GLOBAL SUZUKI

Environmental Initiatives

In order to hand over the beautiful earth and affluent society to the next generations, Suzuki regards consideration to environmental issues such as global warming as one of the most important challenges for our business activities. We are aggressively promoting reduction of environmental impact that may be generated through our R&D, production, physical distribution, marketing and office activities by establishing a group-wide environmental management system, while maintaining good communications with our individual stakeholders.

SUZUKI GREEN Policy

SUZUKI GREEN Technology

SUZUKI GREEN Technology represents next-generation eco-friendly technologies developed and utilised by Suzuki, which includes new technologies such as low fuel consumption and weight reduction technologies.

Hybrid

Mild Hybrid

BOOSTERJET Engine

ECO-COOL

Heartect

Lean Burn

SUZUKI GREEN Activity

SUZUKI GREEN Activity represents Suzuki’s effort and activity on realising the environmental policy, which includes various activities worked by each department such as development, production, and logistics for the control of global warming and promotion of environmental preservation.

Suzuki Global Environment Charter

Suzuki Global Environment Charter (Established in 2002 and revised in 2006)

[Environmental Concept]

In order to hand over the beautiful earth and affluent society to the next generations, we must all realise that the actions of each and every one of us have a great effect on our earth's future, so we must make every effort to preserve our environment.

[Basic Environmental Policies]

  • Strictly observe environmental laws and also follow our own standards.
  • Reduce the pressure placed on the environment resulting from our business activities and products.
  • Maintain and improve upon our environmental management system.
  • Promote environmental communication.

Suzuki Environmental Organisational Chart

In April 2001, Suzuki established the Suzuki Environmental Committee as the top decision-making body in the environmental management system for the entire Group.
Meetings by Suzuki Environment Committee are held twice a year to determine our environmental policy and long- and mid-term environmental goals, check the progress in the existing issues, and discuss urgent problems.

Suzuki Environmental Organisational Chart As of July 2018

Environmental

Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020

In order to hand over the beautiful earth and affluent society to the next generations, Suzuki had established and been striving to accomplish “Suzuki Environmental Plan 2015” for environmental conservation activities from 2012 to 2015 based on “Suzuki Global Environment Charter”. We then established “Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020” for continuous environmental conservation activities from FY2016 to FY2020 to clearly present the direction and actions of Suzuki’s business operations in relation to environment.

We believe that our most important task is to seriously recognise effects to environment generated from our business operations, develop products that carefully consider environment and promote business operations that reduce environmental effects. To accomplish this, we will work on “Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020” with “Team Suzuki” involving domestic and overseas affiliates to build the base for 2020, which is the 100th anniversary of foundation, and for the next 100 years, following the 4 themes: Control of global warming; Promotion of environmental conservation; Promotion of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle); and Reinforcement of environmental management.

In order to achieve this Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020, we will manage and continuously improve our operations through PDCA and promote business activity to reduce environmental impact.

  • * PDCA is a way of making initiatives in a cycle of Plan, Do, Check, and Action. It not only covers planning and doing, but also checking and making actions, thereby enabling to make initiatives by constantly improving through feeding back effects and reflections.

Concrete implementation/target Major implementation in FY2018
Control of global warming Improvement in fuel efficiency Realise high fuel efficiency by adopting “SUZUKI GREEN Technology” etc. Raise efficiency by improving the engine and drive system, and adopt new mechanism Automobiles
  • Installed newly-developed K15B 1.5L petrol engine which combines superior fuel efficiency and driving performance upon making full model change of the three-row seven-seater MPV Ertiga for the Indonesian market.
  • Realised strong torque from low rpm range and reliability by installing R06A turbo engine specially tuned for the Jimny.
  • Installed K15B engine with enhanced driving performance and reliability as well as superior fuel efficiency on the Jimny Sierra.
  • In addition to the 1.0L petrol engine, newly introduced more powerful 1.2L petrol engine upon making full model change of the compact passenger car WagonR for the Indian market. Combined with lightweight, high-rigidity body, it realised excellent safety and fuel efficiency, and comfortable driving performance.
Motorcycles
  • Improvement in fuel efficiency was promoted by improving combustion and reducing friction loss.
  • With respect to SWISH, combustion improvement and reduction of the friction loss was promoted, such as by reduction of piston weight, and the introduction of the roller rocker arm, and improvements of approximately 18% were made (from 42.6 to 51.0km/L) for the WMTC-mode fuel efficiency compared to the conventional model (Address V125).
Outboard motors
  • With respect to DF150A, it achieved enhancement of fuel efficiency by up to 7% compared to its conventional model by increasing compression ratio of the engine, suppressing rise in intake temperature with the semi-direct intake system, as well as adopting the lean burn system.
Reduce the vehicle body weight by reviewing body structuring parts, changing materials, and reviewing manufacturing methods Automobiles

<Weight reduction in the whole body>

  • Super Carry shares the same lightweight, high-rigidity frame structure as the Carry, and it realised further weight reduction by a total of 1,350g/unit with the following efforts.
    • ①In order to secure collision safety owing to weight increase accompanied by the expansion of cabin space, high-tensile steels were adopted for roof side lean force and front pillar inner panel, resulting in weight reduction of 1,150g/unit.
    • ②Lightweight t2.5 reinforced glass was adopted for the newly-established quarter window glass, resulting in weight reduction of 200g/unit.

