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 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 realize 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 Group Environmental Organization
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 Environmental 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. The Management Committee and the Board of Directors discuss and report on important issues such as environmental policy and long- and mid-term environmental targets.
Response to the TCFD’s recommendations
In April 2020, Suzuki became a signatory to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)* in support of its intent. Along with promoting information disclosure in a manner easily comprehensible to stakeholders, we will work to improve the level of sophistication of our scenario analysis and enhance the content of information to be disclosed in order to further increase our resilience against climate change.
*Established in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international organization to ensure the stability of the financial market.
Climate-related risks and opportunities, scenario analysis
Suzuki has been identifying business risks and opportunities to promote business activities in a sustainable manner. Since the impact of climate change, in particular, is intrinsically uncertain, we believe that it is crucial to assess degrees of its impact on risks and opportunities from a broader future perspective and make appropriate response.
Based on this recognition, we have evaluated differences in the impact of climate change on risks and opportunities by using two scenarios. One is the “4°C scenario” in which climate change causes marked physical effects, and the other is the “below 2°C scenario” in which mitigation measures are being implemented at an accelerated pace toward the realization of the Paris Agreement. In assuming these scenarios, we have referred to externally developed scenarios that are based on the scientific knowledge of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and other organizations.
<Climate-related risks and opportunities for Suzuki>
As more stringent regulations, including exhaust gas, CO2 emissions, and fuel efficiency standards, are being adopted as mitigation measures against climate change, the resulting increase in development expenses needed to comply with these regulations may greatly impact Suzuki’s business performance. On the other hand, small cars, which represent a strength of Suzuki, require less materials and energy to manufacture and emit less CO2 while in use. We believe that we can create opportunities by leveraging such a unique strength of Suzuki and by handling risks appropriately.
We will continue to hold careful discussions to reduce or avoid risks caused by climate change, capture opportunities for the future, and increase our competitive edge, and incorporate the outcomes of these discussions into our business strategies.
●List of Suzuki’s climate-related risks and differences in impact by scenario
●Details of particularly significant risks, creation of opportunities, and status of Suzuki’s response
Risks | Opportunities | Status of Suzuki’s response | |
---|---|---|---|
(1) More stringent CO2 and fuel efficiency standards for automobiles |
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(2) Implementation or reinforcement of carbon tax and other systems |
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Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 - Smaller, Fewer, Lighter, Shorter, Neater –
“Smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter, and neater”: these are the words which Suzuki has been holding since the early 1990s to express the base of manufacturing.
While maximizing the value offered to customers, these words are meant to make things smaller with fewer resources, with lighter weight, in shorter time and distance, and neater as much as possible.
We believe that this “smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter, and neater” concept applies to the initiatives toward tackling global environmental issues including climate change, water shortage, and resource depletion.
On the occasion of the Company’s 100th anniversary, we have set the Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 as a compass toward 2050, in order to “contribute to the society and become a company loved and trusted throughout the world” for the next 100 years.
Based on the “smaller, fewer, lighter, shorter, and neater” concept, Suzuki will aim to realize our ideal future which makes environmental impact from our business activities smaller and fewer, makes environmental load lighter, shortens the time to tackle various environmental issues, and keeps the earth bountiful and beautiful.
Theme | Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 | Milestone 2030 | |
---|---|---|---|
Climate change |
CO2 emitted from products | ●Reduce CO2 emitted from new automobiles by 90% in Well-to-Wheel base compared to FY2010 by 2050 | ●Reduce CO2 emitted from new automobiles by 40% in Well-to-Wheel base compared to FY2010 by 2030 |
CO2 emitted from business activities | ●Reduce CO2 from business activities by 80% in base unit per sales unit compared to FY2016 by 2050 | ●Reduce CO2 from business activities by 45% in base unit per sales unit compared to FY2016 by 2030 | |
Air conservation | ●Minimize air-polluting substances emitted from business activities and products by 2050 | ●By 2030:
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Water resource | ●Realize use of sustainable water resources through minimizing load on water environment by 2050 | ●Implement reduction of water withdrawal and purification of discharged water at all manufacturing sites through specifying water risks surrounding Suzuki by 2030 | |
Resource circulation | ●Promote reduction, recycle, and proper treatment of wastes from manufacturing activities and products through globally expanding recycling technologies and systems developed in Japan by 2050 | ●By 2030:
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●Overall image of Suzuki’s environmental strategy
Suzuki has formulated the Suzuki Environmental Plan every five years to promote environmental initiatives and ensure continuous improvement through the plan-do-check-action (PDCA) cycle.
