Initiatives for Preventing Global Warming Back Number (2017)
Back to Latest Initiatives for Preventing Global Warming
Basic Approach
The MinebeaMitsumi Group recognizes that the international issue of global warming, along with the related issues of soaring energy prices and abnormal climatic conditions, pose a significant threat to the sustainability of its business activities.
In response, each office and plant in the MinebeaMitsumi Group is proactively promoting energy efficiency initiatives in order to combat global warming.
Results of FY2016 Initiatives
The MinebeaMitsumi Group's emissions of CO2 in FY2016 totaled 737,211 tons, 7% more than in FY2015. In terms of basic units of production, CO2 emissions increased 3% over FY2015 to 1.15 tons per million yen of production. With our business integration, CO2 emissions have increased, however due to the change in exchange rate, the value of our production has not increased in line with the increase in production volume.
Initiatives in Office Spaces
Energy-efficiency Initiatives at Tokyo Head Office (Japan)
Tokyo Head Office
Our Tokyo Head Office relocated to a newly purchased office building in Tokyo in January 2013. In October 2013, the office began full-fledged ISO 14001 environmental management activities.
As a result of efforts to conserve energy from both hard and soft aspects, such as reviewing use of air conditioning, turning off and reducing lighting, and encouraging employees to dress according to "cool biz" standards, we were able to reduce CO2 emissions in FY2016 by 4.7% compared with FY2013.
In addition, the Ministry of the Environment conducts a "light-down campaign" calling on lit-up facilities, companies, and homes nationwide to turn off lights every year on the night of summer solstice and Tanabata festival. At our Tokyo head office building, we participated by turning off the lights on the building for two hours from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on both June 21 and July 7.
Initiatives at our Offices and Plants
Occupational Safety and Health, Environment, Energy, and CSR Week Exhibition (Thailand)
In November and December each year, NMB-Minebea Thai promotes a travelling exhibit at all of its plants to raise employee awareness of health, safety, the environment, energy, and CSR.
The scale of the event was reduced this year, due to the passing away of the King of Thailand in October 2016, but the following exhibitions and events were held.
1. Communication board display
- Mandatory royal display
- Display outlining accidents in 2016
- Display to educate about the environment and energy
2. Survey-game concerning occupational safety and health, the environment, energy, and CSR.
The 2016 Occupational Safety and Health, Environment, Energy, and CSR Week exhibition
Tree-Planting to Celebrate the Queen’s Birthday (Thailand)
In August 2016, employees at NMB-Minebea Thai’s Lop Buri Plant planted trees in celebration of Queen Sirikit's birthday on August 12.
Some 60 employees joined to plant 84 trees (Burma quince and Pink Shower trees) at the Lop Buri Plant to celebrate the 84th birthday of the Queen.
Tree-planting at Lop Buri Plant and group photograph of employees who participated
Contract with Local Waste Disposal Operator (Mitsumi Electric, Akita Business Division)
In the past, Mitsumi Electric's Akita Business Division had disposed of mixed plastic and paper waste* with an operator in adjacent Yamagata Prefecture, since no operator in Akita Prefecture handled such waste. However, because the operator was over 200 kilometers from the Akita Business Division, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions required for waste collection was a significant issue for our company.
With assistance from Akita Prefecture, we therefore entered into negotiations with several Akita-based operators. Following successful negotiations with one operator, we conducted a survey of the disposal site.
The survey determined that there were no particular issues with the waste processing or management, and consequently we concluded a contract for waste disposal (March 13, 2017). With the change from the Yamagatabased operator, we have been able to reduce CO2 emissions by 33% and consignment expenses by approximately 40%.
*All is recycled into refuse-derived fuel (RDF)
Survey of the waste disposal site (Akita Prefecture)
Children of employees participate in Earth Hour (China)
Earth Hour,*1 held worldwide on the last Saturday of March each year, calls on facilities, companies, and homes to turn off their lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Our Tianjin plant supports this movement, and makes efforts for environmental preservation on the same day. In March 2017, we taught employees' children about energy saving and prevention of global warming. Children had a one hour home candlelight dinner and joined in outdoor exercise activities.*2 It provided a good opportunity to improve the children's awareness regarding global environmental protection, reduction of energy consumption, and prevention of global warming.
*1 Earth Hour is an international project of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), whereby participants forgo the use of electricity for one hour from 8: 30 to 9: 30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March. It began as part of WWF Australia's Global Warming Prevention Campaign in 2007, and has been held around the world since 2008. People around the world who want to preserve the Earth’s natural beauty and protect its environment join as one on the same day at the same time to turn off the lights.
*2 Outdoor exercises involved exercise using fitness equipment.
Children who took part in Earth Hour
Initiatives at Logistics Divisions
Reducing CO2 Emissions from Logistics
In addition to direct CO2 emissions from business activities categorized as Scope 1 (gas and oil) and Scope 2 (electricity, steam, and heat), the MinebeaMitsumi Group also strives to grasp CO2 emissions from logistics activities (product shipment) categorized under Scope 3 (other).
In FY2016, MinebeaMitsumi Group's emissions of CO2 related to product shipments totaled 173,466 tons, an increase of 18% compared with FY2015.
Future Issues and Goals
The MinebeaMitsumi Group will continue to advance its measures to prevent global warming.
In regard to long-term goals for 2020 and 2030, we are taking into consideration the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, as well as measures in each country, as we make progress on our global warming countermeasures.
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