Japan
Sustainability Data Book 2024| Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050 | Milestone 2030 | |
|---|---|---|
| Air conservation | Minimize air-polluting substances emitted from business activities and products by 2050 | By 2030:
|
Basic concept
Suzuki has been promoting air conservation initiatives, including the introduction of low-emission vehicles suited to each country’s situation. As our main markets are in emerging countries such as India and Southeast Asian countries, we would like to make a larger contribution. For example, by promoting activities to generate and procure electricity derived from renewable energy sources on our own, we will not only reduce global CO2 emissions but also contribute to the conservation of the atmospheric environment in the regions in which we operate. In addition, we will introduce powertrains that are suited to the energy and infrastructure situations of each sales country and region from the perspective of product life cycles, as well as strive to reduce VOCs from production and other processes.
Efforts in product use
Calculation of air-polluting substance emissions of products using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)*
Suzuki conducts LCA not only on CO2 but on other airpolluting substances as well.
The new Spacia (equipped with Mild Hybrid) achieves reductions in NOx and SOx emissions across its life cycle.
Suzuki will continue its initiatives to reduce such substances as well as CO2.
- * Life Cycle Assessment: A method of evaluating a product as a whole by calculating its potential environmental impact at each stage of its life cycle, from raw material processing to disposal. Evaluation results are displayed as an index to confirm the relative environmental improvement effect.
■ Suzuki LCA Stages
■ Ratios of air-polluting substance emissions
Example: Ratio with NOx emissions of Spacia (previous model equipped with Mild Hybrid) as 100%
- A: Previous model equipped with Mild Hybrid (Launched in December 2017)
- B: Current model equipped with Mild Hybrid (Launched in November 2023)
- NOx: Nitrogen Oxide
- SOx: Sulfur Oxide
- PM: Particulate Matter
- NMHC: Non Methane Hydrocarbons
Efforts in design and development
Efforts in emission gas reduction
● (Automobiles) Reducing hazardous elements within emission gas
In order to satisfy emission regulations that are getting more stringent all over the world, Suzuki has been improving engine combustion technologies as well as promoting improvement in the emission purification performance. From the view of preserving resources, we are making efforts to reduce the precious metals and rare earth elements used for catalysts.
We are making efforts to clean exhaust gas throughout the world by adopting purification technologies that meet the needs of each market, such as a zone-coated catalyst that concentrates precious metals effective for the purification performance in cold engine starts at the front section of the catalyst, a catalyst that prevents heat deterioration, and a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) that removes particulate matter (PM).
K14D engine
Cleans emission gas by collecting PM (particulate matter) contained in exhaust gas
● (Motorcycles) Reducing emission gas
We are striving to reduce exhaust gas emissions by complying with the Euro5 standards and the 2020 domestic emission gas regulations.
The new GSX-S1000GX launched in January 2024 meets the domestic emission regulations for 2020 by optimizing catalyst specifications.
New GSX-S1000GX
● (Outboard motors) Reducing emission gas
Suzuki’s four-stroke outboard motors satisfy the 2008 emission gas regulation values set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the secondary regulation values set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the 2011 marine engine emission voluntary regulation values (secondary regulation) set by the Japan Marine Industry Association.
Efforts in reducing chemical substances
● Reducing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)*1 in the cabin
In order to provide safe and secure products to customers, we are making efforts in reducing cabin VOCs by using materials, bonding agents, etc. that emit less VOCs for automobile interior parts. For all new domestic automobile models sold since January 2006, we have successfully achieved lower cabin VOC levels than the target set by the JAMA*2. In FY2023, we achieved the targets for models including the new Swift and the new Spacia. We are also taking the lead in responding to new regulations that are being considered in Europe for the future.
In addition, we are making efforts in reducing odors from interior parts and reducing cabin odor to promote a more comfortable cabin environment.
- *1 VOCs are deemed to be a cause of sick building syndrome (bringing about a headache and/or sore throat) and have been gaining attention for their impact on health.
- *2 Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has been making voluntary efforts in new passenger car models sold from April 2007 and new commercial vehicle models sold from April 2008 to satisfy the guideline values for vehicle cabin VOCs on substances defined by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Measuring VOC inside the new Swift
Efforts in reducing noise
● (Motorcycles) Reducing noise
Suzuki motorcycles meet noise regulations, such as the FY2016 regulation in Japan, UN R41-04 in Europe, and 40 CFR Part 205 in the United States.
Product example
The following describes our noise reduction efforts, taking the new GSX-S1000GX as an example.
To comply with the latest domestic noise regulations, the new GSX-S1000GX adopts many structures with high noise reduction while also being designed to minimize weight increase.
① The air cleaner has sufficient capacity and reduces intake noise; ribs configured on the upper case increase rigidity to reduce radiated sound from wall surfaces.
② The exhaust system is composed of a main silencer and a sub silencer; it has sufficient capacity and a structure with a high sound-silencing effect. By configuring glass wool on the inner wall, we improved damping performance and reduced radiated sound from wall surfaces.
Efforts in business activities
Efforts in production
Efforts in reducing emission gas
● Control of SOx and NOx emissions
In order to prevent air pollution, we are making efforts to maintain and control sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from boilers, etc. by setting voluntary standards that are stricter than the regulation values.
■ SOx emissions*
* SOx emissions are calculated based on fuel consumption from January to December.
- [Scope of aggregation]
- Iwata Plant, Kosai Plant, Osuka Plant, Sagara Plant, Hamamatsu Plant
■ NOx emissions
- [Scope of aggregation]
- Iwata Plant, Kosai Plant, Osuka Plant, Sagara Plant, Hamamatsu Plant
Efforts in reducing chemical substances
●VOC reduction in the painting process
We are working to reduce emissions of VOC solvents used in the painting process.
The Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025 targets reducing VOC emissions per painted area by 50% or more compared to FY2000 in the painting process at plants in Japan.
In FY2023, total emissions from painting car bodies, bumpers and motorcycles were 4,008 tons/year. VOC emissions intensity was 47.0 g/m2, a 37.7% reduction compared to FY2000, but falling short of the targeted 40% decrease. The reason for not reaching the target was an increase in the number of car models with high paint usage, which was caused by a change in the sales composition.
We plan to achieve the targets of the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025, which has entailed introducing devices for collecting solvents used to clean paint applicators already developed, taking steps to reduce the volume of solvent needed to dilute paint through use of highly effective diluting solvent newly developed, proceeding with efforts to reduce VOC emissions, and making progress according to plan in introducing water-based paints aligned with the renewal of the painting process.
■ VOC emissions in the painting process
[Scope of aggregation]
Domestic plants with painting processes for car bodies, motorcycles, and bumpers (Iwata Plant, Kosai Plant, Hamamatsu Plant, and Sagara Plant)
Efforts in reducing odor
Although we strictly follow the relevant regulations and laws, odors and noises may still make local residents unpleasant. Compliance with the laws and regulations, which is the basis of sustainability, is the minimum responsibility. Aiming for plants that are trusted by the local community, we will continuously promote necessary measures for the prevention of noise and odor and the elimination of their potential sources.