<Weight reduction of suspension>

  • HEARTECT platform was adopted for the new Spacia Gear, following the adoption by Alto, Lapin, and WagonR, resulting in weight reduction owing to optimisation of suspension frame structure, etc.
Motorcycles Following efforts were made for the RM-Z250.
  • Achieved weight reduction by approximately 24% owing to change in material of fuel tank from aluminium to resin.
  • Achieved weight reduction of frame by approximately 4% owing to thinning of forged parts and optimisation of surface shape of pipe parts while maintaining the same rigidity as the conventional frame.
  • Realised weight reduction of swingarm by approximately 4% owing to adequate surface shape by changing the main arm part from the conventional swaging pipe to aluminium hydro form pipe, which has more flexibility in shape.
Outboard motors
  • With respect to DF150A, materials lighter than those used for the conventional model were used on the side cover, resulting in 1,040g weight reduction per parts.
Reduce running resistance of the whole vehicle such as air resistance and rolling resistance Automobiles

<Reduction of air resistance>

  • With respect to Jimny and Jimny Sierra, its shape was optimised in detail to the extent that does not influence its design, and by adopting aerodynamic parts under the floor, its air resistance was reduced by 25% compared to its initial development stage.
  • With respect to Super Carry, in order to reduce increase in overall height and elements that become disadvantageous in air resistance, shape of roof and cabin back guard were optimised, resulting in reduction of air resistance by 2% compared to its initial development stage.

<Reduction of rolling resistance>

  • With respect to Jimny and Jimny Sierra, rolling resistance was reduced by 22% and 20% respectively, compared to the conventional models by adopting newly-developed tyres.
  • Rolling resistance of new Spacia Gear was reduced by adopting tyres used for WagonR and other models.

<Reduction of engine driving loss>

  • Fuel efficiency of the Jimny Sierra was enhanced by approximately 3% owing to reduction of engine output loss by adopting electric power steering, in place of conventional hydraulic power steering.

<Reduction of mechanical loss owing to development of low viscosity rear differential gear oil>

  • By adopting them to production models of Jimny and Jimny Sierra, mechanical loss of differential gear unit was reduced compared to the conventional models.
Reduce CO2 emissions amount in use of products globally

[Automobiles]

Reduced by 28%
(compared to FY2005)
  • Reduced by 26%

[Motorcycles]

Reduced by 20%
(compared to FY2005)
  • Reduced by 21%

[Outboard motors]

Reduced by 10%
(compared to FY2005)
  • Reduced by 11.7%
Development of next-generation vehicles Develop electric vehicles suitable for small cars Develop hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles for mini/compact cars

<For hybrid vehicles>

  • Developing improvements for Suzuki’s unique hybrid system which combines driving motor with Auto Gear Shift.
  • Developing new mild hybrid system.

<For electric vehicles>

  • Made 50 prototype electric vehicles based on Japanese production models at Maruti Suzuki and started public road testing in India from October 2018.
Develop lightweight, compact, and low-cost air-cooled fuel cell vehicles

[Motorcycle FCV]

Implement the test on public roads in Japan, Europe, etc.
  • Public road testing of Burgman Fuel Cell was conducted in Japan and UK from March 2017 to March 2019. The collected driving data are analysed and evaluated for future development.

[Automobile FCV]

Promote advanced development
  • The advanced development of fuel-cell automobiles was promoted.
CO2 reduction activities in production CO2 reduction in production by Suzuki Group in Japan and overseas Reduce CO2 emission per global production volume* by 10% (compared to FY2010)

* Value calculated by converting the ratio of the CO2 emission amount per unit (automobiles, motorcycles, and outboard motors manufactured in plants in Japan) to global production volume of automobiles
  • Reduced by 11.2%
CO2 reduction activities in logistics
  • ●Improved transportation efficiency by reviewing transportation routes and packing style
  • ●Improved fuel efficiency of transportation vehicles by introducing eco-drive support equipment, teaching employees economical driving, etc.
  • Transportation distances of engines between plants and completed vehicles from plants to stockyards were shortened owing to transfer and consolidation of production processes.
  • Enhanced loading volume per transportation for some KD parts by changing the trucks used, in line with reviewing their loading operations.
Reduce CO2 emission per sale by 14% (compared to FY2006)
  • Reduced by 30.6%
CO2 reduction activities in sales activities etc. CO2 reduction activities by sales and non-manufacturing subsidiaries in Japan Actively promote energy-saving activities by introducing power-saving and energy-saving equipment, etc. in order to regulate global warming
  • At the sales and non-manufacturing companies in the Suzuki Group*, the group’s standard energy-saving target was set as “actively promote energy-saving activities by introducing power-saving and energy-saving equipment, etc., in order to regulate global warming”, and specific energy-saving activities and environmental contribution activities are now actively promoted within each company and region.

