The Toyota Tsusho Group's Initiatives for Achieving Carbon Neutrality ~Passing down a better global environment to the children of the future~
-Become a Leader That Drives the Carbon Neutrality
Quickening and Increasing Trend toward Carbon Neutrality and the Environment Surrounding the Toyota Tsusho Group
Having set decarbonization as one of its Key Sustainability Issues(Materiality), the entire Toyota Tsusho Group is promoting the achievement of global carbon neutrality. We participate in initiatives toward realizing a decarbonized society and circular economy, which will lead to carbon neutrality. These are business domains in which the group has long engaged, and we operate various related projects such as a wind power generation business, which has grown to be the largest in Japan.
Meanwhile, the tide has strongly turned toward the promotion of carbon neutrality for all of society. In Europe, which has overall high environmental awareness, the European Union (EU) announced the European Green Deal in December 2019 to make the EU a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases. In October 2020, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued a 2050 carbon neutrality declaration, and in 2021, the Biden administration, which has placed a high priority on environmental and energy policies, came into power.
From now on, green recovery based on environment-focused economic policies will be promoted toward restoring the global economy from the COVID-19 pandemic. The world is in the middle of a tectonic shift, and the promotion of carbon neutrality has entered its founding period. This abrupt change is greatly impacting the mobility and energy industries, which are important business domains for the Toyota Tsusho Group, and transformation and disruption will occur in all types of industries, especially in the next 10 years leading up to 2030. The risks and opportunities for our group can be summarized as shown on the right.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets and Future Initiatives
Achieving carbon neutrality in the Toyota Tsusho Group's operations is as essential as contributing to carbon neutrality in society. Therefore, in July 2021 our group set a concrete policy toward contributing to the transition into a decarbonized society. We established a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated through the business activities of Toyota Tsusho and its domestic and overseas consolidated subsidiaries (Scope 1*1 and Scope 2*2) to net-zero to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In addition, we also plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% below 2019 levels by 2030.
The Toyota Tsusho Group aims to achieve these targets by promoting comprehensive energy conservation and renewable energy measures (installing LED lighting at business offices and plants, installing solar power facilities at company-owned buildings and structures), reducing CO2 emissions from production processes and logistics operations, reducing emissions through technological innovation, and utilizing J-Credits*3 derived from the use of renewable energy. The ability to accelerate and promote businesses that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire industrial lifecycle is a strength of the Toyota Tsusho Group. All employees of our group will unite and work full force to contribute to the resolution of these social issues.
- *1Direct greenhouse gas emissions from Toyota Tsusho's use of fuel, etc. (coal, gas, etc.)
- *2Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from Toyota Tsusho's use of purchased electric power and heat
- *3In 2019, J-Credits derived from the use of renewable energy resulted in the certified reduction of 2,649 tons of greenhouse gas.
Reduction Targets
- Carbon neutrality by 2050
- Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 50% below 2019 levels by 2030
Scope of application: Parent company and domestic/overseas consolidated subsidiaries (Scope 1 and Scope 2)
- *For Scope 3, we are promoting concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain, in cooperation with our suppliers and customers.
Contributing to Transitioning into a Decarbonized Society through Fives Business Areas with Strengths
The Toyota Tsusho Group is involved in businesses that support the circular economy throughout each stage of the industrial lifecycle including energy creation, energy collection and coordination, manufacture of goods, transport of goods, use of goods, waste processing, and reuse and recycling as part of its initiatives to contribute to the transition to a decarbonized society. We will drive the achievement of carbon neutrality, focusing on our five areas of strength.
The Toyota Tsusho Group's initiatives for contributing to the transition to a decarbonized society
Fives Business Areas with Strengths
By 2030, Toyota Tsusho will invest 1.6 trillion yen scale to reinforce businesses moving towards carbon neutrality
Toyota Tsusho established five areas of focus that propel the circular economy in each stage of the industrial lifecycle to reinforce; "energy creation," "energy collection and coordination," "manufacture of goods," "transport of goods," "use of goods," "waste processing," and "reuse and recycling
Aiming to maximize introduction of renewable energy
Scale of investment : 700 billion yen
Aiming to maximize introduction of renewable energy
The Renewable Energy & Energy Management (RE&EM) Working Group focuses on three areas: the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, the general electricity market, and the Toyota Tsusho Group's adoption of renewable energy.
In the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, which covers up to carbon neutrality of the entire supply chain (Scope 3), we will contribute with the Toyota Tsusho Group's experience in renewable energy development from the past 30 years.
In the general electricity market, putting trends in ESG investment and the Green Growth Strategy of the Japanese government in perspective, we will further accelerate power source development led by the wind power generation of Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation and the development of new power sources in emerging countries which we specialize in.
