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 FY2017
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
  • The lightweight, compact, and highly efficient parallel-type hybrid system originally employed by Suzuki was adopted in the 1.2L DUALJET engine in the new Swift. This system is structured by combining the motor for driving (MGU), which is capable of generating power, with the auto gear shift (AGS), which provides excellent transmission efficiency. In addition to motor-assisted running, electric vehicle (EV) driving has also become an option, and both high fuel efficiency and strong driving have been realised.
  • A 1.0L direct-injection turbo engine with high output and high torque was installed into the new XBEE. In addition, 6AT was employed for the transmission to realise strong driving. Further, both driving with sufficient allowance and excellent fuel efficiency were realised by combining a mild hybrid.
  • The mild hybrid was installed in the new Spacia. As a result, the creep driving by the motor and the assistance provided by the motor for the engine over a wide range of speeds reduce the fuel consumption and realise better fuel efficiency.
Motorcycles
  • Improvement in fuel efficiency was promoted by improving combustion and reducing friction loss.
  • With respect to Address 125, 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 20% 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 DF350A, the thermal efficiency of the engine was improved by increasing the compression ratio, introducing the direct intake, which directly takes in fresh air, etc., and the propulsion efficiency of the powertrain system was improved by using the Suzuki Dual Prop System.
Reduce the vehicle body weight by reviewing body structuring parts, changing materials, and reviewing manufacturing methods. Automobiles

<Weight reduction in the whole body>

  • A lightweight and highly rigid new platform was employed for the new Spacia. In addition, a lightweight and very strong high-tensile steel plate was used for 46% wt. of the body. Further, of this 46%, the use of the super-high tensile steel plate with higher strength was increased to 16%, and the vehicle weight was 850kg for a 2WD.
  • A lightweight and very rigid new platform was employed for the new XBEE. In addition, a lightweight and very strong high-tensile steel plate was used for 47% wt. of the body. Further, of this 47%, the use of the super-high tensile steel plate with higher strength was increased to 19%, and the vehicle weight was 960kg for a 2WD.

<Weight reduction of suspension>

  • The weight-reduced A-segment platform was employed for the new XBEE, following Solio and Ignis. The weight was reduced such as by optimising the suspension frame structure.
  • The mini-segment platform was employed for the new Spacia, following Alto, Lapin, and WagonR. The weight was reduced such as by optimising the suspension frame structure.
Motorcycles
  • The shape, materials, and manufacturing methods were reviewed by utilising the state-of-the-art analysis technologies and test instruments. From the results, for the new RM-Z450, the weight was reduced by 7% for the frame, 3% for the swing arm, 16% for the seat, 24% for the fuel tank, and 9% for the rear suspension compared to the conventional model.
Outboard motors
  • With respect to DF350A, measures such as changing the material of the oil-seal housing from aluminum die cast to resin were undertaken. Compared with the conventional model (DF300AP), the power-to-weight ratio was improved by 2.4%.
Reduce running resistance of the whole vehicle such as air resistance and rolling resistance. Automobiles

<Reduction of air resistance>

  • The shape of the platform and parts was optimised, while maintaining the high designability for the new XBEE. The style was made to ensure smooth air flow around the body in order to reduce air resistance.

<Reduction of rolling resistance>

  • With respect to the new XBEE, tyres with large diameters that reduced the rolling resistance were adopted while securing the minimum ground height as a crossover.
  • With respect to the new Spacia, the rolling resistance was reduced by employing tyres that had been used for cars such as WagonR.
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 17%

[Outboard motors]

Reduced by 10%
(compared to FY2005)
  • Reduced by 7.2%
Development of next-generation vehicles Develop electric vehicles suitable for small cars. Develop hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles for mini/compact cars.
  • Launched new Swift HYBRID in July 2017.
  • Toyota and Suzuki concluded the memorandum for the introduction of EVs to the Indian market in November 2017.
Develop lightweight, compact, and low-cost air-cooled fuel cell vehicles.

