Response to Climate Change

Activities Meant to Reduce Total CO₂ Emissions

As environmental concerns persist, the Tsubaki Group is working to reduce its CO₂ emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions.
In Japan, in keeping with our long-term environmental target of reducing total CO₂ emissions by 46% by FY 2030 (base year: FY 2013), we are promoting specific initiatives under our voluntary environmental action program. Much of the energy used in the Group’s manufacturing is concentrated in the production process. Consequently, we are improving energy efficiency by proactively installing energy-saving production equipment; applying thermal insulation coatings to our main plants; reviewing the operating conditions of compressors; and implementing air leakage countermeasures. Furthermore, our various measures to reduce CO₂ emissions include expanding the use of renewable energy by proactively installing solar power generation equipment in new and renovated plants and adopting LED lighting.
In FY 2022, we started the purchase of carbon-free power with a non-fossil certificate. In FY 2023, we acquired SBT certification and introduced internal carbon pricing (ICP), as we stepped up our efforts to promote ESG management.

FY 2022 Results

In FY 2022, the total CO₂ emissions of the Tsubaki Group were as follows.
In Japan, production increased 3.9% over the previous fiscal year. However, in addition to CO₂ emissions reduction measures, 10 Tsubaki Group business sites have begun purchasing carbon-free power with a non-fossil certificate. These initiatives resulted in a 31.1% reduction in total CO₂ emissions. In addition, we achieved a 40.2% reduction relative to our long-term target of a 46% reduction from FY 2013 levels by FY 2030.
Outside Japan, we have been compiling the data from FY 2018 for our 15 major manufacturing centers located in North America, Europe, and Asia. We achieved a 11.6% reduction relative to our long-term target of a 30% reduction from FY 2018 levels by FY 2030.

Total CO₂ Emissions Trend Scope 1 (CO₂ Directly Emitted In-House, Such as from Fuel Consumption)

• CO₂ emissions by location (domestic)

  

• CO₂ emissions by location (global)

  

Total CO₂ Emissions Trend Scope 2 (CO₂ Indirectly Emitted In-House, Such as from Use of Electricity)

• CO₂ emissions by location (domestic)

  

• CO₂ emissions by location (global)

  

Total CO₂ Emissions Trend Scopes 1 and 2

• CO₂ emissions by location (domestic)

  

• CO₂ emissions by location (global)

  

Total CO₂ Emissions Scope 3 (CO₂ Emitted in the Supply Chain in FY 2022)

Breakdown by category (global)

* CO₂ emissions factors for domestic power use are the “alternative value” of the “emission coefficient by electric utility” published by the Ministry of the Environment.
CO₂ emissions factors for power consumption outside Japan are the FY 2020 CO₂ emissions factors provided in the International Energy Agency (IEA) Emissions Factors (2022 edition).

Specific Initiatives

Proactive introduction of renewable energy

Whenever we build or renovate a factory building, we proactively install solar panels.
At the Saitama Plant, which is positioned as an Environmental Model Plant, through the installation of solar panels and the purchase of carbon-free power with a non-fossil certificate, we have achieved a renewable energy usage rate of about 40%.
We are also proactively promoting the increase of energy efficiency by switching to energy-saving production methods and investing in equipment, and laterally rolling out these measures across the Tsubaki Group as we work toward reducing power consumption in the entire Group.

Saitama Plant power consumption breakdown

Promoting the Energy JIT Initiative in the heat treatment process

The Saitama Plant is promoting the Energy JIT Initiative in an effort to increase the energy efficiency of the heat treatment process. The JIT (just in time) Initiative is a system intended to thoroughly eliminate waste in order to produce and supply only what is needed, when it is needed, and in the quantities needed.

This system has been incorporated into several energy-efficiency initiatives, including the following:

• Shutting off heaters when not needed through multiple equipment shutdowns;
• Eliminating energy waste by reviewing the timing of heat treatment furnace start-up and shutdown;
• Eliminating energy waste during holidays (heat treatment facilities typically operate 24/7); and
• Reviewing operation timing of auxiliary equipment (stopping and controlling during surplus hours)

We are steadily achieving more and more improvements and demonstrating the benefits of these energy-efficiency initiatives.

Installation of pulse blowers for air compressors

Air compressors are used for a variety of purposes in our plants. At the tensioner plant, for example, air compressors represent about 50% of the plant’s total power consumption.
In the tensioner processing line, oil and other contaminants are removed through an air-blowing process after the regular operation and cleaning processes. We have since adopted a pulsed blowing system. This allows the same functionality to be achieved with about half the air consumption, resulting in significant energy saving.
We are working to reduce power consumption at our other plants by deploying this system as needed.

Examples of initiatives at overseas group company
Tsubaki Kabelschlepp GmbH (Germany)

Tsubaki Kabelschlepp GmbH is actively implementing CO₂ reduction activities to achieve their long-term environmental goals.

For example:

• Optimizing resource efficiency (Waste heat recovery from compressors and injection molding)
• Switching to renewable energy
  (Switch to 100% renewable energy from January 2022)
• Using LED lighting (completed in all production areas)
• Replacing existing equipment with high efficiency equipment (Planned equipment replacement with high efficiency injection molding machines)

With these and other measures, Tsubaki Kabelschlepp GmbH is working to reduce their energy use and go green.