As the leader of the Toyota Group's initiatives toward carbon neutrality, it is necessary for Toyota Tsusho and the Toyota Tsusho Group to actively incorporate renewable energy internally as well as outside the Group. Our working group will support those who are incorporating the renewable energy to overcome hurdles such as different system and cost in regions and countries.
Contributing toward Carbon Neutrality across the Entire Lifetime of Batteries by Strengthening Ties between Divisions, Regions and with Partners
Scale of investment : 400 billion yen
Contributing toward Carbon Neutrality across the Entire Lifetime of Batteries by Strengthening Ties between Divisions, Regions and with Partners
In response to the acceleration of environmental policies and trends toward achieving carbon neutrality, the Battery Working Group will contribute toward carbon neutrality by combining diverse strengths across divisions.
BEV* is not necessarily the optimal solution for achieving carbon neutrality. It is necessary to consider businesses with a bird's eye view spanning upstream to downstream, including power sources. In addition, the battery market is under severe competition as manufacturers from China and South Korea have dominated a large portion of the market share in the current battery industry, and manufacturers from European and U.S. are also starting to actively enter the market.
The Toyota Tsusho Group's strengths are our comprehensive capabilities ranging from power source (renewable energy) development to battery business-from upstream (= resource business) to downstream (= venous 3R businesses)-that transcends the boundaries of divisions. Going forward, by accelerating collaboration with regional members and our partners to complement our functions for global competition, we aim to provide one-and-only functions and services distinctive to Toyota Tsusho from upstream to downstream.
- *Battery Electric Vehicle
Accelerating Carbon Neutrality of Port Areas by Model of Local Production for Local Consumption of Clean Hydrogen
Scale of investment : 200 billion yen
Accelerating Carbon Neutrality of Port Areas by Model of Local Production for Local Consumption of Clean Hydrogen
The Port of Los Angeles in the United States has been plagued by air pollution from diesel-driven port machinery for many years. The port has stated a goal to achieve zero emissions from port machinery by 2030. Progress has been made in the electrification of small machinery such as forklifts and of fixed equipment; however, it has proven more difficult for large machinery due to constraints on operational hours and charging infrastructure.
Therefore, the Toyota Tsusho Group commenced feasibility studies into the use of hydrogen fuel cells to power large port machinery, and into a model of local production for local consumption of hydrogen (a model where everything from hydrogen production to use is carried out locally). This project studies two topics-the use of hydrogen by adopting fuel cells to power large port machinery and the production of hydrogen from biogases derived from dairy manure-in a field that uses the Group's capabilities nurtured through hydrogen-related demonstration projects. Based on the results of these studies, the Toyota Tsusho Group will verify the business feasibility of adopting fuel cells for large machinery in Japan and overseas.
Aiming to Reduce CO2 by Optimizing Venous Businesses Using IT
Scale of investment : 200 billion yen
Aiming to Reduce CO2 by Optimizing Venous Businesses Using IT
Venous businesses-such as those involved in the collection, recycling, and treatment of waste-are tightly regulated by law and interpretation for implementation differs according to the local government. This results in low recycling rates and inefficient operations. Taking into consideration these issues, we are working on the optimization of venous businesses in partnership with JEMS Inc.
JEMS is an IT system company specializing in venous businesses that provides systems to both companies that emit waste as well as those that treat waste. It has the number one share in Japan for both markets. We are undertaking initiatives aimed at improving recycling rate and increasing efficiency by combining the systems and data of JEMS with our capabilities in resource circulation and recycling businesses. In addition to CO2 reduction through this effort, we are working together on further promoting carbon neutrality while also considering functions from the perspective of carbon neutrality, such as visualizing venous CO2 and reflecting reduction options in systems.
Achieving Carbon Neutrality through Paprika Cultivated by Effective Use of Factory Waste Heat
Scale of investment : 100 billion yen
Achieving Carbon Neutrality through Paprika Cultivated by Effective Use of Factory Waste Heat
Established in 2008, VEGi-Dream Kurihara Corporation is the largest producer of paprika in Japan. It cultivates safe and worry-free paprika grown in Japan at two locations: Kurihara Farm and Ohira Farm. At Ohira Farm, waste heat from power generators within the industrial estate-which includes an automobile factory-is used to warm its greenhouse. This significantly reduces the capacity utilization of LP gas boilers and contribute toward achieving carbon neutrality. Last year, it received the Miyagi Prefecture Stop Global Warming Award in recognition of its efforts so far.
In addition, a project started with incorporation of CO2 required for photosynthesis, using waste gas from these power generators. As it is necessary to incorporate waste gas with a clean condition, safety measures are essential. We hope to advance the project toward achieving carbon neutrality while maintaining a balance between safety and economy.
March, 2022
- Domestic
- Overseas
- NEW
