Japan First: Agricultural Environmental Credit 'Next Green Credit' First Created, Returning Multifaceted Value Beyond Decarbonization to Farmers

On March 5, 2026, BG Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter BG) completed third-party verification of its environmental credit 'Next Green Credit,' which visualizes and quantifies the environmental value generated from soil improvement for cultivating delicious and healthy vegetables, and has created its first credit. 'Next Green Credit' is Japan's first environmental credit that quantifies greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using a methodology certified by international standards (ISO), and other environmental impacts such as biodiversity and water quality based on an environmental impact assessment scheme developed with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The revenue from the sale of credits will be returned to farmers, providing financial support for soil improvement practices essential for sustainable agricultural activities in response to recent environmental changes such as climate change and rising fertilizer costs. It also delivers delicious and healthy vegetables to consumers. For purchasing companies, it functions as an environmental contribution activity that synergizes with their business, creating a new value cycle that benefits people and the planet through the integration of agriculture, dining tables, and corporations. ■ Creation of Japan's First Agricultural Environmental Credit 'Next Green Credit' The first 'Next Green Credit' was created based on soil improvement practices by leading farmers in Hokkaido and the Kanto region, including the application of BG's unique organic fermented material 'Soil Next,' other organic materials, green manure, and the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Details of the First Creation of Next Green Credit 1. Credit Creation Volume (Climate Change): 2,223 t-CO₂e 2. Other Environmental Values (Improvement rate for each evaluation unit (*2) compared to average agriculture (*1) in the activity region) ・Biodiversity: 46.81% (0.00000184547306993505 EINES) ・Plant Resource Consumption (Primary Production): 63.16% (198,829 kg-DW) ・Water Resource Consumption: 74.67% (40,673 ㎥) ・Water Quality (Total Nitrogen Discharge): 53.76% (75,281 kg-N) ・Water Quality (Total Phosphorus Discharge): 35.03% (44,503 kg-P)

*1 Conventional standards in the activity region *2 Life cycle environmental impact assessment unit rate for the target activity ・Biodiversity EINES: Evaluates the total change in extinction risk for each species due to activities such as the manufacturing and transportation of fertilizers. ・Primary Production kg-DW: Evaluates the damage to the dry weight of organic matter produced by plant photosynthesis due to activities such as the manufacturing and transportation of fertilizers. ・Water Resource Consumption ㎥: Evaluates the consumption of water resources in the life cycle due to activities such as the manufacturing and transportation of fertilizers. ・Total Nitrogen Discharge kg-N: Evaluates the leaching of nitrogen from farmland that affects aquatic ecosystems, due to the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. ・Total Phosphorus Discharge kg-P: Evaluates the leaching of phosphorus from farmland that affects aquatic ecosystems, due to the use of phosphorus-containing fertilizers.