• Sustainability
• Environment

• Water Resources

• Mid- to Long-Term Targets and Results
• Environmental Policy and Management
• Climate Change
• Air Conservation
• Water Resources
• Resource Circulation
• Chemical Substances
• Biodiversity

Water Resources

• Basic Concept

• Efforts in Product Use

• Efforts in Business Activities

• Supply Chain Initiatives, etc.

	Suzuki Environmental Vision 2050	Milestone 2030
Water resource conservation	Realize use of sustainable water resources through minimizing the impact on water environment by 2050	Implement reduction of water withdrawal and purification of discharged water at all production sites through specifying water risks surrounding Suzuki by 2030

Basic Concept

Water resources are the source of all life and the foundation of human economic activities. However, only 0.01% of the Earth’s water is freshwater that humans can use.
Furthermore, due to recent climate change and population growth, the future supply and demand of water resources is expected to be strained in the future. Especially in India and Southeast Asia, Suzuki’s main markets, rapid industrialization has led to excessive water withdrawal and water pollution. In light of these regional characteristics, Suzuki will assess the water risks of each site and suppliers and promote water resource management according to the risk situation. In addition, to achieve sustainable use of limited water resources, we will promote reduction of water withdrawal and purification of discharged water at production sites that use large amounts of water.

Efforts in Product Use

Design and development efforts

Initiatives to develop a marine microplastic collection device (MPC) - Joint research into technology to identify microplastics collected by MPCs

The MPC developed by Suzuki is a device that can recover microplastics that form in the natural environment when plastics that were not properly recovered flow into the ocean and are then subsequently broken down. These MPCs are installed on some Suzuki outboard motors. One of the challenges facing these MPCs involves improving the accuracy and efficiency of the technology used to separate and analyze plastics from recovered materials.
To address this challenge, we signed a joint research agreement with the Nakamura Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University (hereinafter referred to as Shizuoka University) in September 2023 to develop a technology for distinguishing microplastics by utilizing the adsorption properties of proteins to plastics; these research activities remain ongoing to this day. Through this joint research with Shizuoka University, which excels in research by utilizing the enzymes and proteins of microorganisms, we are working to achieve accurate and rapid identification and analysis by adsorbing and coloring proteins onto microplastics collected by MPCs. If these initiatives can enable us to visualize microplastics more clearly and understand the trends in material quality, we believe that we can identify their sources and otherwise take steps toward reducing the impact of plastics on the environment.

Efforts in Business Activities

Efforts in production

Efficient use of water resources

Reduction of water consumption

Under the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025, Suzuki is working to reduce water consumption by setting a target of a 10% reduction in water consumption intensity by FY2025 compared to FY2016, using the global automobile production volume as the denominator for water consumption intensity.
The Suzuki Group is working to reduce the amount of new water intake by conserving water and reusing wastewater at its plants both in Japan and overseas. Specifically, we are adopting airtight cooling towers, utilizing air-cooled systems for compact air conditioners, and using cooling water. Maruti Suzuki India and Suzuki Motor Gujarat, which face particularly severe water shortage problems, achieved zero discharge to the outside by reusing wastewater, using it for gardening on their premises, and introducing water-saving air-cooling systems for their facilities.
The amount of water used in FY2024 in Japan increased by 1.0% compared to the previous fiscal year, amounting to 4.07 million m³. At overseas manufacturing subsidiaries, it increased by 1.7%, amounting to 4.82 million m³.
The intensity increased by 1.5% compared to the previous fiscal year from 2.67 m³/unit to 2.71 m³/unit.
In order to achieve our targets for FY2025, we will promote facility upgrades and water-saving measures. We plan to introduce production equipment that uses less water at upcoming new plants and existing plants when we update them.

■ Trends in global water consumption

[Scope of aggregation]
Suzuki (Iwata Plant, Kosai Plant, Osuka Plant, Sagara Plant, Hamamatsu Plant, and the Tooling Dept.), 4 domestic manufacturing subsidiaries, and 15 overseas manufacturing subsidiaries

Efforts to prevent sewage spills

Efforts for cleanup of groundwater

Since organic chlorine compounds (trichloroethylene and cis-1, 2-dichloroethylene) were discovered in the groundwater at the head office and the former Takatsuka Plant in January 1999, we have continued our groundwater cleanup efforts and have conducted measurements along the plant’s site boundaries. In addition, we started bioremediation in March 2015 for groundwater cleanup using microorganisms to complete the purification as early as possible. Through the effects of bioremediation, we aim to complete the cleanup of groundwater contamination.

Purification of plant wastewater

Wastewater from production and daily life generated at our factories is purified at our own wastewater treatment facilities before being released into rivers or public sewerage systems. In discharging wastewater, we strive to reduce substances of concern by setting voluntary standards that are stricter than the wastewater standards specified in laws and regulations.
Under the Suzuki Environmental Plan 2025, we are working to reduce water consumption and regularly monitor the intensity of wastewater per global automobile production unit.
We will continue striving to reduce water consumption while maintaining the quality of discharged water.

■ Trends in global wastewater volume

[Scope of aggregation]
Suzuki (Iwata Plant, Kosai Plant, Osuka Plant, Sagara Plant, Hamamatsu Plant, and the Tooling Dept.), 4 domestic manufacturing subsidiaries, and 15 overseas manufacturing subsidiaries

Efforts in office activities, etc.

Thorough water-conservation at offices and employee dormitories

In order to aggressively reduce water consumption, we are making efforts in raising awareness about water conservation such as by announcing specific measures and posting water-saving awareness posters in restrooms and kitchens. We are also making efforts to reduce water consumption, such as by installing automated faucets for hand washing and introducing water-saving equipment.

Supply Chain Initiatives, etc.

Efforts in procurement

Understanding information on the water risks of our business partners (Japan)

To obtain information of water risk, Suzuki conducts annual research on information regarding water risks of our domestic business partners that purchase large quantities of water. Through this research, we keep track of their water consumption trends and the status of water risk assessment. In the FY2024 survey, those evaluating their own physical risks such as flooding and droughts accounted for 88.7%, and those evaluating their own regulation and reputation risks regarding water usage accounted for 84.7%. We will continue to implement this initiative and gradually expand it to our overseas business partners as well.