[Motorcycle FCV]

Implement the test on public roads in Japan, Europe, etc.
  • The Road Transport Vehicles Act was published and enforced in February 2016 as legislation pertaining to fuel-cell motorcycles. The type approval was acquired in August 2016, and production started in December 2016.
  • Operations in Japan began on public roads in March 2017, and in London, England in January 2018.

[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 8.0%
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 of vehicles was abolished by transferring the outsourced customisation process for some welfare vehicles (minivehicle) to our own assembly plant.
  • With respect to the transportation of products for motorcycles, the transportation plan was reviewed for regions where loads were small, and the number of transportation services was reduced.
Reduce CO2 emission per sale by 14% (compared to FY2006).
  • Reduced by 29.2%
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: 55 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., 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.
<China> All models have satisfied the China 5 standard and the 2nd stage of the Beijing 5 standard.
<India> All models have satisfied the BS4 (OBDII) regulations.

Compliance with emission control regulations in other countries successively.
Motorcycles
  • Production of models conforming to Euro 4 and the third regulation in Japan was started accordingly: V-Strom 1000, V-Strom 650, V-Strom 250, GSX-R1000R, BURGMAN 400, GSX-S125, GSX-R125, and Address 125.
Outboard motors
  • All four-stroke outboard engines 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.
  • DF350A 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 the new Swift HYBRID, new Swift Sport, new Spacia, and new XBEE have satisfied the VOC concentration for car interiors specified by the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, which is 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 40.4%
Promotion of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Effective use of resources Development/design considering recycling Continue the design using recycled materials. Automobiles
  • Recycled materials were used for the hood silencer, dash silencer, passenger seat under box, etc. in the new Spacia.
  • Recycled materials were used to develop noise-absorbing materials for the dash silencer, back side of the floor carpet, etc. in the new XBEE. Recycled PP materials were used for the passenger seat under box, etc.
Motorcycles
  • Recycled materials were newly introduced to the meter panel, inner cowling, middle frame cover, fuel center cover, rear fender, and bottom plate of the seat in the new GSX-S125 and GSX-R125.
Continue the design to reduce materials. Automobiles
  • The thickness of the front/rear bumper and radiator grille of the new Spacia and new XBEE was reduced.
  • In addition, for the new compact passenger car XBEE, the thickness of the front/rear fender splash guard, side sill splash guard, and front/rear door splash guard was also reduced.
Motorcycles
  • With respect to BURGMAN 400, exterior resin parts were extensively reviewed in terms of their structures, and by reducing the number and size of parts, a weight reduction of 7.7kg was realised compared to the conventional model.
Outboard motors
  • Rivets, insert nuts, and bolts used for securing were changed to screws in order to simplify disassembly and to reduce the number of parts.
Increase the use of thermoplastic resin components. Automobiles

<Exterior parts>

  • Easily recyclable thermoset resin was used for the front/rear bumper, radiator grille and garnish of the new Spacia and the new XBEE.
  • In addition, for new XBEE, easily recyclable thermoplastic resin was also used for the front/rear fender splash guard, side-sill splash guard, and front/rear door splash guard.

<Interior parts>

  • Easily recyclable thermoplastic resin was used for the instrument panel, door trim, and interior trim of the new Spacia, and the new XBEE.
Outboard motors
  • With respect to DF350A, thermoplastic resin was used for the resin parts with a large external shape such as an oil pan cover.
Promotion of recycling ELVs/components

[Japan]

Maintain 70% or higher ASR recycling rate.
  • ASR recycling rate: 98.1%
    (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.
  FY2016 FY2017
No. of bumpers collected in the market 60,231 68,240

[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.
  • 1,610 used lithium-ion batteries were collected and recycled up to FY2017.
FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 Total
0 21 105 356 397 731 1,610

[Overseas]