Toward achieving the Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 and Milestone 2030, we will continue to promote our initiatives by setting short-term targets through backcasting.
Environmental plan
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 FY2012 to FY2015 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.
As we reached the final year of the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of our activities. We were able to achieve most of the plan’s targets, even though some were unachievable due mainly to a decline in production resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We will seek further improvement for items we have achieved and carefully review and reflect on those we have not. Toward the achievement of the new targets specified in the Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 and Milestone 2030, we will carry out operations management and continuous improvement through the PDCA* cycle and promote business activities in a way 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 FY2020 | Achieved | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Control of global warming | Improvement in fuel efficiency | Realize high fuel efficiency by adopting “SUZUKI GREEN Technology” etc. | Raise efficiency by improving the engine and drive system, and adopt new mechanism | Automobiles |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||
Motorcycles |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Outboard motors | For the DF140BG and DF115BG, achieved a higher compression ratio and increased thermal efficiency by revising the air intake mechanism and reducing the air intake temperature within the combustion chamber. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reduce the vehicle body weight by reviewing body structuring parts, changing materials, and reviewing manufacturing methods | Automobiles | <Weight reduction of the whole body>Kept the body weight of the new Solio at 241kg, the same as in the previous model, while increasing its body dimensions (by 80mm in overall length and 20mm in overall width) by optimizing the cross-section shape of the frame, joint structure, and structure for mounting the rear seats and by reducing the number of reinforcing parts. Also reduced the door weight by 70g/unit by using a plastic material for the front door lower sash and by 300g/unit by making the outside mirrors smaller.<Weight reduction of suspension>Achieved a weight reduction in the new Solio by adopting the same lightweight, high-rigidity platform used in the previous Solio and XBEE and by optimizing the suspension frame structure. |
✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Motorcycles | Reduced the weight of the new Hayabusa by 700g by modifying the pipe section of its seat rail. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Outboard motors | Achieved a weight reduction in the DF140BG and DF115BG by switching the intake manifold from aluminum to plastic. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reduce running resistance of the whole vehicle such as air resistance and rolling resistance | Automobiles | <Reduction of rolling resistance>Reduced rolling resistance of the new Solio by adopting dedicated tires.<Reduction of air resistance>
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reduce CO2 emissions amount in use of products globally | [Automobiles]Reduce by 28% (compared to FY2005) |
<Reasons for non-achievement>
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- | ||||||||||||||||||||
[Motorcycles]Reduce by 20% (compared to FY2005) |
<Reasons for non-achievement>
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- | |||||||||||||||||||||
[Outboard motors]Reduce by 10% (compared to FY2005) |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Development of next-generation vehicles | Develop electric vehicles suitable for small cars | Develop hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles for mini/compact cars |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||
Develop lightweight, compact, and low-cost air-cooled fuel cell vehicles | [Motorcycle FCV]Implement the test on public roads in Japan, Europe, etc. |
Promoting advanced development of a fuel-cell vehicle. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
[Automobile FCV]Promote advanced development |
Promoting advanced development of a fuel-cell vehicle. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
<Reasons for non-achievement>
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- | |||||||||||||||||||
CO2 reduction activities in logistics |
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Moved the operation of loading cargoes onto containers for export to some regions to a plant located near the corresponding port of loading and reduced both the distance of transportation to the port and the number of transportation between plants. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reduce CO2 emission per sale by 14% (compared to FY2006) |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||
Promotion of environmental conservation etc. | Air pollution | Introduce low-emission vehicle appropriate for circumstances in each country | Automobiles |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||
Motorcycles | Released the new Hayabusa that conforms to the 2020 exhaust emission standards in Japan. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Outboard motors |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
Achieved lower vehicle interior VOC concentration than the target value voluntarily set by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. in the new Solio as well as models that underwent minor changes, namely the Alto, Lapin, Spacia, and XBEE. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reduction of VOC in the painting process | [Painting on body]Maintain reduction of VOC emission per painting area by 40% (compared to FY2000) |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Promotion of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) | Effective use of resources | Development/design considering recycling | Continue the design using recycled materials | Automobiles | <Exterior parts>
<Interior parts>Used recycled materials for the dash silencer and floor carpet for the new Solio. Also, recycled thermoplastic resin were used for the under-seat boxes. |
✓ | |||||||||||||||||
Motorcycles | Adopted recycled materials for the body cowl cover and right and left cowling inner covers for the new Hayabusa. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Continue the design to reduce materials | Automobiles | <Exterior parts>Made the bumper, radiator grille, and fender lining of the new Solio thinner. |
✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Motorcycles | Reduced the use of materials for the new Hayabusa by making its cowling thinner through flow analysis and shape optimization. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Outboard motors | Made disassembly and recycling of the DF140BG and DF115BG easier by fixing the engine cover using either screws or bolts and nuts. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Increase the use of thermoplastic resin components | Automobiles | <Exterior parts>Used easily recyclable thermoplastic resin for the bumper, radiator grille, cowl garnish, splash guard, door garnishes, roof end spoiler, front and rear fender linings, and fuel tank (2WD model) for the new Solio.<Interior parts>Also used easily recyclable thermoplastic resin for plastic components of its interior panel, door trim, interior trim, and seats. |
✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outboard motors | Adopted thermoplastic resin for large exterior parts including oil pan cover. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Promotion of recycling ELVs/components | [Japan]Maintain 70% or higher ASR recycling rate |
ASR recycling rate: 96.4% (The rate has been maintained at 70% or higher since FY2008.) |
✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
[Japan]Promote collection/recycling of used bumpers |
[No. of bumpers collected in the last 3 years (units)]
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
[Japan]Promote collection/recycling of used lithium-ion batteries |
[No. of used LiBs collected and recycled from ELVs (units)]
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
[Overseas]Conform to local automobile recycle laws |
1.Collecting and recycling ELVs
In October 2019, Maruti Suzuki established Maruti Suzuki Toyotsu India Private Limited (MSTI), a joint venture with the Toyota Tsusho Group to engage in the dismantling and recycling of ELVs in India. The company is now making preparations for the launch of operations, including filing an application for approval and license for the dismantling business.
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reduction of the weight of packing materials such as corrugated cardboard for shipment of service parts |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reduction of disposable packing materials for shipment of service/KD parts |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reduction of the use of containers/package for products | Maintain the 15% level of reduction relative to FY2005 for the use of containers/package and corrugated cardboard for each component sale |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Waste materials | [Suzuki]Continue the zero-level landfill waste.Maintain the level of less than 0.5% (compared to FY1990) |
Maintained the level of less than 0.5% compared with FY1990. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
[Group]Continue the zero-level landfill waste.Maintain a level of less than 0.5% (compared to FY2002) |
Maintained the level of less than 0.5% compared with FY2002. | ✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Water resources | Thoroughly save water at plants and offices | Plant in Japan |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||
Office |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reinforcement of environmental management | Reinforcement of environmental management | Globally reinforce environmental management |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||
Reinforcement of management of substances of concern | Globally conform to regulations concerning chemical substances | 1.Responding to regulations concerning chemical substances
2.Communicating information on chemical substances
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Build the global system to manage substances of concern | <Overseas>
<Japan>
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Implementation of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) | [Automobile]Implement LCA for new model and model change vehicles in Japan |
Published the results of an LCA on the new Solio on Suzuki’s corporate website. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Environmental conservation through tie-up/cooperation with suppliers | Promote environmental conservation activities for suppliers based on “Suzuki Green Procurement Guideline” | Carefully monitored the trends for chemical substance regulations in Japan, the EU, and the UN and proactively requested suppliers to perform surveys/take action concerning the use of substances that are under discussion for possible inclusion in the corresponding regulations in the future. | ✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Expansion of environmental communication | Efforts for biodiversity | Globally promote the activity based on “Suzuki Biodiversity Protection Guidelines” to realize protection of biodiversity and its sustainable use |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||
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.) |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Enhancement of environmental education | Promote environmental education for employees including new employees and overseas trainees |
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✓ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Continue the in-house eco-driving education |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Participate in and cooperate on environment-related events held by environmental NPO and local communities |
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✓ | |||||||||||||||||||||
Disclosure of environmental information | Prepare “Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report” (in Japanese and English) to transmit the information about environment conservation activity to societies | Published the Suzuki CSR & Environmental Report 2020, which includes the Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 and Milestone 2030 as well as other previously released topics, such as the development of a Micro-plastic Collecting Device for outboard motors to collect microplastics. | ✓ |
Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025
Following the previous Suzuki Environmental Plan 2020, we formulated a new plan, the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025, which represents our environmental conservation initiatives over the five years to 2025.
The Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025 is an effort toward achieving the Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 and Milestone 2030, which were formulated in 2020, and is designed to promote initiatives under the four themes of climate change, air conservation, water resources, and resource circulation. The progress concerning the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025 and enhancement of related initiatives will be reported in our Sustainability Report in FY2022 onward.
Climate change
●Reducing CO2 emissions amount in use of products
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
Automobiles | FY2010 | Reduce by 30% |
Motorcycles | Reduce by 15% | |
Outboard motors | Reduce by 15% |
●Reducing CO2 emissions from business activities
Reducing CO2 emissions in production
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
CO2 emission per production | FY2016 | Reduce by 25% |
Reducing CO2 emissions in development, sales, and other activities
- Proactively promote energy-saving activities toward achieving carbon neutrality, including introduction of energy-saving equipment and solar panels
Reducing CO2 emissions in logistics and other activities
- Improve transportation efficiency by revising transportation routes and packing methods
- Introduce eco-driving support equipment and improve fuel efficiency of transportation vehicles
- Promote the use of transportation by rail
- Reduce CO2 emissions from Suzuki’s entire transportation activities in Japan
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
CO2 emission per sales | FY2016 | Reduce by 9% |
Air conservation
●Increasing the use of renewable energy
Promoting the introduction of renewable energy, including solar power
●Controlling air pollution
Object | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|
Automobiles | Contribute to the improvement of the atmospheric environment by releasing and popularizing “clean” products |
Motorcycles | |
Outboard motors |
●Reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Reducing VOCs in products
- Reduce VOCs in vehicle interior
Reducing VOCs in production activities
- Reduce VOCs in the painting process at plants in Japan
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
VOC emissions per painted area | FY2000 | Reduce by 50% or more |
Water resources
●Conserving water resources
Identifying water risks related to Suzuki and promoting reduction of water consumption and purification of wastewater at each base
Water consumption
- Reduce water consumption while giving consideration to the water environment of each country and region
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
Water use per production | FY2016 | Reduce by 10% |
Water quality
- Continue to manage wastewater using voluntary standards that are more stringent than regulatory requirements
- Conduct biodiversity assessment on rivers near our domestic production bases that discharge wastewater into these rivers
Resource circulation
●Development/design considering recycling
Object | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|
Automobiles | Continue to undertake development and design that give consideration to recycling
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Motorcycles | |
Outboard motors |
●Promoting the recycling of automobiles
Working to create a scheme for proper disposal of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs)
Operating a model facility in India for proper disposal of ELVs
●Promoting 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle) for batteries
Building a safe and efficient scheme to collect and recycle batteries in anticipation of widespread use of electrified vehicles globally
Conducting field testing on the reuse of small batteries for automobiles and promoting their safe and efficient reuse
●Reducing waste
Promoting waste recycling
Promoting reduction of waste generation volume
●Reducing plastic packaging materials
Promoting reduction of the use of plastic packaging materials to prevent discharge of plastics into ocean
Object | Base year | Target (FY2025) |
---|---|---|
Amount of plastic used in packing materials | FY2020 | Reduce by 12t |
Promoting the three pillars of the Suzuki Clean Ocean Project (waterside cleanup activities, activity to eliminate the use of plastic packaging materials, and activity to collect marine microplastics) globally in the field of outboard motors
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 99.3% 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
●Status of acquisition at plants in Japan and manufacturing subsidiaries
In April 1998, MAGYAR SUZUKI acquired ISO14001 certification for the first time in the Suzuki Group.
All domestic plants of Suzuki already acquired ISO14001 certification by March 2003. Among domestic manufacturing subsidiaries, three plants (respective plants 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 acquired certification as of April 1, 2021.