* Sales companies: 56 companies including Suzuki Motor Sales Tokyo Inc., Suzuki Motorcycle Sales Inc., and Suzuki Marine Co., Ltd.
Non-manufacturing companies: 6 companies including Suzuki Transportation & Packing Co., Ltd., Suzuki Business Co., Ltd., and Suzuki Engineering Co., Ltd.
Promotion of environmental conservation etc. Air pollution Introduce low-emission vehicle appropriate for circumstances in each country Automobiles <Japan> All models of both mini and compact cars have satisfied the new long-term regulations.
<Europe> All models have satisfied the EURO6 regulations.
<India> All models have satisfied the BS4 (OBDII) regulations.
Successively comply with emission control regulations in other countries.
Motorcycles
  • Launched models conforming to Euro 4 and the third regulation in Japan: KATANA and SWISH
Outboard motors
  • All four-stroke outboard motors have satisfied the US EPA*1 regulations, US CARB*2 regulations, and EU RCD*3 regulations, as well as the voluntary emission regulations of the Japan Marine Industry Association. 3STAR was obtained for the US CARB regulation.
  • DF150A has been developed as the model conforming to local regulations.
  • *1: Environmental Protection Agency
  • *2: California Air Resources Board
  • *3: Recreational Craft Directive
Reduction of VOC in car interior

[Automobiles]

Globally promote the use of alternative materials that generate less VOC in order to improve environment in car interior
  • VOC emissions in the interior of Jimny, Jimny Sierra, and Spacia Gear have achieved levels lower than the VOC concentration for car interiors specified as the target value of the voluntary efforts in the automobile industry.
Reduction of VOC in the painting process

[Painting on body]

Maintain reduction of VOC emission per painting area by 40% (compared to FY2000)
  • Reduced by 42.5%
Promotion of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Effective use of resources Development/design considering recycling Continue the design using recycled materials Automobiles

<Exterior parts>

  • Recycled material was used for noise suppressor sheet of Super Carry.

<Interior parts>

  • Recycled materials were used for dash silencer and floor carpet of Jimny.
Motorcycles
  • Recycled materials were used for many parts of NEX II and Bandit 150 sold in Indonesia, including a part of frame cover, rear fender, and seat bottom plate.
  • Likewise, recycled materials were used for many parts of Access 125 and Burgman Street sold in India, including a part of frame cover, leg cover, and helmet box cover.
Continue the design to reduce materials Automobiles

<Exterior parts>

  • Thinned front bumper common to Carry was also used for Super Carry.
Motorcycles
  • Achieved weight reduction of RM-Z250 by approximately 200g by thinning of resin cover.
Outboard motors
  • Disassembly was simplified for DF150A by reduction of securing sections of parts to be assembled to engine cover.
Increase the use of thermoplastic resin components Automobiles

<Exterior parts>

  • Front bumper and lower grille cover made of easily-recyclable thermoplastic resin that are common to Carry were used for Super Carry.
  • Easily-recyclable thermoplastic resin was used for front/rear bumpers and grille of Jimny, as well as splash guard of Jimny Sierra.

<Interior parts>

  • Easily-recyclable thermoplastic resin was used for instrument panel, door trim, interior trim, and seat parts of Jimny and Super Carry.
Outboard motors
  • With respect to DF150A, thermoplastic resin was used for the resin parts with a large external shape such as an oil pan cover and an air intake inner.
Promotion of recycling ELVs/components

[Japan]

Maintain 70% or higher ASR recycling rate
  • ASR recycling rate: 97.7%
    (70% or higher rate has been achieved since FY2008)

[Japan]

Promote collection/recycling of used bumpers
  • Collection and recycling of bumpers for disposal have been continued.
  • Collected bumpers were recycled to make automobile components such as battery holders, engine under covers, and head rests.

[No. of bumpers collected]

  FY2017 FY2018
No. of bumpers collected in the market 68,240 73,308

[Japan]

Promote collection/recycling of used lithium-ion batteries
  • Collection of used lithium-ion batteries from automobiles for recycling was started when WagonR equipped with a lithium-ion battery for ENE-CHARGE was launched in 2012.
  • 3,458 used lithium-ion batteries were collected and recycled from ELVs collected up to FY2018.
  • While increase in collection and recycling of used lithium-ion batteries is anticipated in line with the increase in sales of vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries, Suzuki participated in the JAMA LiB Co-collection System established by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers' Association (JAMA) in October 2018, and is promoting efficient collection and recycling with enhanced transportation efficiency through co-collection.
FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
0 21 105 356 397 731 1,848*

*FY2018 includes 764 which were collected through JAMA LiB Co-collection System.

[Overseas]

Conform to local automobile recycle laws
  • Europe (EU+EFTA): Promoting collection and recycling of ELVs in accordance with local regulations and circumstances. Collection and recycling of lithium-ion batteries is also being promoted in line with the launch of vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
  • India: Promoting collection and recycling of lithium-ion batteries in line with the launch of vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
  • Vietnam: Promoting collection and recycling of oil, tyres, batteries, motorcycles and automobiles in accordance with local regulations and circumstances.
Reduction of the weight of packing materials such as corrugated cardboard for shipment of service parts
  • ●Increase the use of returnable containers
  • ●Reduce the weight of packing materials for shipment of service parts by 5% compared to FY2015
  • The quantity of corrugated cardboard used for the shipment of service parts in Japan was reduced by employing returnable containers instead of packaging boxes made of corrugated cardboard.
  • Weight of packaging materials for shipping of service parts: Reduced by 9.2% compared to FY2015
Reduction of disposable packing materials for shipment of service/KD parts
  • ●Increase the use of returnable materials
  • ●Reduce the use of disposable materials by improving the packing style and filling rate (Reduce the weight of packing materials for the shipment of KD parts by 9% compared to FY2015)
  • The use of the returnable rack was promoted for the shipment of KD parts. A part of Myanmar was added to the list of countries to which the returnable rack was sent in FY2018, and the returnable rack was used for approximately 70% of the total delivery of KD parts.
  • It is planned to further promote the use of returnable racks by adding Myanmar to the list of countries for delivery by the returnable rack in FY2019.
  • Weight of packaging materials for the shipment of KD parts: +6.6% compared with FY2015
Reduction of the use of containers/package for products Maintain the 15% level of reduction relative to FY2015 for the use of containers/package and corrugated cardboard for each component sale
  • Reduced by 50.7%
Waste materials

