Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Corporate
May 19, 2016

Otsuka Pharmaceutical to Support Japan's COOL CHOICE Movement Cooperation in Public Awareness Campaigns to Encourage Wise Decisions to Counteract Global Warming

  • In the interest of achieving the established goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030, the Japanese government has launched a COOL CHOICE national movement to promote wise decisions regarding energy saving, low-carbon products, services, and actions to counteract climate change.
  • Otsuka Pharmaceutical will support the COOL CHOICE movement by cooperating with public awareness campaigns targeting broad segments of the population through on-site "Heat Stroke Awareness and Prevention Seminars" conducted at schools, corporations and other facilities.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; President: Tatsuo Higuchi) has announced its support for COOL CHOICE, a national movement initiated by the Japanese government to promote wise decisions regarding energy-saving, low-carbon products, services, and actions. Otsuka will cooperate with public awareness campaigns, taking advantage of opportunities to introduce, promote, and recruit supporters for COOL CHOICE at on-site "Heat Stroke Awareness and Prevention Seminars" conducted at schools, corporations, and other facilities throughout Japan, targeting broad segments of the population, from children through the elderly.

About COOL CHOICE

Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement outlines a framework for global efforts to mitigate climate change starting in 2020. The common goal of the agreement is to hold increases in global average temperature to below 2°C (and pursue efforts to limit increases to 1.5°C), simultaneously proposing net zero green house gas emissions in the second half of the century. Japan has established the goal of a 26% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 2013 levels). Launched by the Japanese government in the interest of achieving this goal, COOL CHOICE is a national movement to encourage wise decisions regarding energy saving, low-carbon products, services, and actions to contribute to mitigating global warming and climate change.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical "Heat Stroke Awareness and Prevention Seminars"

On-site heatstroke awareness and prevention seminar

As befitting a company committed to human health, Otsuka Pharmaceutical is engaged in various activities to contribute to maintaining and promoting healthy lifestyles. Beginning with the 1991 establishment of the Study Group for Prevention of Heat Disorders in Sports Activities by the Japan Sports Association, Otsuka has been involved in activities to promote awareness and prevention of heat stroke. Subsequently, Otsuka has continued to disseminate information through Heat Stroke Awareness and Prevention Seminars focusing on children's sports, safety and health in the workplace, and the importance of hydration for senior citizens, with employees organizing approximately 5,000 on-site seminars attended by more than 500,000 people each year for the past 25 years.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Initiatives to Mitigate Global Warming

All Otsuka Pharmaceutical employees work together on company-wide initiatives to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the interest of achieving a low carbon society. Production and R&D divisions implement ongoing initiatives including physical and managerial improvements in manufacturing methods and equipment and management of internal temperatures. In 2007, 500ml PET bottles for POCARI SWEAT achieved a 30% reduction in packaging weight. The same year, the Environmental Minister recognized Otsuka with a 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) award for excellence in packaging, and the company has consistently continued efforts to reduce weight and volume of various packaging materials. Office divisions have reduced energy consumption by adopting more efficient lighting, air-conditioning, and other equipment and regularly assessing optimum energy consumption targets.

As a global health care company and a responsible corporate citizen, Otsuka Pharmaceutical conducts activities with concern for the global environment, adopting an autonomous, proactive, and continuously creative approach to environmental protection.

Based on our corporate philosophy of 'Otsuka - people creating new products for better health worldwide', Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to the development of innovative products that contribute to the health of people around the world.