Häagen-Dazs Japan, Inc.

Promoting efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions throughout the lifecycle

From production to distribution and sales, we promote energy-saving activities to reduce CO₂ emissions. We also manage the volume of electricity and paper consumption in our offices to conserve energy.

Pursuing quality of raw ingredients

We dedicate ourselves thoroughly to quality in order to provide customers with the Häagen-Dazs Moment (that blissful instant that occurs when Häagen-Dazs is tasted). We are especially particular about milk, the main ingredient of ice cream. Our dairy farmers adjust feed to suit the physical condition of each individual cow, and even manage the components of grass and soil, which determine the composition of milk. We also use carefully selected secondary ingredients which determine the taste, such as fruits, nuts, and chocolate from around the world. We believe that we can enhance the Häagen-Dazs brand not only by making safe and trustworthy products, but also by offering even higher quality products that delight our customers.

Reducing volume, weight and plastic use in packaging

As we strengthen our efforts to reduce plastic, we have set Plastic Resource Reduction Targets with a target date of 2025. Our ultimate aim for these efforts is to reduce our annual plastic use volume by 50% per year (compared to 2021). We will also move ahead with a gradual switch from petroleum-derived plastics to environmentally friendly plastics or non-plastic materials for ice cream packaging materials (lids, tamper-evident components, etc.) and spoons.
We are also working to reduce environmental impact by making packaging materials such as mini cups, lids, spoons, and corrugated cardboard thinner and lighter.

Fair human resource system in place

To help ensure that our employees feel a sense of fulfillment in their work, we have developed a fair and highly credible evaluation system involving interviews during which self-evaluations and evaluations from supervisors are discussed.

Employing Persons with Disabilities

We hire people with disabilities mainly for clerical and other duties at our headquarters.

Promoting work-life balance

We undertake initiatives with work-life balance in mind so that we can help employees balance their professional and family/social lives. In particular, since long working hours have a significant impact on employees' physical and mental health, we have specified the reduction of overtime work as a company-wide issue, and are working to optimize work hours by implementing thorough management measures.

Strengthening initiatives to support the development of the next generation

To enable employees to work in a comfortable environment over the long term, we are enhancing and strengthening our systems for childcare leave and for shortened work hours to facilitate childcare. We have also introduced an early return to work support system to assist employees who wish to return to work and play an active role at an early stage.

Creating a healthy and comfortable workplace

We have introduced "Health Mileage," a welfare program that gives points to employees for their health efforts. Under this system, points are earned for each healthy activity, such as walking or improving lifestyle habits, and employees receive prizes of their choice according to the points they have accumulated.
Also, in order to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace, we hold training sessions and workplace workshops to raise employee awareness.

Supporting the Kiritappu Wetland National Trust

Since 2007, Häagen-Dazs Japan has been providing support for the Kiritappu Wetland National Trust in Hamanaka, Akkeshi, part of Hokkaido's Konsen district, a production area for the milk used as a key ingredient of ice cream. Kiritappu Wetland has also been registered in Ramsar Convention in 1993 as the third largest wetland in Japan. In addition to providing financial support, our employees regularly conduct volunteer activities, working together with members of the local community to preserve the scenery of the wetlands by repairing the boardwalk.

A view of landscape repair

Ice cream donated to food bank

Since 2007, we have supported Second Harvest Japan, an authorized NPO and Japan's first food bank organization.
Through our food donations to Second Harvest Japan, which conducts food bank activities^* providing food free of charge to social welfare facilities, we provide ice cream to children at those facilities every summer vacation and Christmas season. In doing so, we provide happy times and smiles.

• *
  Food bank activities: Activities providing food products to social welfare facilities, etc. The donated food products were previously discarded in spite of there being no safety issues in the manufacturing and distribution processes.

Donating ice cream to child-care facilities

Providing school-visit classes in nutrition & career education

In order to advance education regarding nutrition and careers, we have been visiting schools to present classes, mainly at elementary schools in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa Prefectures, titled "What is delicious?" The program serves about 30 schools each year. Many children get to experience a sense of gratitude for the food they eat, the enjoyment of cooperating with their peers, and the pleasure of making others happy through work.
In 2019, we also presented classes for elementary school students in the cities of Iwaki and Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, as part of the Suntory Group's Suntory Tohoku Sun-Sun Project supporting recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

• 

  Visiting lecture classes on nutrition

• 

  Children's New Product Plans Presented

Receiving visits to the company

Häagen-Dazs Japan accepts visits to the company by middle school and high school students, who can learn about our brand, our commitment to quality, and our product development process. The program also began accepting students online in 2020.

An online visit to the company