On March 1 and 2, 2017 JCCU organized the "2016 Environmental Project Research and Exchange Meeting" in Tokyo.

53 executives and staff from co-ops nationwide took part in this meeting to learn and engaged in exchanges to deepen understanding of the advanced business efforts of co-ops nationwide and the Japanese business community regarding environmental protection.

On the first day of the meeting four lectures were given on the theme “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions".

The first lecture was given by Mr. SHIRAKI Yasuo of JCCU who spoke on the subject "The setting of 2023 greenhouse gas reduction goal for consumer co-ops".

He emphasized the importance to know the domestic and foreign trends when setting targets and reported on target level to be referred in order to materialize the 2030 reduction plan for co-op.

Taken turns, Mr. KANEKO Masahiro of the Palsystem consumers’ co-operative union gave an introduction of the company’s Energy Data Collection and Management Software referred to as “Multiess" that manages the energy consumption in the group that leads to further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Subsequently, Mr. TSUJIMOTO Yoshiro, also reported on Nara Co-op’s Energy Initiatives and the establishment of a Renewable Energy Cooperative Fund.

There were other reports on environmental initiatives from various companies such as Ajinomoto Co., Inc., AEON Co., Ltd., and Kao Corporation highlighting the promotion of environmental and social considerations in the supply chain, management of environmental and social impact of marine products and timber and the procurement of sustainable palm oil respectively.

On the second day, five subcommittees were formed to deepen the discussion based on practical reports.