Environmental Protection
Commitment to Preventing Global Warming
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
As part of our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions here at the Mitsui Chemicals Group, we set ourselves the target of reducing our greenhouse gas intensity index to no more than 85 (compared to fiscal 1991 levels) at six of our domestic manufacturing sites and domestic consolidated subsidiaries (18 companies) by fiscal 2012.
In fiscal 2011, we managed to reduce the Mitsui Chemicals Group's greenhouse gas emissions by 90,000 tons through a range of energy saving initiatives, including introducing a process harnessing LNG cold heat as part of a joint project between the Osaka Works and local companies. Overall, we managed to reduce emissions by a total of 390,000 tons over the course of our previous Mid-Term Business Plan, running since fiscal 2009, when we had set up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, our greenhouse gas emissions for fiscal 2011 totaled 4.90 million tons, representing a reduction of 30,000 tons compared to fiscal 2010 in spite of an increase in production. Our greenhouse gas intensity index meanwhile came to a much-improved 83, compared to 90 in fiscal 2010 (energy intensity index: 87 (fiscal 2010: 92)).
Under our new Mid-Term Business Plan, running from fiscal 2012 onwards, we have set ourselves the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 500,000 tons compared to fiscal 1991 levels by fiscal 2014. In addition to promoting energy saving measures and developing innovative process technologies, we intend to expand and improve our range of environmentally friendly products so as to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout society as a whole.
Greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity index
Example of energy saving initiatives
At the Osaka Work's Ethylene Plant, we have successfully introduced the world's first large-scale energy saving process using LNG cold heat. As a result, we have managed to reduce the Ethylene Plant's annual CO2 emissions by approximately 38,000 tons.
Greenhouse gases
Energy saving measures in logistics
We have long since been committed to changing the modes of transportation that we use to ship goods, from road to rail and sea (modal shift), and improving load efficiencies, through active involvement in transport planning. We have also continued to promote measures in partnership with our customers and transport companies, including increasing the size of lots for delivery in order to reduce the number of shipments, and introducing larger vehicles.
Since the enactment of the Revised Energy Conservation Act in 2006, companies have been required to incorporate energy saving measures into their transportation activities, as well as improving the fuel efficiency of vehicles themselves. We will continue to promote green logistics in the future, and are committed to making more effective use of energy resources and preventing global warming.
