Initiatives to Reduce Waste

How to efficiently use limited resources is an important issue for the KADOKAWA Group. By improving conventional business processes, the Group will lead to a reduction in waste.

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Effective Use of Paper Resources Through Optimization of Book Production and Distribution

The Group reduces the number of returned unpurchased books from bookstores by drafting optimal production plans based on  demand. The Group is also working to accurately understand demand such as through utilizing technology with the digitalization of orders from bookstores. As a result, the rate of the number of copies shipped against the number of copies printed improved from 74.4% to 75.7% in FY2021 compared to FY2018, which was prior to the introduction of the system. This is a reduction by 1.94 million book copies, which is 772 tons of paper.

The Group will work towards reducing returned unpurchased books and the effective use of paper resources through a wide range of measures, including starting an initiative to present incentives for bookstores in response to reductions in returns.

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Reductions in Workload and Paper Resources in Editing

The Group introduced tablet devices in some of the editing departments, promoted improvements in rules with partner companies (printing companies), and made it possible to complete proofreading in the PDF format for comic magazines and some books. As a result, the process of printing and proofreading texts on paper was reduced at the editing departments, leading to reductions in workload and paper for proofreading. In FY2021, about 100,000 sheets of A3 size paper were saved by proofreading PDF texts electronically.

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Shifting to a Paperless Office Through Digitalization of Paper Resources

The Group implemented a paper output optimization project and reduced paper used in printing and copying following improvements in office working styles starting in 2015. Assigned seating was changed to Open seating in the office in 2018 and digitalization of paper resources previously used was advanced. In 2019, the Group introduced digital payments and an electronic approval system. As a result, KADOKAWA reduced annual in-house paper usage from 30 million sheets in FY2014 down to 6.9 million sheets in FY2021, which is a 77% reduction.

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Amount of Waste (FY2021)

※Scope of Aggregation
・ Tokyo Campus covers waste from the KADOKAWA 1st Head Office Building, ADOKAWA 2nd Head Office Building, and KADOKAWA Fujimi Building, which are all owned by the company.
・ Tokorozawa Sakura Town covers waste from facilities used by Group companies, including the Tokorozawa Campus. Excluding waste generated by tenants.

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