Sustainability
Organisation for our Earth
We are required to provide for customers who are in need of safe and environmentally high-quality products, as an organisation that handles food.
“Manufacturing high-quality products and reduce environmental harm as much as possible” is our approach towards sustainability.
Resource
Recycling Resources
Utilising Oil Cake to Produce Feeds and Fertilisers
Our えごまオイル is extracted by traditional method. Its by-product is called oil cake. Oil cake of rapeseed oil has been used for fertiliser in farms and for bonsai since the foundation of OTA OIL. Oil cake of perilla is also used within the local today.
Oil Cake
(えごまミール)
Did you know that oil cake of perilla contains alpha-linolenic acid (also known as ALA)? ALA is one of the essential fatty acids that we need to consume in our daily diet.
Feed
Oil
Product
えごまオイル
‘Takumi no Toyu’ (Natural Oil Wood Polish)
Left: えごまオイル (Cooking Oil)
Right: ‘Takumi no Toyu’ (Natural Oiling)
Livestock (Chicken, Pig, Cow)
Chicken
Egg
The eggs will contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) when used in feeds for chicken.
Chiffon cake
The eggs are further used in pastry shops.
Pigs, Cows
Meat
Also used in feeds for porks and cows. It is highly popular that the fat becomes rich in flavour.
‘Upcycling’ of locavore process is developed
to utilise locally produced products.
Oil cake derived from oil extract is used to produce feeds and fertilisers which are used to help grow agricultural products. The harvested rapeseed seed is then again used to extract oil and will be further reused to produce biodiesel. We are reducing waste as much as possible to be considerate of our environment.
Environment
Approach towards the Environment
Use of Biodiesel
Biodiesel fuel (e-BDF) is processed from used cooking oil. The quality of the fuel is proven with Toyota Auto Body Team who participated in Dakar Rally. Our e-BDF has been used for Shin-Tomei Expressway construction. BDF fuel station has also been installed in Coop Aichi Okazaki Centre for delivery vehicles.
In January 2016, we have been honoured with Committe Chariman’s Award of “Food Industry ‘Mottainai’ Award” hosted by Japan Organics Recycling Association. We have also participated in Resources Circulation Cycling “‘Nanohana’ Project” (Nanohana: rapeseed flower) to reuse used tempura oil and by-products for fertilisers as we support the idea of re-utilising resouces to conserve the environment.
How to work
Approach to Workplace Environment
For better work-life balance (Childcare / Caregiving System)
We have reviewed our childcare and caregiving rules to ensure that all OTA OIL employees can balance work and childcare, and can fully demonstrate their abilities in relation to their work in a healthy and safe environment, both physically and mentally. The aim is to enable employees to balance work and childcare in a planned manner.
We are promoting the improvement of workplace environment for women to play an active role, for example through the ‘A-BU-LOVE’ where the members consists of young female employees from different departments, and the ‘Renge-Kai’ which works with senior management to improve the workplace environment and systems, etc.
Certified with 「えるぼし」 (L-Boshi) from Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare
Community
Collaboration with the Local Community
Industry-Aademia Collaboration
We actively participate in conferences and research groups and exchange information.
えごまオイル has been produced and been sold for more than 25 years, which is a product born out of our work with professors at research institutions. Today, as an omega-3 cooking oil, it is recommended by doctors and nutritionists nationwide to their patients, and is also supported by cookery researchers and health-conscious people.
Since 2016, ‘OTA OIL Incentive Research Award’ has been established as one of the conference awards at the annual conference of the Japan Society for Lipid Nutrition.
Ise Jingu Shikinen Sengu (Second dedication)
The relationship with Ise Jingu began in 1962, and the dedication of lamp oil and fertilisers continues to this day.
The lamp oil was dedicated for 62nd Shikinen Sengu (2013), a major ceremony held once every 20 years to rebuild the divine palace.
OTA OIL Library (From 1975)
The ‘OTA Library’ (太田文庫) started in 1975 to commemorate the Medal with Blue Ribbon awarded to Kazuo Ota, the second CEO of OTA OIL.
In 2020, the name was changed to ‘OTA OIL Library’ (太田油脂文庫) and to this day, at the start of each new shool year, books continue to be donated to Okazaki Municipal Fukuoka Primary and Middle Schools.
Thanksgiving Event and Factory Tours
The ‘Thanks Festa’, which started in 2007, has become a great success with the number of visitors, including local residents, increasing each time. The festival provides an opportunity for people to experience some of OTA OIL’s corporate activities and to warmly exchange ideas with each other in an atmosphere of gratitude.
The factory tours available for primary school children in Okazaki City allows them to see the recycling cycle of resources being implemented at the e-BDF plant and learn about the spirit of ‘mottainai’.
