Kirin Holdings Re-acquires SBT Net-Zero Certification and Establishes New FLAG Targets, Accelerating Scope 3 Transition Plan Execution
Kirin Holdings has re-acquired the "SBT Net-Zero Certification" from the SBT initiative (SBTi) and established new "FLAG Targets." This accelerates their Scope 3 transition plan, aiming to reduce GHG emissions by 33% by 2030 compared to 2019, with a focus on agricultural emissions and supply chain collaboration.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:31
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Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (President & COO: Kenji Minami) re-acquired the "SBT Net-Zero Certification" from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*3 in March 2026, which it first obtained in July 2022 as the world's first food company. Concurrently, it established new "FLAG Targets." This move is based on the Kirin Group's business portfolio transformation and revisions to SBTi guidelines due to changes in the external environment.
The Kirin Group's many products, primarily in its alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages/health science businesses, use agricultural products as raw materials. In recent years, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the agricultural sector have accounted for a certain proportion of global emissions, necessitating countermeasures. While agricultural production methods vary by crop type, industrial agriculture, which assumes mass production, is a major contributor to GHG emissions. Industrial agriculture typically involves using large amounts of chemical fertilizers to maximize yields and large-scale cultivation methods such as tillage*4 and monoculture. These methods lead to the emission of potent greenhouse gas N2O (nitrous oxide)*5 and cause carbon accumulated in the soil to be released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, they have negative impacts not only on GHG emissions but also on the environment, such as soil and water. To sustainably produce and procure essential agricultural products for the Kirin Group, it is necessary to work on reducing GHG emissions from agricultural production activities.
Aiming to "become a world-leading CSV company," our company declared its goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions across the entire value chain in its "Kirin Group Environmental Vision 2050" in 2020. A roadmap for achieving this goal was formulated and operations began in January 2022. The newly established FLAG targets aim to reduce GHG emissions by 33% by 2030 compared to the base year (2019). By re-acquiring SBT certification and establishing new FLAG targets, we will continue our efforts on non-FLAG emissions, which are energy-derived, while also strengthening our efforts on FLAG emissions, which are derived from agricultural production activities. The newly established FLAG targets cover both Scope 1 and Scope 3, and we will work towards achieving net-zero from both Scope 1 and Scope 3 perspectives.
As a measure against Scope 1 emissions, we are testing GHG emission reduction initiatives such as the application of biochar*6 in our owned fields. Specifically, at Chateau Mercian Mariko Vineyard, with the cooperation of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), we began a joint research project*7 in March 2024 to evaluate the carbon sequestration effect, a climate change mitigation measure. This joint research evaluates the carbon sequestration effect of biochar made from pruned grape residues (pruned grape branches) from the vineyard. Furthermore, this vineyard regularly implements practices generally considered to reduce GHG emissions, such as no-till cultivation*8, cover cropping*9, and appropriate management of chemical fertilizers.
As a measure against Scope 3 emissions, we will collaborate with suppliers to reduce emissions upstream in the supply chain, such as aluminum cans, PET bottles, and malt. The implementation of these measures may involve increased costs, anticipating more investment and expenses than before. To achieve both financial and non-financial goals simultaneously, a new mechanism for judging policy execution is necessary. Therefore, we have begun to build and operate a scheme that simulates the cost-effectiveness and financial impact of GHG reduction and clarifies the priority of measures across the entire management. Estimating feasible measures at this point, the financial impact of the Scope 3 transition plan is estimated to be approximately 2 billion JPY by 2030. Furthermore, with the "Kirin Supply Chain Environmental Program"*10, which started in April 2024, management involvement is strengthened by deliberating and exchanging opinions on progress at the Group CSV Committee and its subordinate Group Environmental Meetings. By building a mechanism to accelerate from the extraction of new measures to the judgment of execution, and incorporating a process to confirm financial impact at each stage, we will promote sustainable and economically rational environmental management.
The Kirin Group conducts its business activities by utilizing the blessings of nature as raw materials and the power and wisdom of nature.
