Reducing Our Environmental Impact and Adapting to Driver Overtime Regulations by Pursuing a Modal Shift (Japan-Pigeon Corporation)

To leave a rich earth for the future of babies born tomorrow, Pigeon Corporation works to reduce its environmental impact in accordance with the mid- to long-term objectives set out in the Pigeon Green Action Plan. As part of these efforts, we have successfully pursued a modal shift in distribution that reduced both CO2 emissions and driver work hours.

What Is a Modal Shift?

“Modal shift” in this context refers to switching freight transport from trucks to rail and shipping—in other words, from a mode of transportation with higher environmental impact to a mode with lower environmental impact.

The Initiative in Detail

In the past, when transporting products from our Hitachiota Distribution Center (Hitachiota, Ibaraki) to our Western Japan Distribution Center (Kamikawa, Kanzaki, Hyogo) or our Eastern Japan Distribution Center (Kawashima, Saitama), we relied primarily on trailer trucks. However, in 2024 we sought to optimize our distribution methods, and as part of this we implemented a shift to double-track transport, moving 30% of transport to rail.

Results

As a result of pursuing this modal shift, we reduced our CO2 emissions from business activities between August 2024 and March 2025 by 73% compared to fully trailer truck–based transport—a total reduction in CO2 emissions of 73.7 t. We also reduced driver work time by around 81%, or roughly 2,134 hours, helping to improve the labor environment.
Furthermore, we are receiving subsidies for this initiative as an approved company from the national government.

We will continue to go about our business activities with consideration for the environment and pursue initiatives that help to bring about a sustainable society.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism press release in Japanese