[Suzuki]

Continue the zero-level landfill waste.
Maintain the level of less than 0.5% (compared to FY1990)
  • Continue the level less than 0.5%.
    (Zero level)

[Group]

Continue the zero-level landfill waste.
Maintain a level of less than 0.5%
(compared to FY2002)
  • Did not achieve the target of less than 0.5% (less than 6.85t/year) with the result of 28.2% (387t/year).
Water resources Thoroughly save water at plants and offices Plant in Japan
  • Water savings were realised by employing an airtight cooling tower, air-cooled compact air conditioners, water-conserving faucets, circulation of cooling water, etc.
  • Water usage amount was reduced upon transferring the motorcycle plant through exhaust recycle of air-conditioners in the painting booth and reduction of rinse tank by reviewing pre-mechanical treatment process.
Office
  • Ongoing efforts to raise awareness of water-reduction strategies, such as by announcing detailed measures, in addition to posting water-reduction awareness posters in washrooms, toilets, kitchens, etc.
  • Promotion of the use of automated faucets in washrooms.
Reinforcement of environmental management Reinforcement of environmental management Globally reinforce environmental management
  • Global acquisition of ISO14001 certificate is being promoted.
  • Four production bases of Changzhou Haojue Suzuki Motorcycle Co., Ltd., Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited (SMG), Suzuki Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (SMT), and Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corp. (SMAC) newly acquired the ISO14001 certificate.
Reinforcement
of management
of substances
of concern		 Globally conform to regulations concerning chemical substances
  • Information regarding trends in global regulations for substances of concern were announced in-house such as by conducting in-house presentation and publishing legal information.
  • Started using LOLI, a database of legal information with the purpose of collecting information regarding overseas restrictions of substances of concern.
  • Completed labelling warning labels regarding chemical substances on service parts, etc. based on the Propositon65 laws (California).
  • Completed meeting methanol restriction (included in window washers) restricted under the REACH (EU). Measures to exclude phthalate substance (plasticizer) are being implemented.
  • Implementing efforts to meet each country’s GHS label.
Build the global system to manage substances of concern
  • Implemented audit on overseas production bases (5 bases) with the purpose of completely banning the use of asbestos.
  • Implemented audit on overseas production bases (4 bases) that are operating the Green Procurement Guideline.
  • Newly introduced the Green Procurement Guideline in 2 bases.
Implementation of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)

[Automobile]

Implement LCA for new model and model change vehicles in Japan
  • LCA was conducted for XBEE and Jimny, and the calculation results were published on the company homepage.
Environmental conservation through tie-up/cooperation with suppliers Promote environmental conservation activities for suppliers based on “Suzuki Green Procurement Guideline”
  • The trends for chemical substance regulations in Japan, EU and UN were carefully observed, and suppliers were advised to perform research/action into the use of substances that have been examined for consideration in future regulations.
Expansion of environmental communication Efforts for biodiversity Globally promote the activity based on “Suzuki Biodiversity Protection Guidelines” to realise protection of biodiversity and its sustainable use
  • The activities of Suzuki were introduced in “Japan Business & Biodiversity Partnership”, which is issued by the Japan Business Federation as sample cases.
  • Cooperated with cleanup activities of each office and local cleanup activities.
  • Disclosed environmental information of products and business activities such as Suzuki’s global CO2 emission amount and VOC emission amount of painting processes in the domestic plants on the Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report 2018.
  • Continued planting activities in the Suzuki’s Forest in 2018.
  • Updated FSC certification program of the Shimokawa Proving Grounds.
  • Disclosed result data of Suzuki’s FSC certification program and Forest Environmental Contribution of Corporate Forest Preservation Program by the Forestry Agency.
Continue and promote local community cleanup activities, volunteering for environmental conservation (Suzuki Manner Improvement Activities, Forest Conservation Activities in “Suzuki's Forest”, tree planting project at storm surge barrier in coastal zone of Hamamatsu, cleanup activities at individual offices, etc.)
  • With respect to the “Suzuki Manner Improvement Activities”, in-house volunteer members clean the periphery of the office from 8:10 to 8:40 in the morning of the third Tuesday of every month. The activities were conducted 174 times up to FY2018, and a total of 12,832 employees participated in these activities. The “FY2017 Governor’s Award as humane association of river, coast, and road” was received in 2017.
  • With respect to “Suzuki’s Forest” forest conservation activities, there was a planting project (planting of 100 nursery trees and inoculation of mushroom) on 2 June 2018, and 57 in-house volunteers participated.
  • A planting project was conducted at the storm surge barrier in the Hamamatsu coastal zone on 20 January and 10 March 2019, and 21 in-house volunteers participated.
Enhancement
of environmental education		 Promote environmental education for employees including new employees and overseas trainees
  • A lecture about “environmental activities required for automobile companies” was held for new engineers.
  • A lecture about “environmental efforts by Suzuki” was held at two universities in Shizuoka Prefecture.
  • Cooperated with the local community establishment support (NPO) “Lake Hamana Environmental Network”, and employees’ families participated in “Lake Hamana Eco Kids Experience School 2018 in Bentenjima” and “Eelgrass Utilisation Project (seeding and harvesting)”, which are events aimed at providing environmental education.
  • Introduced Environmental Household Accounts Book recommended by the Ministry of the Environment to the Suzuki employees.
Continue the in-house eco-driving education
  • An eco-driving seminar was conducted primarily for new employees. A total of 7,180 employees participated in this seminar.
  • Awareness in eco-driving was promoted by recording values of fuel efficiency in the operation record book of company cars.
Participate in and cooperate on environment-related events held by environmental NPO and local communities
  • Cooperated with the local community establishment support (NPO) “Lake Hamana Environmental Network”, and employees’ families participated in “Lake Hamana Eco Kids Experience School 2018 in Bentenjima” and “Eelgrass Utilisation Project (seeding and harvesting)”, which are events aimed at providing environmental education.
Disclosure of environmental information Prepare “Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report” (in Japanese and English) to transmit the information about environment conservation activity to societies
  • The “Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report 2018” (in Japanese and English) was prepared and published on the Web.
  • The digest version (in Japanese) was distributed as booklets.