Conform to local automobile recycle laws.
  • EU: Promotion of collection and recycling of scrapped cars, batteries, etc. in accordance with local regulations and circumstances.
  • Vietnam: Promotion of the 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.
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. Brazil was added to the list of countries to which the returnable rack was sent in FY2017, and the returnable rack was used for approximately 60% 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 FY2018.
  • Weight of packaging materials for the shipment of KD parts: +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 43.0%
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).
  • Continue the level less than 0.5%.
    (Zero level)
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.
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.
  • Suzuki Motorcycle India Private Ltd. (SMIPL), which is an Indian corporation that manufactures motorcycles, acquired the ISO14001 certificate.
Reinforcement of management of substances of concern Globally conform to regulations concerning chemical substances.
  • The measure to prohibit the inclusion of DecaBDE (bromine-type flame retardant) into parts that are listed by the POPs Convention as an abolition substance is to be completed by the end of March 2018.
  • The measure to prohibit the inclusion of phthalate substance (plasticiser), which is specified as a limited substance in REACH (EU), is being implemented.
Build the global system to manage substances of concern.
  • An explanatory meeting related to regulations for substances of concern was held in Japan and overseas.
  • An operational audit was conducted at bases that had established and operated the Green Procurement Guideline.
Implementation of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)

[Automobile]

Implement LCA for new model and model change vehicles in Japan.
  • LCA was conducted for the new Swift HYBRID, new Spacia, and new XBEE, 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.
  • The range of information presented for the publication of environmental information of products and business activities was expanded, such as the disclosure of Suzuki’s global CO2 emission data in “Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report 2017”.
  • Participated in “FSC certification program” and “Corporate Forest Preservation Program” at the Shimokawa Proving Grounds.
  • Suzuki’s “forest environmental contribution” was published.
Continue and promote local community cleanup activities, volunteering for environmental conservation (Suzuki Manner Improvement Activities, Forest Conservation Activities in “Suzuki Forest”, tree planting project at storm surge barrier in coastal zone of Enshuhama, 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 on the third Tuesday of every month. The activities were conducted 162 times up to FY2017, and a total of 12,213 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 15 April 2017, and 44 in-house volunteers participated. (This event has been held 27 times and 1,396 persons participated in total.)
  • A planting project was conducted at the storm surge barrier in the Iwata coastal zone on 24 February 2018, and 41 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.
  • We cooperated with the local community establishment support (NPO) “Lake Hamana Environmental Network”, and participated in “Lake Hamana Environment College”, which is an event aimed at providing environmental education to employees’ families.
Continue the in-house eco-driving education.
  • An eco-driving seminar was conducted primarily for new employees. A total of 5,818 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.
  • We cooperated with the local community establishment support (NPO) “Lake Hamana Environmental Network”, and participated in the “eelgrass regeneration project” and “bamboo resources utilisation project”.
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 2017” (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 its domestic plants and the Group’s domestic manufacturing 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 before 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 2018). 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 June 2018, 9 overseas manufacturing companies (14 plants) have obtained the ISO14001 certificate. Other Group companies are also making best efforts to acquire the certificate.
We will introduce environmental management policies to all overseas plants and promote to have uncertified plants to acquire ISO14001 certification.

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 and die 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 employees with such qualifications such as, 154 employees as pollution prevention managers, 40 as energy managers, and 177 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 FY2017, there were 12 cases of significant spills* and 2 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 FY2017, such meetings and events took place six times at domestic plants and die plants in Japan. Also, 356 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 FY2017
FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 Investment Expenses Total
Business area costs Pollution prevention 6.6 5.0 4.8 2.6 1.7 4.3
Environmental conservation 2.5 2.7 4.6 0.3 4.1 4.4
Recycling of resources -0.6 3.1 1.9 1.9 -2.2 -0.2
Total 8.5 10.8 11.3 4.9 3.6 8.4
Upstream/downstream costs 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2
Managerial costs 4.0 4.2 3.8 0.0 4.7 4.7
Research and development costs 498.8 504.9 519.8 71.0 458.6 529.7
Social activities costs 1.2 1.1 1.2 0.0 0.9 0.9
Environmental damage costs 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.0 2.5 2.5
Total 513.4 521.4 536.7 75.9 470.4 546.3

●Effectiveness of environmental conservation

(Unit: ¥100 million)

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

(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

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.

