Use of Certified Products
Basic Concept
Responsible procurement takes into account environmental and social impacts of purchased products and services, and certification programs assist purchasers in making purchasing decisions. The JAL Group compares sustainability standards of certification programs, sets a benchmark using an internationally-recognized third-party certification that follows strict requirements for environmental, social and governance factors, and safety for food, and promotes the use of certified materials.
Using FSC®-certified products
We have established procurement standards for commercial materials that use sustainable paper and wood, and in September 2018 we began using paper items with international certification in consideration with forest resources for service supplies provided to customers in our cabins and lounges. We have already certified sanitary products such as paper cups, paper hand towels, menu cards, paper straws (we do not provide plastic straws), in-flight magazines such as SKYWARD, wooden toys for children, and paper hand towels as such certified products. In the future, we aim to have all cabin service items provided on board certified as such.
Using ASIAGAP certified products
In December 2018, we began using ASIAGAP certified*1 frilly leaf lettuce sourced through JAL Agriport*2 in select inflight meals in Business Class and Economy Class, in accordance with our sustainable procurement policy for agricultural products.
The lettuce producer, ASIAGAP-certified Wagoen Farm, is one of the largest plant factories in Japan where light, water, and air are fully artificially controlled. Since vegetables are grown in a completely closed environment, there is no need to worry about pests or disease or to use of pesticides. Vegetables stay fresh longer and so JAL customers can enjoy their crispness. Further, there is less food waste by reducing waste during cooking.
In addition to strawberries produced by JAL Agriport, tomatoes cultivated at certified farms located near Narita are used in inflight meals aboard departure flights from Narita. We feel this contributes to building deeper connections with communities and promoting local production for local consumption. Going forward, we will continue to use a variety of certified vegetables in our menus.
*1 ASIAGAP certification : A global standard for farm management which is given to farms that conform to many standards for food safety and environmental protection such as pesticide and fertilizer management.
*2 JAL Agriport : An agricultural joint venture with Wago Co., Ltd. Located in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, it operates tourist farms and sells private brand products. In November 2019, a JAL Agriport farm in Narita acquired ASIAGAP certification (Registration No. : A120000098).
JAL Agriport website(Japanese)Open link in a new window
Using sustainably sourced marine products
In June 2019, we introduced marine products sourced through AEON Co., Ltd.to select inflight meals in Business Class, driven by our sustainable procurement policy for marine products (wild-caught products and aquaculture products).In fiscal year 2020, we will offer a variety of sustainably sourced MSC certified*1 and ASC certified*2 marine products in our menus.
JAL became the first airline to acquire MSC certification*1 and ASC certification*2 in March 2020. We established a traceability management procedure at catering companies to ensure the use of responsibly managed marine products and created an operating procedure to ensure compliance.
Inflight meal using MSC certified and ASIAGAP certified products
The use of certified ingredients is a motivating factor for fisheries to engage in sustainable fishing and contributes to preventing illegal and excessive fishing, impacts on ecosystems, and social issues such as forced labor and child labor. We will continue to use and provide diverse certified seafood as ingredients with the cooperation of Aeon Co., Ltd.
*1 MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) : Operates a certification program that certifies environmentally sustainable and socially responsible fisheries and marine catch of those certified fisheries.
*2 ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) : Operates a certification program that certifies marine products farmed at environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture farms.
Other initiatives
Serving sustainably sourced coffee
JAL CAFÉ LINES is an inflight service that aspires to serve the best tasting coffee on board. JAL was the first airline to serve sustainably sourced coffee in 2011. Currently, Rainforest Alliance-certified*1 coffee beans are used in Economy Class on all JAL flights.
In December 2018, we began serving Doi Tung coffee created by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation and MI CAFETO Co., Ltd. on JAL`s Bangkok route. Doi Tung coffee was the outcome of a project in impoverished mountain areas of Thailand to covert poppy fields grown for opium production into coffee plantations. The coffee was developed collaboratively by the Me Fah Luang Foundation, which tackles poverty in Thailand, and MI CAFETO Co., Ltd., which provided local guidance on coffee cultivation technologies.
*1 Rainforest Alliance certification：Indicates that a farmer has been audited and assessed as meeting standards required for environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Healthy and environmental amenities
Relaxing wear is offered in First Class for ultimate relaxation during the flight. It is made from 100% organic cotton, which comes from healthy and environmentally-friendly fields and gives a soft and comfortable texture.
Click hereOpen link in a new window for JAL First Class amenities.
Ensuring the safety of toys
As children may put toys in their mouth, all novelty toys for children have passed the Japan Safety Toy Standard (ST Standard) test*3 conducted by a third-party testing lab. The ST standard certifies that the toys have been tested to comply with the Japan Food Sanitation Law and are designed to prevent children from accidentally swallowing them.
*3 ST Standard: A standard for toy safety in which toys are tested for mechanical and physical properties, flammability and chemical properties by a third-party laboratory. Upon successfully passing the test, the ST Mark may be placed on the product. The toy industry recommends toys bearing the ST Mark as toys carefully made to ensure safety.
