Story6 Water
Protecting Earth’s precious, limited water resources
Water is a fundamental resource for the products sold by the Yakult Group, and we consider its sustainable use to be a crucial issue. We promote water recycling and water conservation initiatives at business sites and plants around the world.
Social issues & megatrends
Around the world, 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 11% of the global population, or 771 million people, are forced to use limited services, unimproved sources, or surface water
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Progress on Household Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 2000–2020, the latest report by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (WHO/UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP)
Yakult’s commitment
We will reduce water consumption (at dairy product plants in Japan, per production unit) by 10% compared to fiscal 2018 levels by 2030.
Our initiatives
The Yakult Group is working to conserve our precious water resources by addressing their effective use and risks.
- Understand water risks at production bases
- Conserve water and reuse wastewater at plants and bottling companies in Japan and overseas
- Manage wastewater based on voluntarily adopted standards more stringent than those required by laws and ordinances
Wastewater treatment facility
Discharge of appropriately processed water
Close-up: Initiatives across the world
At Yakult Group plants, water is used not just as a raw material for our products, but also for cleaning and cooling manufacturing equipment and various other purposes.
This section outlines initiatives to use water effectively at Yakult plants.
Ayutthaya Plant, Thailand
Working to end wastewater flow to rivers
The Ayutthaya region is blessed with abundant water resources, and our Ayutthaya Plant draws water from two wells. Since the plant is surrounded by paddy fields and other farmland, we have long been conscious of wastewater flows, and are working to eliminate all wastewater flow to rivers. Suspended particles are further removed from treated wastewater using microfilters before it is used to water the grounds and flush toilets. When the plant’s manufacturing tanks were updated, the old tanks were repurposed as wastewater storage containers where water could be reused for cleaning vehicles and other purposes. We also actively communicate information about these initiatives to the local residents.
Wuxi Plant, China
The Wuxi Plant’s wastewater is reused at other companies’ plants after it has passed through final water treatment locations. We also purify domestic wastewater before it is discharged.
Calamba Plant, the Philippines
Water used for cooling during production, along with rainwater, is reused to water plants, supply fire hydrants and flush toilets.
California Plant, USA
We have installed a rainwater collection system which is used to water plants on the surrounding property.
Ixtapaluca Plant, Mexico
Wastewater which has passed through treatment facilities is reused to water green spaces around the plant. In 2021, we reused a monthly average of 1,413 tons in this way, for a yearly total of 16,956 tons.
