Initiatives to Reduce Food Waste (Japan - Pigeon)

In January 2021, in cooperation with the Public-Private Partnership Research Center, Pigeon Corporation launched a new initiative to help make cities more baby-friendly by partnering with local municipalities to support parents. As the first stage in these partnership initiatives, Pigeon provided recipient cities with direct donations of baby food and other items needed to raise children.

Recipient cities

Of these five cities, Pigeon has also established formal partnership agreements with Kamakura, Ibaraki, Ikoma, and Miyake based around the shared goal of using knowledge and data from both sides of the agreement to further reduce food waste and create a better environment to raise children.

Photographs from Partnership Agreement ceremonies

Initiatives to Reduce Food Waste

Starting in March 2021, Pigeon made donations to the five recipient municipalities of baby food, snacks, and beverages that were well before their sell-by date but still past their shipping deadline, which is customarily set at the point when one-third of the time between date of production and sell-by date has past. The municipalities will use the donations to support local parents. The initiative thus not only helps resolve issues in local communities, it is also a way for Pigeon to reduce food waste. As of writing, it has prevented 3,707 kg of food waste.

As an additional measure to reduce food waste, starting with products manufactured in July, Pigeon has begun using “Year and month” sell-by dates for baby food, snacks, beverages and other products that previously used “Year, month, and day” sell-by dates. (Some products excepted.)

• Transitioning to “Year and Month” Sell-By Dates for Baby Food to Reduce Food Waste (Japanese only)

We will continue to engage in these activities in partnership with local municipalities to help make things easier for parents raising children.