Policy
Sojitz has selected the following Key Sustainability Issues (materiality) .
| Themes | Contents |
|---|---|
 |
Sojitz strives to preserve the environment and create businesses that are both highly competitive and environmentally friendly by pursuing environmental sustainability in its businesses. We work to minimize our environmental burden with initiatives that include preventing climate change, reducing CO2 emissions and preserving biodiversity. |
Sojitz Group Environmental Policy
As a global company, Sojitz Group considers environmental issues a crucial topic to be addressed in management. Striving for a sustainable society, we will work to preserve the environment and prevent pollution in our business activities, while creating businesses that are both highly competitive and environmentally friendly.
- 1.Comply
with environmental laws and regulations
In the course of our business operations, we will comply with laws and regulations concerning the environment, international treaties, and agreements to which we subscribe. - 2.Continuously
improve our environmental management system
Under our environmental management system, we will establish and periodically review environmental objectives and aim for constant improvement, in order to enhance our environmental performance. - 3.Minimize
environmental burden
Through reducing greenhouse gases such as CO2 to prevent climate change and preserving biodiversity, we will strive to minimize the environmental burden of our businesses. - 4.Conserve
resources and reduce/recycle waste
We will engage in curbing the use of natural resources such as energy and water, and the reducing and recycling of waste. - 5.Consider
the environment in new businesses
When starting new businesses and expanding or further developing existing businesses, we will work to reduce the burden on the environment and prevent pollution. - 6.Pursue
sustainable resources
We will promote initiatives for the stable supply of resources and realization of a suitable energy mix. - 7.Educate
and promote awareness on the environment
In addition to ensuring that all of our officers and employees are notified of this policy, we will implement educational activities to ensure widespread awareness.
Adopted April 1st, 2004
Revised July 2nd, 2007
Revised August 6th, 2013
Revised January 1st, 2017
Revised May 9th, 2018
Relative Policies
Target
Climate Change
| Key Sustainability Issues | Sustainability Goal |
Business Area | Planned Approach |
| Environment (low-carbon, decarbonization) |
Qualitatively grasp CO2 emissions from business activities | Company-wide | We will regularly and consistently conduct surveys of direct CO" emissions from Sojitz Group business activities, and consider setting improvement goals for each sector. |
| We will conduct an analysis of the volume and impact of CO2 emissions of Sojitz Group, including its value chain, based on a objective climate change scenario. | |||
| Promote low-carbon businesses focused on decarbonization | Renewable energy | We will undertake the widespread use and expansion of renewable energy through development and business operation of solar power and wind power generation business, and sales of related facilities and equipment. We will also strive for investment in new renewable energy fields. | |
| Natural gas/LNG | In addition to development and business operation of natural gas and LNG generation business, which have relatively low CO2 emissions levels compared to fossil fuels, through investment in midstream businesses such as LNG port construction and sales of related facilities and equipment, we will strive for a full-fledged energy base focused on realizing a low-carbon society. | ||
| EV-related | We will contribute to promoting the widespread use of EV cars which do not emit CO2, through providing manufacutinrg equipment and raw materials, and by establishing new, related businesses. | ||
| Contribute to creating a recycling society | Recycling | Sojitz is expanding the recycling business related to the wide range of products it handles, such as the reuse and sale of used parts from retired aircrafts, in order to promote reduction in CO2 emissions by doubling the lifecycle of products. | |
| Low-carbon materials | By expanding sales of plant-based raw materials, which offset CO2 emissions resulting from combustion of the final product, we will contribute to the shift away from fossil fuel based raw materials and to the reduction of CO2. |
Target for CO2 Emissions Reduction
- ◆ Group companies in Japan including Sojitz Corporation aim to reduce domestic CO2 emissions by a 1% reduction rate per fiscal year.
Target for Energy Usage
- ◆ Our energy usage target for FY2020 is 45,000GJ
- ◆ Actual energy consumption for FY2018 totaled 25,147 GJ. Sojitz will continue to strive for efficient energy consumption in pursuit of our targets for FY2020.
Biodiversity
| Key Sustainability Issues | Sustainability Goal |
Business Area | Planned Approach |
| Resources | Produce and supply resources at risk of depletion in the future | Food resources | We are contributing to securing food resources with a focus on future population growth, principally in the feed production and sales business, which require stable production and quality minantenance, and feed plant construction business. |
| Water resources | Focused on developing countries with an expected increase in demand for water resources, we will strive to establish and expand businesses that provide a stable supply of domestic water. | ||
| Marine product resources | Making use of the expertise acquired through the marine products business, we will take on the challenge of "whole cultivation," raising adult fish from artificially bred juvenile fish. | ||
| Forestry resources | Strive for 100% traceability of the wood we handle by FY2020, and in the future, we will aim to ensure that 100% of the wood we handle is produced through suitable, environmentally/socially-conscious forest management. |
Systems
The Sustainability Committee aims to support sustainable growth at the Sojitz Group by establishing company-wide sustainability-related policies and goals, constructing frameworks for implementation, organizing, and working to monitor and promote progress for each policy.
