an organization that contributes to society through business, with all employees working together.
## Comment from Shigetoshi Nagasawa, President & CEO
The relocation to the new factory this time is a significant milestone in Hakubaku's history, connecting us to the next generation.
Since our establishment, we have been nurtured in this land of Yamanashi, supported by the local community, and have consistently pursued the value of grains. This relocation further solidifies that progress and represents an evolution to stably deliver even safer and higher-quality products by maximizing the use of the latest equipment and technology.
It is not merely a renovation of facilities. It is also an expression of our strong determination to realize "Staple Food Reform," which creates the inspiring value of grains and changes people's eating habits, not only domestically but also widely throughout the world.
We believe that increasing family smiles also means families becoming healthier. To deliver the rich grain food culture that Japan boasts, from here in Yamanashi to dining tables around the world, and to contribute to the health of people worldwide. We, Hakubaku, will earnestly pursue "Staple Food Reform," which re-examines the "quality" of rice, our staple food, with all employees working as one.