Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) has announced that it has reduced 20 per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) three years ahead of time as part of the company's JT Group Long-Term Environment plan, according to a company press release.

This progress is part of the company’s goal of reducing absolute GHG emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, JT stated. In 2017, JT already surpassed the 20 per cent reduction goal by reducing emissions from 880 thousand tonnes in 2009 to 694 thousand tonnes in 2017, which is a 21.2 per cent decline, the company said.
“These outcomes were achieved despite challenges linked to expanding operations in emerging markets and restructuring our manufacturing footprint in Europe in our international tobacco business,” JT said in the press release.
The company said using solar power in its cigarette factory in Jordan to supply steam to the manufacturing process is one way in which it will continue to reduce GHG emissions in the future. “This technology will reduce GHG emissions by 10 per cent and fuel cost by 18 per cent annually, making our facility the first tobacco factory in the world to use solar power in this way,” JT stated.
In addition to this the company said it was committed to increasing the amount of on-site renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, hydro power, biomass energy and geothermal heat throughout the group. JT said it would also continue to develop its Long-term Environment Plan while keeping in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.