The Corporate Sustainability Office is a specialized department that serves as the Secretariat of the Sustainability Committee, cooperating with related departments within the Group to promote sustainability-related initiatives at the Sojitz Group.
Risk Management by the Sustainability Committee / Reports
Submitted to the Board of Directors (Supervisory Body)
Sojitz Group classifies and defines the many risks associated with
our businesses according to our Basic Code of Corporate Risk Management,
and we establish a risk management policy and management plan for
these risks each year, based on a resolution by the Board of Directors.
（See this page for details.）
Among these risks, countermeasure policy and initiatives regarding
environmental and social risk (including risk related to climate change)
are deliberated by the Sustainability Committee. These policies and
initiatives may then be put into action following a report to the
Management Committee and Board of Directors.
Deliberation by the Sustainability Committee
Sojitz has established six Key Sustainability Issues (Materiality)
(human rights, environment, local communities, resources, human resources,
and governance) which all organizations are expected to address, as
well as accompanying CSR policies. In establishing these focus areas
and policies, we referenced international standards—such as the SDGs
to be met by 2030—and identified issues facing our business in the
long term, including environmental issues like climate change.
Specifically, the Sustainability Committee deliberates policies related
to response to environmental and social risk, climate change countermeasures,
promotion of supply chain CSR, ESG disclosure, environmental ISOs,
promotion of the Sojitz Wood Procurement Policy, social contribution
activities, and other CSR topics.
(As of July 1, 2020)
* Representative Director
| Committee Chair | |
|---|---|
| Members | CFO Executive Management of General Accounting, Business Accounting, Finance, Structured Finance, IR, M&A Management Office, Controller Office Oversight Advisor to the President Executive Management of Business Group (Automotive, Aerospace & Transportation Project, Machinery & Medical Infrastructure, Energy & Social Infrastructure, Metals & Mineral Resources) Oversight East Asia Executive Management of Business Group (Chemicals, Foods & Agriculture Business, Retail & Lifestyle Business, Industrial Infrastructure & Urban Development) Oversight COO, General Accounting Department, Business Accounting Dep artment, Finance Department, IR Office, Controller Office COO, Legal Department, PR Department COO, Human Resources Department, General Affairs & IT Operation Department |
| Observers | |
| Secretariat |
Monitoring
We have adopted ISO14001 as the basis for our environmental management. Generally, ISO14001 monitors activities related to the environment. We, however, utilize the monitoring framework and information routes provided by ISO14001 to broadly monitor progress on sustainability goals, including those goals which relate to human rights and local communities. We then report the results of this monitoring to the Sustainability Committee.
Sojitz Environmental Management System(EMS) Chart
ISO14001 Certification
Sojitz Corporation
-
Certification Body
JIC Quality Assurance Ltd.
-
Certification Number
E1436
-
Scope of Certification
Sojitz Corporation Head Office, Kansai Office
Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation Tokyo Head Office, Osaka Branch, Kyushu Office
Sojitz Kyushu Corporation Head Office
Sojitz Marine & Engineering Corporation, Tokyo Main Office, Osaka Branch
Sojitz Foods Corporation Head Office, Kansai Branch, Tohoku Office
Sojitz New Urban Development Corporation Head Office -
Date of Certification
March 16, 2006
-
Date of recertification
January 24, 2019
-
Date of Expiry
January 23, 2022
- *
- ISO14001 approval was acquired on August 20, 1999. As of March 16, 2006, the company's ISO 14001 registration was transferred to a new registrar, as a result of the business integration of certification bodies
ISO14001 Certification within Sojitz Group
| Companies that have obtained ISO14001 certification (as of Jun 1st, 2019) | |
|---|---|
| ＜In Japan＞ ■Sojitz Corporation ■Nissho Electronics Corporation ■Sojitz Machinery Corporation ■Tokyo Yuso Co., Ltd. ■Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation ■Pla Matels Corporation ■Filteren Co., Ltd. ■DaiichiboCo., Ltd. ■Sojitz Building Materials Corporation ■Sojitz Kyushu Corporation ■Sojitz Marine & Engineering Corporation ■Sojitz Foods Corporation ■Sojitz New Urban Development Corporation |
＜Outside of Japan＞ ■Autrans (Thailand) Co., Ltd. ■Sojitz Kelanitissa (Private) Limited ■PT. Kaltim Methanol Industri ■Thai Central Chemical Pcl. ■Long Duc Investment Co., Ltd. ■The Long Binh Industrial Zone Development LLC ■Saigon Paper Corporation |
20 companies in total, including both in and outside of Japan
Click here for the acquisition rate of ISO14001 certification within Sojitz Group
Click here for the acquisition rate of ISO9001 certification within Sojitz Group
Risk Management
Conducting Scenario Analysis
One of the ways we confirm climate change risk is by conducting a
scenario-based assessment of our power generation businesses, as an
important business area in our portfolio and one at high risk of impact
from environmental regulations. Our scenario analysis uses three scenarios
(current policy scenario, new policy scenario, and sustainable development
scenario) prepared by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to map
forecasts leading up to 2040, with our analysis taking into account
any regulations which may be introduced to major countries where we
do business, as well as each scenario’s assumed impact on our business.