Introduction of Environmental Management System

Suzuki is promoting introduction of “Environmental Management Systems” including ISO14001 as part of environmental conservation activities by the Group’s manufacturing plants and companies.
The ISO14001 is an international standard of environmental management system. By obtaining the ISO14001 certificate, Suzuki intends to follow the relevant regulations and reduce the environmental impact substances. Also, through periodical environmental audits, we verify the effectiveness of our environmental management system.
Suzuki has already completed acquiring ISO14001 certifications in bases that account for 97.1% of CO2 emerged from global production. We will introduce the way of environmental management at all plants, and promote ISO14001 at plants that have not yet acquired its certification.

Efforts at manufacturing sites (Japan)

●Introduction situation in domestic plants and Group companies

All domestic plants already acquired the ISO14001 certificate by March 2003. As for the Group’s manufacturing companies, three manufacturing plants (a plant of Suzuki Toyama Auto Parts Mfg Co., Ltd., Suzuki Akita Auto Parts Mfg Co., Ltd. and Suzuki Auto Parts Mfg Co., Ltd.) and two plants of Snic Co., Ltd. have been certified (as of 1 April 2019). We are also promoting to have two uncertified plants (Hamakita Trim Plant and Sagara Plant) of Snic Co., Ltd. to acquire certification. We plan to promote environmental preservation activities throughout the Suzuki Group as a whole by promoting to have non-manufacturing departments such as engineering department to acquire ISO14001.

ISO 14001-certified domestic plants and Group’s manufacturing companies

●Manufacturing: Environment Organiser Meeting

Suzuki holds Environment Organiser Meeting in order to improve environmental management of domestic plants and Group manufacturing companies.
At this meeting, engineering managers and members of domestic plants and Group manufacturing companies (eight plants of four companies) get together to discuss improvements for environment conservation plan and matters related to domestic plants and Group manufacturing companies while seeing actual systems on actual sites.
Decisions made at the meetings are rolled out to domestic plants and Group manufacturing companies, contributing to environmental management activities.

●Environmental audit

At Suzuki’s domestic plants and the Group manufacturing companies, an external audit is conducted once every year by an external auditing agent. In addition, an internal audit is conducted to double-check our environmental management system.

Environmental Management Auditing System

External audit

Auditing of documents and on-site auditing are carried out by third party organisation in regard to the validity and adequacy of our environmental management system, to determine whether or not measures are being properly implemented. Auditing results are corrected and countermeasures are put into place for continuous improvement, and they are shared among domestic plants and Group manufacturing companies to enhance environmental management level.

Internal audit

For internal audits, two kinds of audits are conducted: one is an overall audit, and the other is a local audit. We select auditors that have no direct association with the section being audited, and they examine whether environmental management is being properly carried out or not. All auditing results are addressed for continuous improvement.

Overall audit

To determine whether or not environmental management is being properly implemented, document and on-site auditing are conducted.

Local audit

●Preventive audit

Thorough on-site observations are carried out while auditing in areas that possess potential for accidents such as drainage disposal facilities, space for using and storing harmful substance, and waste yard facilities.

●Environmental patrol

Areas that possess potential for accidents undergo regular patrol by the plant manager to prevent environmental accidents.

Improvement process through internal audit

Efforts at manufacturing sites (overseas)

●Situation of certification in overseas plants

As for overseas manufacturing companies, MAGYAR SUZUKI CORPORATION LTD. obtained the certification in April 1998 for the first time in our Group. As of the end of May 2019, 13 overseas manufacturing companies (18 plants) have obtained the ISO14001 certificate. Other Group companies are also making best efforts to acquire the certificate.

ISO 14001-certified overseas Group companies

Measures for domestic sales distributors

In order to roll out actions concerning environment in business operations to Group companies, we introduced the Suzuki Environmental Management System from April 2017 to affiliate automobile sales distributors in Japan. This environmental management system unique to Suzuki is part of our initiative in reducing environmental load (energy consumption and amount of wastes) and complying with environmental laws/regulations through PDCA recycling. Sales distributor that introduced this system is progressively promoting the activity centreing on the designated environment manager and office.

