Initiatives for Preventing Global Warming Back Number (2018)
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 FY2017 Initiatives
The MinebeaMitsumi Group's emissions of CO2 in FY2017 totaled 771,594 tons, 5% more than in FY2016. In terms of basic units of production, CO2 emissions decreased 8% over FY2016 to 0.88 tons per million yen of production.
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 FY2017 by 2.5% compared with FY2015.
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 (the summer solstice) and July 7 (Cool Earth Day).
Initiatives at our Offices and Plants
Conversion of Raw Food Waste into Biogas (Thailand)
Biogas generation equipment
NMB-Minebea Thai is taking part in a project by the Thai Ministry of Energy to promote the recycling of raw food waste into biogas energy. Both the Bang Pa-in and the Lopburi plants have installed biogas generation systems on site. The generated biogas boasts a low environmental footprint. It is used as an alternative to LP gas for cooking meals in the cafeterias, helping to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
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.
For FY2017, the exhibitions and events given below were organized.
The following were the activities carried out at exhibitions.
- Exhibition on safety and the environment.
- Survey-game concerning occupational safety and health, the environment, energy, and CSR
- Health-promotion activities by Nonthavej Hospital, Viphavadee Hospital, and the waste disposal operator GENCO.
Opening ceremony
Scene from the exhibition
Reducing Power Consumption of Raw Water Pumps by Increasing Pure Water and Raw Water Heat Exchangers (Chitose Business Division)
Raw water heat exchangers
The Chitose Business Division uses groundwater for semiconductor production. Pure water for production processes is made from groundwater (well water), but the temperature of the well water is low year round, so it is necessary to heat it. In FY2017, idle heat exchangers were put back into service. The result was a 950,000 yen reduction in electric power consumption.
In addition to this measure, well water heat exchangers have been used for some time, and made a large contribution to the reduction in natural gas consumption.
* Reduction in natural gas consumption: 71,136 m3/month
Energy-saving Measures at Plants
Turbo chillers installed at the Xicen Plant in China
We are actively introducing high-efficiency turbo chillers for air conditioning, inverter air compressors, LED lighting, and other energy-saving devices at MinebeaMitsumi plants in Japan and overseas. We are also applying thermal insulating paint to plant roofs and walls, implementing measures to control intake of outside air using waste heat recovery and CO2 sensors, and taking other measures to comprehensively increase energy savings at plants.
Tree-Planting to Celebrate the Queen's Birthday (Thailand)
In August 2017, employees at Lopburi Plant planted trees in celebration of Queen Sirikit's birthday on August 12. The planted trees help to prevent global warming by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere as they grow. The employees who participated also reaffirmed their recognition about importance of the environment.
Tree-planting at Lopburi Plant and the employees who participated
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 FY2017, MinebeaMitsumi Group’s emissions of CO2 related to product shipments totaled 201,289 tons, an increase of 16% compared with FY2016. The increase was primarily the result of higher shipment volumes in conjunction with increased product shipments and greater use of air freight to distant customers.
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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