Against complex environmental issues such as biological resources, water resources, containers and packaging, and climate change, the Kirin Group will promote initiatives that create a "positive impact" on nature and people from an integrated perspective.
And we share the desire to connect the rich blessings of the earth to the future with all people involved in the value chain.
*1 Paris Agreement (aims to keep the global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C) consistent with greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kirin Group's many products, primarily in its alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages/health science businesses, use agricultural products as raw materials. In recent years, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the agricultural sector have accounted for a certain proportion of global emissions, necessitating countermeasures. While agricultural production methods vary by crop type, industrial agriculture, which assumes mass production, is a major contributor to GHG emissions. Industrial agriculture typically involves using large amounts of chemical fertilizers to maximize yields and large-scale cultivation methods such as tillage*4 and monoculture. These methods lead to the emission of potent greenhouse gas N2O (nitrous oxide)*5 and cause carbon accumulated in the soil to be released into the atmosphere. Furthermore, they have negative impacts not only on GHG emissions but also on the environment, such as soil and water. To sustainably produce and procure essential agricultural products for the Kirin Group, it is necessary to work on reducing GHG emissions from agricultural production activities.
Aiming to "become a world-leading CSV company," our company declared its goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions across the entire value chain in its "Kirin Group Environmental Vision 2050" in 2020. A roadmap for achieving this goal was formulated and operations began in January 2022. The newly established FLAG targets aim to reduce GHG emissions by 33% by 2030 compared to the base year (2019). By re-acquiring SBT certification and establishing new FLAG targets, we will continue our efforts on non-FLAG emissions, which are energy-derived, while also strengthening our efforts on FLAG emissions, which are derived from agricultural production activities. The newly established FLAG targets cover both Scope 1 and Scope 3, and we will work towards achieving net-zero from both Scope 1 and Scope 3 perspectives.
As a measure against Scope 1 emissions, we are testing GHG emission reduction initiatives such as the application of biochar*6 in our owned fields. Specifically, at Chateau Mercian Mariko Vineyard, with the cooperation of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), we began a joint research project*7 in March 2024 to evaluate the carbon sequestration effect, a climate change mitigation measure. This joint research evaluates the carbon sequestration effect of biochar made from pruned grape residues (pruned grape branches) from the vineyard. Furthermore, this vineyard regularly implements practices generally considered to reduce GHG emissions, such as no-till cultivation*8, cover cropping*9, and appropriate management of chemical fertilizers.
As a measure against Scope 3 emissions, we will collaborate with suppliers to reduce emissions upstream in the supply chain, such as aluminum cans, PET bottles, and malt. The implementation of these measures may involve increased costs, anticipating more investment and expenses than before. To achieve both financial and non-financial goals simultaneously, a new mechanism for judging policy execution is necessary. Therefore, we have begun to build and operate a scheme that simulates the cost-effectiveness and financial impact of GHG reduction and clarifies the priority of measures across the entire management. Estimating feasible measures at this point, the financial impact of the Scope 3 transition plan is estimated to be approximately 2 billion JPY by 2030. Furthermore, with the "Kirin Supply Chain Environmental Program"*10, which started in April 2024, management involvement is strengthened by deliberating and exchanging opinions on progress at the Group CSV Committee and its subordinate Group Environmental Meetings. By building a mechanism to accelerate from the extraction of new measures to the judgment of execution, and incorporating a process to confirm financial impact at each stage, we will promote sustainable and economically rational environmental management.
The Kirin Group conducts its business activities by utilizing the blessings of nature as raw materials and the power and wisdom of nature.
Against complex environmental issues such as biological resources, water resources, containers and packaging, and climate change, the Kirin Group will promote initiatives that create a "positive impact" on nature and people from an integrated perspective.
And we share the desire to connect the rich blessings of the earth to the future with all people involved in the value chain.
*1 Paris Agreement (aims to keep the global temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C) consistent with greenhouse gas emissions.