Environmental education

●Education according to managerial hierarchy

As part of our employee education program, we provide new employees with awareness-raising workshops concerning such basic environmental subjects as Suzuki's environmental philosophy, policy, issues, and eco-drive concept. Also, we provide other employees with environmental training according to their job functions. In addition, training is provided to management level employees. In our domestic plants, special educational programs to prevent environmental accidents are carried out especially for employees working in environmentally-important processes. Also various kinds of environment-related educational programs are provided to new employees, management level employees, and all factory employees.

●Education to obtain special qualifications

We also encourage employees to obtain some environment-related qualifications. The Company holds 160 employees as pollution prevention managers, 38 as energy managers, and 205 as internal environment system auditors.

Emergency training

We look for locations and operations that have potential of causing an environmental accident* and hold emergency drills with employees and other related suppliers at domestic plants and domestic and overseas Group manufacturing companies.

* Environmental accident refers to accidents that may affect environment such as leakage of chemicals.

Situation concerning environmental laws, regulations, etc.

In FY2018, there were 20 cases of significant spills* and 6 cases of complaints concerning environment, which were properly taken care of. There was no administrative guidance or payment of penalty due to these significant spills.

* Significant spills: Spills that are recorded as spills from organisation such as exceeded amount of wastewater, emission gas, odour, chemical substances (including oil), and wastes that are restricted by laws and regulations, as well as soil and groundwater contamination.

Community information exchange meeting

We regularly carry out information exchange meetings with local residents to ask their views and opinions for further environmental improvement. In FY2018, such meetings and events took place 8 times at domestic plants and die plants in Japan. Also, 406 plant tours were conducted at domestic plants.

Plant/community exchange meeting

Influence and initiatives to environment caused by business operations

Environmental accounting

●Cost of environmental conservation

(Unit : ¥100 million)

  Change FY2018
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 Investment Expenses Total
Business area costs Pollution prevention 5.0 4.8 4.3 6.9 4.4 11.3
Environmental conservation 2.7 4.6 4.4 1.6 4.6 6.1
Recycling of resources 3.1 1.9 -0.2 3.8 5.8 9.6
Total 10.8 11.3 8.4 12.2 14.7 26.9
Upstream/downstream costs 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2
Managerial costs 4.2 3.8 4.7 0.0 5.6 5.6
Research and development costs 504.9 519.8 529.7 58.8 497.6 556.4
Social activities costs 1.1 1.2 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.9
Environmental damage costs 0.3 0.4 2.5 0.2 0.4 0.7
Total 521.4 536.7 546.3 71.3 519.5 590.7

●Effectiveness of environmental conservation

(Unit: ¥100 million)

Item FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
Economical effect Energy cost reduction 3.4 4.1 3.8 3.6 3.6
Waste management cost reduction 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.2
Resource saving (including recycle and valuable resource disposal) 29.4 24.4 26.5 23.6 28.8
Total 32.9 28.9 30.4 27.4 32.6

(Note) These are non-consolidated environmental figures.

Expansion of environmental communication

Efforts for biodiversity

Suzuki introduced the environmental brand SUZUKI GREEN to realise the philosophy of Suzuki Global Environment Charter and announced the Suzuki Biodiversity Protection Guidelines as the environmental policy in the Charter.
Suzuki Biodiversity Protection Guidelines will be the guiding principle for us to recognise the possibility of business activities etc. giving unavoidable influences to biodiversity, which has provided our life with enormous natural blessings (ecosystem service) since the birth of human, as well as for us to try to reduce such influences, and make efforts to ensure sustainable usage.
Suzuki has conducted many actions to reduce influences to biodiversity in our business or social contribution activities, and participated in Japan Business & Biodiversity Partnership*.
Through the release of the Guidelines, we aim to raise awareness about the biodiversity throughout the entire Suzuki Group, and to develop a sustainable society that can coexist with the nature, while keeping good relations with our customers and the local communities.

* Partnership that wide varieties of companies mainly from the economic world make efforts voluntarily for conservation and sustainable usage of biodiversity and share related information in order to accomplish the purpose of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

●Suzuki Biodiversity Protection Guidelines

https://www.globalsuzuki.com/corporate/environmental/green_policy

【Basic concept】

Under the slogan of “Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, and Neater”, Suzuki Group thoroughly conducts wasteless, efficient business operations and promotes production of small cars by pursuing environmental technologies in order to reduce influences to biodiversity and contribute to sustainable usage of resources in future.
Based on such activity philosophy, Suzuki Group will try to cooperate with various stakeholders as a member of the society and to develop the society harmonised with beautiful natural environment.

【Emphasised efforts for biodiversity】

・Reduction of environmental loads generated through business operations and products

  • ①Promote energy saving, resource saving, and 3Rs at business steps from product development to recycling.
  • ②Promote improvement in fuel efficiency and R&D of next-generation automobiles in order to reduce greenhouse effect gas.
  • ③Work on reducing the use of substances of concern through the supply chain.

・Expansion of environmental communication

  • ①Promote environmental beautification and environment conservation activities under cooperation with local communities.
  • ②Work on making appropriate recognition and behaviour for biodiversity to penetrate into all employees.
  • ③Work on announcing environmental information and self-conservation activities widely to the society.