Observation of aquatic creatures in the forest of Ochibano Sato Water Park under Lake Hamana Environment College 2017 in Kosai

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 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 green procurement
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 12,213 participants have conducted the cleanup activities 162 times until FY2017 and collected 69 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 acknowledges that both of our lives and our outboard motor business are made up of water, and our employees voluntarily clean rivers, sea, lakes, etc. where outboard motors are used.
Such clean-up activities were first held in December 2010 at Sanaru Lake, and it is the 8th in this year.
Since the 2nd time, we expanded the clean-up activities to the world as “CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN”, called for our overseas dealers and held the campaign 6 times (7 times for cleaning activities at the headquarters) by FY2017.
At the headquarters, in FY2017, we conducted the clean-up activity at Lake Sunaru (Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City) with 82 participants. In addition, those activities were conducted also at sales bases in Japan and overseas dealers, and 101 employees of 11 sales bases in Japan and 1,060 employees of overseas dealers in 14 countries participated.
The 7th CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN is also planned from July to October in FY2018, which is planned to be implemented at 12 locations in Japan, and approximately 15 countries in overseas.
We will develop these activities further and contribute to local communities in all over the world through cleaning in waterfront areas.

Philippines

USA

Maldives

Japan

●Forest Conservation Activities

Suzuki Forest (Hamamatsu City)

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 Forest located in Inasa-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City.
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 27 times in total until FY2017 (11 times of planting and 16 times of undergrowth clearing), and participated by 1,396 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 Hamamatsu City held by Shizuoka Prefecture and Hamamatsu City. In FY2017, we participated in a tree planting event held in Iwata City for the first time. Total of 5 activities were held by FY2017 with 223 participants, and 730 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 Proving Grounds is located in Shimokawa Town (Kamikawa County) on the north of Hokkaido, where the forest accounts for about 90% of the total land area. In 2003, the Shimokawa Town 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” (FSC(R) C015134).Moreover, a 300-ha forest located in the Suzuki Shimokawa 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.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.

Shimokawa Proving Ground (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 Town, 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

The Suzuki’s forest environmental contributions in FY2016 are evaluated as follows.

Suzuki's environmental contribution through forest conservation (FY2016)

Measurement item Shimokawa Proving Grounds: ''Corporate Forest Preservation Program''
Regional Forest Office of Forestry Agency
①Contribution to water yield 156,140m3/year 1,409m3/year
②Contribution to prevention of sediment discharge 5,576m3/year 51m3/year
③Contribution to absorption/fixation of carbon dioxide 3,397.7CO2 t/year 17.3CO2 t/year

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

The above equal to the below units:

  • ①78.77 million bottles of 2-L PET bottles
  • ②1,023 truckloads of 10-t dump truck (5.5m3/truck)
  • ③10,672 persons of annual CO2 emission from one person (320g/year)

Participation in environment-related fairs

●Participation in environment-related fairs

Suzuki participated in the following environment-related fairs in FY2017.

Events / Reports Period Location Major organiser
Automotive Engineering Exposition 2017 (Yokohama) 24 to 26 May 2017 Pacifico Yokohama Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
Automotive Engineering Exposition 2017 (Nagoya) 28 to 30 June 2017 Port Messe Nagoya Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan
Eco & Safety Kobe Car Life Festa 2017 11 and 12 November 2017 Kobe Meriken Park Ministry of the Environment, Kobe City

Automotive Engineering Exposition 2017
(Yokohama)

Automotive Engineering Exposition 2017
(Nagoya)

Eco & Safety Kobe Car Life Festa 2017

●Participation in Light Down Campaign

We participated in “CO2 Reduction / Light Down Campaign” held by the Ministry of 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 2017 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.