Imagining and analyzing the impact on our company based on multiple
scenarios reflecting actual progress on environmental tax systems
and other regulations has enabled us to develop a forecast for how
we can respond to changing conditions in the future. For all scenarios,
we came to the conclusion that any impact on our business would be
limited.
In September 2018, we announced our support for the final recommendations report of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Managing Environmental Risk for new Investment & Loan Projects
Prior to deliberating on new investment and loan projects,
we require the department applying for investment and loan approval
to complete an “Environmental and Social Risk Checklist.” Using the
checklist, the department confirms that they have conducted the required
due diligence and taken all necessary measures to deal with potential
environmental risks, such as impact to biodiversity; soil, groundwater,
or water contamination; impact on water resources in areas where such
resources are limited; and impact on indigenous peoples.
Compliance with Environmental Laws and Regulations
We remain apprised of the applicable laws and regulations to regularly confirm compliance conditions not only at Sojitz Corporation, but also at our Group companies. Internal audits of our Group companies also include checks on these compliance conditions. Additionally, we invited an outside expert on waste management law to hold a seminar in the financial year ended March 31st, 2018 for 80 participants, including Group companies.
Environmental Education and Training
To improve understanding of the Company's EMS and the environment by personnel, Sojitz provides training for persons responsible for environmental issues, new employees and internal environmental audit personnel, as well as e-learning-based environmental education. Environmental information is also provided on Sojitz's "CSR & Environment" intranet site.
The Company encourages employees to take the Eco Test, a certification test for environmental specialists administered by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In addition, the Company engages in tree-thinning and mowing as the Group’s forest conservation activities.
Initiatives
Promotion of Businesses Helping Prevent ClimateChange
Climate change is a major issue for the world today, growing more pressing by the day. In 2015, the Paris Agreement was concluded as an international framework for restricting emissions of greenhouse gases and helping to prevent climate change. It centered the discussion on the duties and contributions of not just the state and government, but companies and other members of the private sector. Later that same year, the U.N. announced their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a list of 17 globally-shared social issues collected by the U.N.’s 193 member countries, to be prioritized leading up to 2030.
There have also been greater calls for companies to disclose the impact of climate change on their business activities and create concrete policies for overcoming this impact, such as by following the disclosure guidelines for climate-related financial information announced by the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD).
For this reason, Sojitz Group has incorporated prevention of climate change into our Key sustainability Issues (Materiality), established to meet the demands of the global community, respond to stakeholders’ expectations, and achieve sustainability for Sojitz and society at large.
In September 2018, we announced our support for the final recommendations report of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Business Helping to Prevent ClimateChange (1) – Renewable Energy Business
In the long-term, the Paris Agreement seeks to “hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels.” It establishes a framework whereby all countries must update and submit their reduction targets every five years. As for Japan, the government has said that by 2030, they will reduce greenhouses gas emissions from 2013 levels by 26%.
As the global energy mix has continued to change in response to these reduction targets, the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources has fallen dramatically in the last 10 years as a result of improvements in legal systems and supply chains. In certain areas, such as the Middle East and South and Central America, it is now cheaper to generate power from renewable sources than from fossil fuels. As a result, expansion of renewable energy as a business is accelerating. Sojitz knows that not the entering renewable energy industry and other up-and-coming growth markets poses a risk to the competitiveness and sustainability of our IPP business. For this reason, we are working to build renewable energy businesses in solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy, and biomass.
Initiatives in Renewable Energy
Business Helping to Prevent ClimateChange (2) – Green Polyethylene Business
One of the CO2 reduction policies named by the Japanese government
at the signing of the Paris Agreement called for the promotion of plant-based
plastics. The government has set usage targets of 760,000 tons by 2020,
and 1,970,000 tons by 2030.