Eco Kids Experience School 2018 in Bentenjima -Experience-type environmental study about the environment of Lake Hamana

Concrete actions

Reduction of environmental loads generated through business operations and products Expansion of environmental communication
① Internal publication on results of the reduced CO2 emission from individual plants
Effective utilisation of resources through recyclable design
Continuation of zero-level of landfill waste and enhancement of water saving consciousness
Improvement of transportation efficiency and reduction of packing materials
Increase of recycling rate of end-of-life products
Promotion of solar power generation		 ① Participation in local community cleanup activities
Cleanup activities around plants
Suzuki's Forest volunteer planting project
Shimokawa Proving Grounds: Continuation of FSC certification program
Participation in Corporate Forest Preservation
Program
Research and publication of Suzuki’s forest environmental contribution
② Global improvement of average fuel efficiency
Development of next-generation vehicles suitable to small cars
Development of a lightweight and low-cost air-cooled fuel cell
Compliance with Act on Control of Freon Emission
Compliance with various countries’ emission regulations		 ② Improvement of in-house environmental awareness through internal website
Education about global warming and Suzuki Green Policy in introductory workshops and on-the-job training for new employees
Continuation of in-house seminar on eco-driving
Participation in and cooperation for local community environmental education events organised by NPO
③ Compliance with various countries’ regulations for usage of substances of concern
Development of technology for VOC reduction in car cabin and painting process
Promotion of alternatives for substances of very high concern
Close cooperation with suppliers based on “Suzuki Green Procurement Guideline”
Environmental consideration for plant location, etc.		 ③ Publication of “Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report”
Publication of various environmental information about production and products
Participation in environment-related fairs and events
Introduction of our eco-friendly production process through plant tour
Friendship with local residents through an exchange party or meeting
Setting up an environmental section in Suzuki Plaza

●Suzuki Manner Improvement Activities

Suzuki was registered in “Hamamatsu City Road/River Foster-parent System”* in September 2004 for improvement in manners and environment/beautification awareness of employees, and conduct voluntary cleanup activities as “Suzuki Manner Improvement Activity”.
For those activities, in-house volunteers clean roads around the headquarters and the Takatsuka under-path every month. A total of 13,000 participants have conducted the cleanup activities 176 times until May 2019 and collected 71 mini-truckloads of flammable and non-flammable garbage.
In 2017, the activity was acknowledged by the Shizuoka Prefecture and the company received the FY2017 Governor’s Award as humane association of river, coast, and road

* Groups that hope to be foster-parents decide the area and activities, report them to the Mayor, and conduct cleaning on roads, etc.

Suzuki Manner Improvement Activities

●Activities for “CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN”

The Marine Operations of Suzuki always appreciates that both of our lives and our marine business are made up of water, and our employees and their families voluntarily clean rivers, sea, lakes, etc. where outboard motors are used. Such clean-up activities were first held in December 2010 at Lake Sanaru in Hamamatsu, and since the 2nd time, we expanded the clean-up activities to the world as “CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN”, called for our overseas dealers with a total of 5,674 participants by 2018. Since 2015, the number of participants started to exceed 1,000 every year, making it the annual event for the Marine Operations. Likewise in 2019, starting from the activity held by the headquarters on 22 June (Nakatajima Sand Dune cleanup activity), the campaign will be held in parts of Japan as well as overseas.
The activity is in line with the concept of the “Plastics Smart Campaign - for sustainable ocean -” which is promoted by the Ministry of the Environment toward solution of global marine plastic issues, and was registered to the campaign since 2018. The activity is also introduced at the Ministry’s website. We will develop these activities further and contribute to local communities in all over the world through cleaning in waterfront areas.

http://plastics-smart.env.go.jp/en

USA

Malaysia

Japan

France

●Forest Conservation Activities

Suzuki's Forest (Hamamatsu)

Suzuki concluded a Volunteer Forest agreement with Tenryu Forest Administration Department of Forestry Agency and started the forestry preservation activities in March 2006 at Suzuki's Forest located in Inasa-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu.
Our employees and their family members conduct the forestry activity every year such as planting trees, clearing away the undergrowth, and fungus planting/harvesting operations.
This activity was conducted 28 times in total until May 2019 (12 times of planting and 16 times of undergrowth clearing), and participated by 1,400 volunteers.

"Suzuki's Forest" planting project

Participation to the tree planting project at storm surge barrier

On 29 November 2015, members of the Suzuki Green Club participated in the storm surge barrier tree planting project in coastal zone of Enshu held by the prefecture of Shizuoka and the city of Hamamatsu and Iwata. Total of 7 activities were held by FY2018 with 248 participants, and 850 nursery trees of pine trees, etc. were planted. The Suzuki Green Club will continue forest conservation and greening activities through activities in Suzuki’s Forest and storm surge barrier.

