We are actively engaged in environmental initiatives
>Nishinomachi Forest Biotope >Environmental Initiatives >Awards
［Food loss and waste reduction policy］
Aiya Co., Ltd. strives to reduce food loss and waste by utilizing raw materials without wasting them, ensuring proper management in each process from manufacturing to shipping.
Aiya Co., Ltd. Representative Director and President Takeo Sugita
［Environmental Activities］
We think about the environment in various ways, not just the tea leaves needed for matcha, and are working to protect the environment, such as creating biotopes to preserve, cultivate, and coexist with the rich natural environment.
Chinju no Mori Zone
Four Seasons Flower Forest Zone
Akikusa zone
Spring grass zone
Farmland zone
Lake/wetland zone
A biotope is the area that restored the ecosystem that was lost due to industrial development and urbanization so that the group of animal and plant species that normally live in the area can live there again.
This movement, which started in Europe such as Germany, has been introduced to Japan, where the national and local governments, schools, NPO/NGOs, companies, etc. have taken in and practiced.
Aiya Co., Ltd. is also committed to contributing to the protection of the natural environment through the “Nishi no Machi no Mori”.
We aim to create and preserve “satochi/satoyama environments” where people and nature coexist, and to realize a society in harmony with nature (SDGs Goals 14 and 15).
In forest management, we avoid the use of artificial chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, etc.) as much as possible, and in principle limit the introduced species to those that inhabit and grow in the Yahagi River basin*1, in order to conserve biodiversity. We take into account.
*1: From the perspective of environmental education, some of the tree species planted are horticultural varieties.
Utilization policy
It will integrate with the nearby Yahagi River to the west, surrounding shrines, and rice fields, contributing to the formation of an ecological network.
We provide people with environmental education, conservation activities, and a place for health and relaxation in urban areas where nature is decreasing.
We will continue medium- to long-term maintenance and management under our own management, and use it as a conservation (gene bank) for rare species.
Tea leaves picked in a tea field are steamed and dried to become Ara-cha.
By removing the coarse stems and veins from Ara-cha through various processes, it becomes Tencha, the raw material for matcha.
Removed coarse stems and veins are used as Kuki-cha and Kona-cha.
In addition, matcha that was left after the manufacturing process is also reused as a fertilizer for tea fields.
In this way, Aiya Co., Ltd.’s manufacturing process has a system in place where all purchased raw tea leaves will be used without any waste and reused for future production.
At Aiya Co., Ltd., we purchases tea from organic tea farms that do not rely on pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and Rainforest Alliance Certified tea farms that meet sustainable agricultural standards, while also taking into consideration the environmental impact.
Click here to learn more about Rainforest Alliance Certified
Afforestation activities of AIYA
1st Plantation in 2001 Republic of the Philippines, Palawan Total: 6,300 trees
2nd Plantation in 2003 Kingdom of Thailand, Ranong Total: 12,300 trees
3rd Plantation in 2005 Republic of Indonesia, Lombok island Total: 4200 trees
4th Plantation in 2007 Kingdom of Thailand, Ranong Total: 13,000 trees
5th Plantation in 2009 Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu Total: 5,000 trees
6th Plantation in 2011 Republic of Indonesia, Bali island Total: 5,700 trees
7th Plantation in 2013 Republic of the Philippines, Mahanay island Total: 7,800 trees
8th Plantation in 2015 Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Can Gio Total: 17,700 trees
2019
In Aichi Prefecture, in order to improve the productivity of the prefecture's service industry, we are looking for companies that are advocating for advanced services, and commend excellent cases of success as the “Aichi Service Award”.
Aiya received a special award because it opened a “experience-based matcha specialty museum” where you can enjoy matcha with all five senses and greatly contributed to the promotion of the local brand “Nishio no Matcha”.
2017
Aiya Co., Ltd. has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a “Regional Future Driving Company” as a core company that will play a leading role in the region.
The reason for this selection is that matcha production takes advantage of regional characteristics to create high added value, brings economic ripple effects to local businesses, and strongly drives regional economic growth.
2016
The “Japan Gift Awards” is an award established to create gifts of various shapes and to support deep Japanese exchange.
The activation of gifts not only makes the warmth in the heart of the Japanese people into shape, but also enhances the joy of the recipient and the recipient, and eventually enriches the culture and industry throughout Japan.
Aiya won the “Aichi Prize” for selecting only one product in each prefecture for its “Assortment of Matcha Baumkuchen and Tea”.
2015
The 100-Year Corporate Award is aimed at recognizing the management philosophy of a long-lived company that has been in business for over 100 years, and awarding outstanding companies that serve as a model for other companies in the region and outstanding companies that contribute to local employment and tax revenue.
Aiya was awarded the “Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award”, which is equivalent to the grand prize, at the 1st “100-Year Corporate Award” for its early development of the matcha market as a raw material for food processing since the 1960s.
2014
In order to quickly respond to recent changes in the industrial structure and demands, we have a high global share in niche fields as well as large companies and major industry groups, and we are doing excellent management. The Japanese economy as a whole is required to strengthen mid-sized companies and small and medium-sized enterprises (GNT companies).
Aiyawas recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as having achieved a high market share in the field of matcha, and was selected as one of the “Global Niche Top Companies Selection 100”.
2007
The “Good Company Award” is an award established to develop Japanese SMEs by selecting from among the SMEs nationwide, the companies that have achieved excellent economic and social results and making a public announcement.
Aiya received the “Excellent Company Award”.
This award has been particularly remarkable in the fields of management renewal, technology development, market development, and distribution reform, and it is a company with excellent content that has achieved considerable progress over the last three years. It is given to excellent companies that are equivalent to the grand prix in 7 areas(※).
※7 areas...Hokkaido/Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuriku/Koshinetsu, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku/Shikoku, Kyushu/Okinawa
2007
The “300 energetic SMEs in manufacturing” selects the Manufacturing SMEs that play an important role so that the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will increase the interest in the manufacturing field centered on young people.
In 2007, Aiya was selected as one of the 300 companies because of its high reputation for its advanced matcha manufacturing process.
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