Among overseas manufacturing subsidiaries, 19 plants of 14 companies have acquired ISO14001 certification as of the end of April 2021.
●Manufacturing: Environment Organizer Meeting
Suzuki holds Environment Organizer Meeting in order to improve environmental management of domestic plants and manufacturing subsidiaries.
At this meeting, engineering managers and members of domestic plants and manufacturing subsidiaries (9 plants of 4 companies) get together to discuss improvements for environment conservation plan and matters related to domestic plants and Group manufacturing subsidiaries while seeing actual systems on actual sites.
Decisions made at the meetings are rolled out to domestic plants and Group manufacturing subsidiaries, contributing to environmental management activities.
●Environmental audit
At Suzuki’s domestic plants and the manufacturing subsidiaries, 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.
Efforts at non-manufacturing sites
Status of acquisition at offices and development facilities
In order to facilitate environmental conservation activities as the Suzuki Group, we have been promoting the acquisition of ISO14001 certification also at sites other than manufacturing sites, such as engineering departments.
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 cycle. Sales distributor that introduced this system is progressively promoting the activity centering on the designated environment manager and office.
Environmental education / awareness
●Employee education
As part of our employee education program, we integrate basic environmental education on Suzuki’s Environmental Concept and policies, environmental issues, and promotion of eco-driving into new employee education. We also provide environmental education according to respective operations and positions. Each of our domestic plants works to prevent environmental accidents by providing various education on its own, mainly education to employees in charge of environmentally important processes, as well as introductory education to new employees and education to management-level employees and to all employees.
●Education to obtain special qualifications
We also encourage employees to obtain some environment-related qualifications. The Company holds 145 employees as pollution prevention managers, 39 as energy managers, and 276 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 manufacturing subsidiaries.
*Environmental accident refers to accidents that may affect environment such as leakage of chemicals.
Situation concerning environmental laws, regulations, etc.
In FY2020, there were 30 cases of significant spills* and 7 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 organization such as exceeded amount of wastewater, emission gas, odor, chemical substances (including oil), and wastes that are restricted by laws and regulations, as well as soil and groundwater contamination.
Influence and initiatives to environment caused by business operations
Expansion of environmental communication
Efforts for biodiversity
Suzuki introduced the environmental brand SUZUKI GREEN to realize 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 recognize the possibility of business activities etc. giving unavoidable influences on biodiversity, which has provided our life with enormous natural blessings (ecosystem service) since the birth of humanity, 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 on 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 on 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 harmonized with beautiful natural environment.
[Emphasized efforts for biodiversity]
・Reduction of environmental loads generated through business operations and products
- ① Promote energy saving, resource saving, and 3Rs at business steps from product development to recycling.
- ② Promote improvement in fuel efficiency and R&D of next-generation automobiles in order to reduce greenhouse gas.
- ③ Work on reducing the use of substances of concern through the supply chain.
∙ Expansion of environmental communication
- ① Promote environmental beautification and environment conservation activities under cooperation with local communities.
- ② Work on making appropriate recognition and behavior for biodiversity to penetrate into all employees.
- ③ Work on announcing environmental information and self-conservation activities widely to the society.
Lake Hamana Plastic Waste Workshop
Specific actions
Reduction of environmental loads generated through business operations and products | Expansion of environmental communication | ||
---|---|---|---|
① | Internal publication on results of the reduced energy from individual plants Effective utilization 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 organized 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 |
●Environment and ecosystem of the surrounding areas
Following 2018, in 2020, we conducted research on waters as well as creatures and plants living in waters of rivers of which more than 5% of their water amount come from water released from our five domestic plants. As a result, we confirmed that there are 213 species of creatures and plants living, of which 12 species are endangered species.
