DIGI Products and Services That Help Protect the Environment
DIGI works toward the goal of providing ecological and economical solutions (E2 Solutions), while developing products that are both profitable and sensitive to the environment. In addition, we strive to support our customers in their “3R” initiatives (reduce, reuse, recycle). For our own business practices, we have developed an efficient and environmentally friendly logistics system for delivering our products, to help reduce the burden on the environment. DIGI’s efforts are directed at meeting the challenge of promoting new sensibilities in the sphere of environmental conservation. To achieve this, we are leveraging our role in supporting global industry and using our business operations to help influence society. We believe that thinking about our customers also means thinking about the next generation’s environment.
1） Reducing
Our non-tray packaging machine helps minimize waste. Packaging machines and printers that are compatible with linerless (no release liner) labels not only reduce waste, but also lower cost by eliminating the liner. These products both reduce the environmental burden and lower customer costs. In addition, we have introduced a waste weighing management system that uses visualization of waste to help in waste-reduction efforts.
2） Reusing
We are actively promoting the consumption of purified tap water, with harmful impurities removed, as a more environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water. Container waste is reduced through the use of reusable special-purpose bottles. This approach to water consumption is gaining traction as an environmental-awareness initiative.
3） Recycling
Our reverse vending machine, which sorts and separates PET bottles, aluminum cans, and steel cans; compresses them; and stores them, encourages recycling activities that bring our customers and consumers together.
4） Using our Logistics System to Reduce Environmental Burden
Distribution operations impact the environment in many areas – energy consumption, creation of waste materials, production of exhaust gases from automobiles, and packaging. To reduce the environmental impact of delivering products to our customers, DIGI has developed our own environmentally friendly logistics system. We employ a direct store delivery (DSD) system that eliminates the need for on-site product setup, and a palette delivery system that minimizes the packaging materials used. These initiatives help us conserve resources by reducing the number of delivery trucks we need to use.
Direct Store Delivery (DSD)
DIGI’s original direct store delivery (DSD) system was launched in 2005. DSD is a system for delivering products directly to customers, after all the necessary assembly, wiring, data entry, and program installation are done at the factory. In the past, we delivered products to our customer’s sales office, after which it was delivered to the site where it would be used. However, with the introduction of the direct store delivery (DSD) system, deliveries that required two trips by truck can now be handled by one trip, reducing the burden on the environment. Doing all the preparation for installation at the factory rather than at the customer’s site has become a popular feature, and has increased customer satisfaction. At present, 80% of DIGI’s POS systems are delivered using the DSD system.
Palette Delivery with No Packaging Materials
This is a new transportation system we developed at the same time as the DSD system. Steel transport palettes are specially designed from scratch for transporting large equipment, such as POS systems, allowing us to do the delivery without using packaging materials. We also developed our own reusable packing boxes, called “Pasokonpo,” for smaller products, such as printers. We secure products in the boxes using plastic film, so they are protected from damage even if the boxes are shaken during transport, and are delivered safely. This system greatly reduces packaging material waste, decreases carton inventory, eliminates packing and unpacking work, and makes overall business operations more efficient. In addition, deliveries in the same general area can be consolidated more easily, to further reduce environmental impact. Thanks to this system, we have been able to reduce our delivery fleet by 37%, while also reducing the burden on the environment.