Sojitz Group company Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation acquired rights to the
exclusive sale in Asia and Oceania of “green polyethylene”(*), a sugarcane-based
plastic manufactured by major South American chemical manufacturer and
long-time Sojitz business partner Braskem. While Pla-Net had been developing
these sales on both fronts, the signing of the Paris Agreement is expected
to brinvg further growth in these markets, and Pla-Net has now concluded
a contract which extends their exclusive distribution contract for an
additional 3 years from 2017 and expands the amount of green polyethylene
they handle significantly.
Green Polyethylene Packaging
* Green polyethylene
A registered product of Braskem, this sugarcane-derived plastic is used
mostly as a raw ingredient for plastic bags and containers. The sugarcane
absorbs CO2 while it is growing, negating any CO2 produced when the
product is incinerated for disposal and making it a “carbon neutral”
plastic. This means that when you include the CO2 emitted in production
and transport, green polyethylene produces 70% less CO2 than conventional
petroleum-based polyethylene.
■Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation website
■Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation’s page on green polyethylene (Japanese page)
Accelerating Efforts in the Green Chemical Business
Initiatives for Biodiversity
The nail-tailed wallaby, an endangered species
Initiative to prevent pollution
Initiatives to Prevent Pollution
Efforts within the Supply Chain
Data
Sojitz Group's CO2 Emissions - Changes in Output
１）Sojitz Group companies in Japan (including Sojitz Corporation)
（in tons CO2 per person）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.1 | 6.77 | 6.67 | 4.23 |
（CO2 emissions by Sojitz Group companies in Japan, including Sojitz Corporation, divded by the number of employees belonging to consolidated subsidiaries in Japan）
２）Sojitz Group companies worldwide (including Sojitz Corporation)
（in tons CO2 per person）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72.75 | 45.77 | 39.5 | 55.21 |
（CO2 emissions by Sojitz Group companies worldwide, including Sojitz Corporation,divided by the number of employees belonging to consolidated subsidiaries worldwide）
Breakdown of Sojitz’s GHG Emissions Scope 1 *1
| Type of GHG | FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 | 14 t-CO2 | 16 t-CO2 | 10 t-CO2 | 13 t-CO2 |
| CFC | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e |
| HCFC/ HFC | 0 t-CO2e | 0.27 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e |
| Nitrous Oxide | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e |
| Methane | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e | 0 t-CO2e |
*1: Direct GHG emissions produced when fuel is burned etc.
Sojitz's Scope 3 CO2 Emissions by Category
１）CO2 emissions from logistics
（Units: t-CO2）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,009 | 8,146 | 7,341 | 8,918 |
*CO2 emissions from domestic cargo shipments with Sojitz Corporation as the designated shipper, based on laws covering the rational use of energy.
２）CO2 emissions resulting from overseas business trips
（Units: t-CO2）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,833 | 5,480 | 5,398 | 2,828 |
*Refers to flights to/from Japan taken by Sojitz Corporation employees.
We have divided business trip destinations into six areas and selected a major airport
from each area to use in determining distances for the calculation of passenger
kilometer data.
※Emission factors used
To calculate emission factors, we use emission units from the "Emissions Unit Values
for Accounting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, etc., by Organizations Throughout the
Supply Chain," published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the
Ministry of the Environment.
３）CO2 emissions resulting from commuting
（Units: t-CO2）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 519 | 478 | 472 |
*Emission factors used
To calculate emission factors, we use emission units from the "Emissions Unit Values
for Accounting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, etc., by Organizations Throughout the
Supply Chain," published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and the
Ministry of the Environment.
Changes in Sojitz Group's Total CO2 Emissions
１）Sojitz Group companies in Japan (including Sojitz Corporation)
（Units: t-CO2）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83,764 | 58,293 | 55,734 | 35,652 |
[Scope of Data]
Sojitz Corporation (including non-consolidated operating bases aside from Sojitz
Corporation offices) and Sojitz Group companies in Japan.
２）Sojitz Group companies worldwide (including Sojitz Corporation)
（Units: t-CO2）
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,035,964 | 819,975 | 736,069 | 1,040,100 |
[Scope of Data]
Sojitz Corporation (including non-consolidated operating bases aside from Sojitz
Corporation offices) and Sojitz Group companies worldwide.
Sojitz Group's NOx, Sox and VOC Emissions
in tons
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOX (Nitrogen Oxides) | 7,327 | 6,943 | 6,433 | 2,342 |
| SOX (Sulfur Oxides) | 419 | 330 | 300 | 408 |
| VOC(Volatile Organic Compounds) | 19 | 20 | 28 | 33 |
Amount of heavy fines paid for violating environmental laws and regulations in FY2019： JPY 0