Forest of Suzuki Shimokawa Proving Grounds (Hokkaido)

Suzuki's proving grounds is located in the town of Shimokawa (Kamikawa County) on the north of Hokkaido, where the forest accounts for about 90% of the total land area. In 2003, Shimokawa acquired the international FSC(R)*1 Forest Management Certificate (FSC(R)C015134) as the first forestry cooperative in Hokkaido, and in 2011, it was designated as an Environmental Future City*2 featuring effective utilisation of abundant natural resources. Now it aims to become a “future city with best harmonisation between people and forests”.
Moreover, a 300-ha forest located in the proving grounds was also recognised to satisfy the strict forest stewardship standards according to the FSC(R) certification program, so the area was additionally registered in the FSC(R) Forest Group Certificate for Shimokawa Town in 2006 (FSC(R) C015134).
At the same time, Suzuki will continuously promote co-existence and co-prosperity with the local society who takes great care of the nature through participation of events and sales of agricultural products.

  • *1 FSC(R): Forest Stewardship Council
  • *2 The “Environmental Future City” is a governmental project to create the world's most ideal city where everybody wishes to live. Under this program, high potential regions are selected and financially supported for realising such an ideal city.

Suzuki Shimokawa Proving Grounds
(Hokkaido)

Participation in “Corporate Forest Preservation Program” (Hokkaido)

As part of environmental preservation and social action programs, we cooperate in silvicultural environment protection by participating in “Corporate Forest Preservation Program”, which is conducted under the Profit-Sharing Afforestation agreement with the government (Forestry Agency) for the period from 1996 to 2028.
For approximately 4.3-ha national forest (containing approximately 3,000 trees) in Shimokawa, we conduct the profit-sharing afforestation by entrusting the work to the local forestry cooperative through Hokkaido Regional Forest Office. Also, for many years, we have contributed to preservation of national land through watershed conservation, sediment discharge prevention and CO2 absorption and fixation. The shared profits coming from the program will be used for further afforestation activities.

* Forestry Agency’s “Corporate Forest Preservation Program” and “Profit-Sharing Afforestation” (in Japanese language only)
http://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/j/kokuyu_rinya/kokumin_mori/katuyo/kokumin_sanka/hojin_mori/index.html

Suzuki’s environmental contributions in FY2017 through these forests are evaluated as follows.

Suzuki's environmental contribution through forest conservation (FY2017)

Measurement item Forests of Suzuki Shimokawa
Proving Grounds (FSC(R) C015134)		 ''Corporate Forest Preservation Program''
Regional Forest Office of Forestry Agency
①Contribution to water yield 155,609m3/year 1,409m3/year
②Contribution to prevention of sediment discharge 5,557m3/year 51m3/year
③Contribution to absorption/fixation of carbon dioxide 1,367.2CO2 t/year 17.3CO2 t/year

* Calculated by the project evaluation method employed by the Forestry Agency

The above equal to the below units:

  • ①78.51 million bottles of 2-L PET bottles
  • ②1,020 truckloads of 10-t dump truck (5.5m3/truck)
  • ③4,326 persons of annual CO2 emission from one person (t/year)

Participation in environment-related fairs

●Participation in environment-related fairs

Suzuki participated in the following environment-related fairs in FY2018.

Events / Reports Period Location Major organiser
JARI Public Day 21 April 2018 Tsukuba Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)
Tokyo Forum for Clean City and Clear Sky 22 to 23 May 2018 Hilton Tokyo Tokyo
Automotive Engineering Exposition 2018 (Yokohama) 23 to 25 May 2018 Pacifico Yokohama Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
Automotive Engineering Exposition 2018 (Nagoya) 11 to 13 July 2018 Port Messe Nagoya Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
Sewage Works Exhibition '18 Kitakyushu 24 to 27 July 2018 Kitakyushu Japan Sewage Works Association
12th Asian-Pacific City Summit 1 to 2 August 2018 Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Asian-Pacific City Summit secretariat
Hamamatsu, the hometown of the Motorcycle 25 August 2018 Hamamatsu City Industry Exhibition Pavilion Hamamatsu
Logis-Tech Tokyo 11 to 14 September 2018 Tokyo Big Sight Japan Society of Industrial
Machinery Manufacturers, etc.
EVS31&EVTeC 2 to 3 October 2018 Kobe Convention Center Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)
Miyakejima Enduro Race WERIDE 10 to 11 November 2018 Miyake Village, Tokyo Tokyo
Shizuoka City Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Exhibit 11 November 2018 Shizuoka City Aoba Event Hall Shizuoka
6th FC-Cubic Technical Information Exchange Meeting 6 December 2018 Tokyo International Exchange Center Fuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center
Technology Research Association
Hamamatsu City Winter Vacation
Hydrogen Energy Experience Tour		 27 December 2018 Hamamatsu Branch Office, Chubu Gas Hamamatsu
World Future Energy Summit 2019 14 to 17 January 2019 UAE Invited by the Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry
Shizuoka Prefecture Hydrogen
Energy Family Experience Class		 26 January 2019 Hamamatsu Branch Office, Chubu Gas Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Business
Seminar & Matching Consultation		 14 March 2019 Twin Messe Shizuoka Shizuoka Prefecture

Automotive Engineering Exposition 2018
(Yokohama)

World Future Energy Summit 2019
(Arab)

EVS31 & EVTeC
(Kobe)

●Participation in Light Down Campaign

We participated in “CO2 Reduction / Light Down Campaign” held by the Ministry of the Environment. We participated as a group and turned off the light of light-up facilities all over the country together with households that assented to this campaign on 21 June and 7 July 2018 for enlightenment of prevention of global warming.

Disclosure of environmental information

In order to disclose our views and initiatives on the environment, we are sending out such information through booklets (in Japanese language only) and websites, etc.