Destinations of waters released and the waters impacted
Base | Releasing river | Impacted waters*1 | Endangered species, etc. confirmed*2 |
---|---|---|---|
Headquarters | Horidome River | None | None (there are no impacted waters) |
Kosai Plant | Kasago River | Kasago River → Confluence point with Lake Hamana |
Total of 10 species Ruddy crake (Aves), Sparrowhawk (Aves), Red-rumped swallow (Aves), Rustic Bunting (Aves), Japanese Brown Frog (Amphibia), Japanese eel (Pisces), Lefua echigonia (Pisces), Japanese rice fish (Pisces), Japanese hard clam (Shellfish), Potamogeton panormitanus (Plantae) |
Iwata Plant | Akuro River | Akuro River → Confluence point with Imanoura River |
Total of 3 species Sparrowhawk (Aves), Japanese eel (Pisces), Japanese rice fish (Pisces) |
Osuka Plant | Nishi-Otani River | Nishi-Otani River → Confluence point with Benzaiten River |
Total of 2 species Peregrine Falcon (Aves), Red-rumped swallow (Aves) |
Sagara Plant | Hirugaya River | Hirugaya River → Confluence point of Hagima River and Shirai River |
Total of 5 species Ruddy crake (Aves), Grey-faced buzzard (Aves), Red-rumped swallow (Aves), Japanese eel (Pisces), Japanese rice fish (Pisces) |
Hamamatsu Plant | Not released in rivers | None | None (not released in rivers) |
- *1 Waters of which more than 5% of annual average water amount come from Suzuki’s drain waters.
- *2 Species that are listed as endangered in the red lists of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the Ministry of the Environment, as well as red lists and regulations of Prefectures and Cities.
●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 29 times in total (13 times of planting and 16 times of undergrowth clearing), and participated by 1,500 volunteers. Although we did not carry out this activity in FY2020, we plan to plant trees every year.
"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 8 activities were held with 287 participants, and 930 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 utilization of abundant natural resources. Now it aims to become a “future city with best harmonization between people and forests”.
Moreover, a 300-ha forest located in the proving grounds was also recognized 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 realizing 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 FY2020 through these forests are evaluated as follows.
Suzuki's environmental contribution through forest conservation (FY2020)
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 | 1,504.7 CO2t/year | 17.3 CO2t/year |
*Calculated by the project evaluation method employed by the Forestry Agency
The above equal to the below units:
- ① 78.51 million bottles of 2-L PET bottles
- ② 1,020 truckloads of 10-t dump truck (5.5m3/truck)
- ③ 5,295 persons of annual CO2 emission from one person (t/year)
●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 14,200 participants have conducted the cleanup activities 196 times until March 2021 and collected 79 minitruck loads 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
CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN (waterside cleanup activities)
The CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN, which started in 2010 as a global initiative of the Suzuki Group, marked its 12th year in 2021. Every year, the event takes place in more than 25 countries and draws many participants. In FY2020, participants in five countries conducted waterside cleanup activities and contributed to respective local communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Activity to collect marine microplastics using Suzuki’s Micro-plastic Collecting Device for outboard motors
In addition to the conventional waterside cleanup activities, we launched an activity to collect marine microplastics floating on and near the surface by using a Micro-plastic Collecting Device for outboard motors developed by Suzuki. With the aim of increasing the number of its users, we are currently extending the scope of our monitoring survey to overseas locations and further refining the device. This device is scheduled to be sold globally as standard equipment for select models from July 2022.
Countries where Suzuki conducted the monitoring survey in 2020
Suzuki Clean Ocean Project
The Suzuki Clean Ocean Project is an environmental initiative of Suzuki comprising three smaller projects. These are: (1) CLEAN-UP THE WORLD CAMPAIGN (waterside cleanup activities) continued from 2010; (2) Activity to reduce plastic packaging for outboard motors and service parts started in 2020; and (3) Activity to collect marine microplastics using Suzuki’s Micro-plastic Collecting Device for outboard motors. The Suzuki Clean Ocean Project is also a specific initiative of Suzuki to solve social issues represented by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shows Suzuki’s commitment to pursue its brand slogan of “THE ULTIMATE OUTBOARD MOTOR” in terms of the environment as well.
Under these three projects, we will team up with our partners around the world, including outboard motor users, dealers, boat builders, business partners, Suzuki Group companies, employees and their families, to clean-up the oceans worldwide.
Symbol mark of the Suzuki Clean Ocean Project
http://plastics-smart.env.go.jp/ (in Japanese language only)
Community information exchange meeting
We regularly carry out an information exchange meeting with local residents to ask their views and opinions for further environmental improvement. In FY2020, we cancelled the meeting at each office due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping an eye on situations in society, we plan to resume the meeting when safety is ensured.