~Hints for a Sustainable Future Seen in the Overseas Expansion of Environmentally Friendly Products~

 

With growing concern for the environment and sustainability, demand for sustainable products is expanding in overseas markets. STANDAGE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akinori Adachi; hereinafter referred to as STANDAGE) is supporting the global expansion of environmentally friendly products handled by Japanese small and medium-sized manufacturers through its "Omakase Trading" service, which provides end-to-end support for SMEs' overseas expansion. In conjunction with Earth Day (April 22nd), STANDAGE will introduce the latest examples of "sustainable trading" that it is undertaking in collaboration with various manufacturers, and offer hints for contributing to a sustainable future while realizing overseas sales channel expansion.

 

■What is "Earth Day"?

Earth Day is a day of environmental conservation celebrated worldwide on April 22nd every year. It is gaining increasing attention each year as a day to encourage businesses and individuals to choose actions that have less environmental impact in response to global challenges such as climate change and resource depletion.

 

■ Why you should pay attention to "sustainable trade"

"Sustainable approach × International expansion" = Sustainable trade
"Sustainable trade" is a new form of trade that aims to make the world a better place through trade by delivering products and their value that incorporate consideration for environmental protection and social issues across national borders.
Products related to themes such as decarbonization, resource recycling, and social inclusion are steadily gaining demand as they contribute to solving problems in the countries to which they are exported.

Standage, which provides export support services for SMEs through its "Omakase Trade" service and supports the trade operations of approximately 300 companies nationwide, will introduce three representative examples of "sustainable trade."

 

■ Introduction of "sustainable trade" case studies supported by Standage

1. Emergency food supplies from Green Design & Consulting Co., Ltd.: Reducing domestic food waste and contributing to solving food problems in Africa.

Emergency food supplies stockpiled by government ministries, schools, local governments, and companies in Japan for use in the event of disasters are discarded unopened after a certain period. It is said that the amount of food wasted by government ministries alone amounts to approximately 200,000 meals per year.

Green Design and Standage have planned an initiative to collect inventory that is nearing the end of its shelf life and donate it to food banks in Nigeria, Africa, which is suffering from food shortages due to population growth. In January 2023, they visited the site and confirmed that there was a significant need by providing samples of emergency food. The two companies plan to continue working together on this initiative, which will significantly reduce food waste in Japan and contribute to solving the food shortage problem in Africa.

 

◇ About Green Design & Consulting Co., Ltd.
Location: Meguro Ward, Tokyo
Representative: Koichiro Kasa
HP:https://gdac.net/

 

 

2. Okamoto Co., Ltd.'s wood-burning stoves: Meet strict European environmental standards. The craftsmanship of this long-established manufacturer in Mino is gaining attention amid rising electricity costs.

In Europe, where energy prices are soaring due to the situation in Russia, demand for fireplaces and wood-burning stoves is increasing as a means of getting through long, harsh winters.

The "AGNI" series of wood-burning stoves, produced by Okamoto Honsha, a long-established foundry in Gifu Prefecture with over 450 years of history, has obtained the "CE mark" required for sales within the EU, and its compliance with European environmental performance standards (such as EN 13240) has been confirmed by the Italian public certification and inspection body IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità)*.
Against this backdrop, we have achieved cumulative overseas sales of over 10 million yen, mainly to Italy, and are receiving a steady stream of inquiries from European countries such as France, Germany, and Sweden.

*IMQ is one of Italy's largest third-party certification bodies and is considered particularly reliable in the fields of electrical and thermal equipment.
Okamoto's "AGNI" series of wood-burning stoves have passed performance tests for emissions, efficiency, and other factors based on European standards such as EN 13240, and also comply with "Ministerial Ordinance 186/2017." This is an important standard for installing and selling heating equipment in Italy.

 

◇ About Okamoto
Location: Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
Representative: Tomohiko Okamoto
HP:https://agni1560.com/

 

 

3. EiShin Co., Ltd.'s exhaust gas reduction spray: Expected to improve air pollution in Southwest Asia; collaboration with government agencies also being considered.

Eishin's Eco Spray, which suppresses harmful substances derived from automobile exhaust fumes, is attracting considerable attention in Southwest Asia, where air pollution such as PM2.5 is a serious social issue.

In Nepal, the rapid economic development has led to a significant increase in vehicles (especially diesel cars and motorcycles), which is the main cause of PM2.5 pollution. In the capital city of Kathmandu, PM2.5 concentrations have been detected at more than four times the WHO standard. Similarly, in Pakistan, air pollution due to reliance on diesel vehicles is also becoming a serious problem, with concentrations reportedly exceeding 40 times the WHO standard in the northern city of Lahore.
As a solution to these air pollution problems, Standage is working on initiatives that include making proposals to local distributors and conducting demonstrations in cooperation with the government.

 

◇About EiShin Co., Ltd.
Location: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Chie Yasunaga
HP:http://eishin-e.jp/

 

 

 

■ "Sustainable trade" to become the new cornerstone of overseas expansion: Standage's comment

"In recent years, interest in environmental considerations and sustainability has rapidly increased, and demand for products centered on 'sustainability' is expanding in overseas markets. In the EU in particular, the Ecodesign Regulation* will come into effect in July 2024, and we believe that this will be the catalyst for even greater global demand for sustainability. Standage, which aims to create trade that will last for 10 to 20 years, will strive to create new trade opportunities by appealing to overseas markets with the added value of our products from an ecological perspective, in order to build a sustainable trading business."

(Fumiki Hamada, General Manager, Trade Strategy Department, STANDAGE Co., Ltd.)

*What is the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR)?: The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which came into effect in the EU in July 2024, is a new system that requires sustainability in terms of resource efficiency, durability, reusability, and recyclability for all products circulating in the EU market. The scope of regulation has been greatly expanded from the previous system which was limited to energy-related products, and now covers a wide range of industries, including textiles, furniture, steel products, and chemical products. The introduction of a "digital product passport" is now mandatory for products, and transparency of environmental performance is also required, making it an urgent task for companies exporting to the EU to comply.

 

■ Future Outlook

As global environmental and social issues become increasingly complex, the essence of trade lies in its ability to convey "ideals" across national borders.
Standage will continue to expand its "sustainable trade," delivering products from excellent Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises along with "sustainable value" to overseas markets, with the aim of "realizing a world where all countries have equal access to all things."

 

■About Standage

Established in March 2017, the company's vision is "to create a world where all countries have equal access to all things." It develops a new trade settlement system utilizing blockchain and stablecoins that enables the safe, secure, and inexpensive simultaneous exchange of "goods" and "payments" regardless of region or country. Seeing emerging markets, particularly Africa, as its main market, the company established a base in Nigeria shortly after its founding and began developing trade operations with Africa. Beyond trade settlement, it develops and provides systems that realize digital transformation across the entire trade sector, including sales channel development, order placement and processing, and international logistics. Furthermore, it is working to increase the number of new domestic trade players by supporting exports from small and medium-sized enterprises.
◇ "Omakase Trade" service official website:https://standage.co.jp/service/omakase/
Established: March 2017
Representative: President and CEO Akinori Adachi
Capital: 100 million yen
URLhttps://standage.co.jp/