Climate Change

Action Plan

Materiality SDGs Targets Issues to Address Business Area Commitment Specific Approach Performance Indicators Degree of Progress
Machinery Company
Address climate change (contribute to realization of low-carbon society)
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 Taking countermeasures against climate change Overall power generation business We will develop power plants with a good balance between renewable energy power generation and conventional power generation, thereby contributing to the development of countries and regions in a sustainable manner that is optimized for each. Pursue opportunities to invest aggressively in renewable energy power generation through analyses of countries and regions. FYE 2031: Target to achieve a renewable energy ratio more than 20% (equity interest basis) and reflect this to the future strategy. We achieved a renewable energy rate of 12.5% through capital alliances with Winch Energy, which is a company in the U.K. that is involved in small-scale solar power generation and distribution systems in non-electrified areas such as Africa, and VPP Japan, which is a company involved in the solar distribution power business in Japan.
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 Sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles We will achieve the eco-friendly mobility society by strengthening　businesses of electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles (HVs), vehicles with a reduced environmental impact, and those related. Contribute to spread of eco-friendly vehicles by increasing business of eco-friendly and high-efficiency products, such as EVs, HVs, vehicles with a reduced environmental impact, and related parts. Expand sales of eco-friendly products in response to the expanded lineup of EVs, HVs, vehicles with a reduced environmental impact, and similar vehicles from automakers as our business partners. 1) We have been participating in a small electric truck demonstration experiment since January 2019 in Japan.
2) We are deepening efforts with two companies into which we invested in FYE 2019 in China where electric vehicles are spreading rapidly - Dishangtie Car Rental, an electric commercial vehicle rental and maintenance service, and Zhicheauto Technology (Singulato Motors), an emerging electric vehicle manufacture.
3) We have invested in a ride sharing service called Via (2019). This is a convenient and cost-effective means of transportation. At the same time, it also contributes to alleviating urban congestion and reducing CO2 emissions.
Metals & Minerals Company
Address climate change (contribute to realization of low-carbon society)
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 Taking countermeasures against climate change
  • Mining business
  • Environmental business
  • Material-related business
  • We will realize stable energy supply as our social mission and responsibility while fully considering its environmental impact.
  • We will contribute to reducing greenhouse gases through businesses related to lighter-weight vehicles and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
  • Continue to be involved in the development of technologies that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, including technologies for carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide capture and utilization (CCU).
  • Aim to develop an appropriate portfolio of coal assets by fully considering its environmental impact.
  • Strengthen initiatives in businesses that contribute to the development of lighter-weight vehicles and shift to EVs (aluminum, copper, and other businesses).
  • Contribution to the development of a low-carbon society by committing to technologies that help reduce greenhouse gases emissions.
  • Development of an optimal asset portfolio by fully considering social requirements, including those related to the shift to a low-carbon society.
  • Implementation and expansion of businesses that contribute to developing lighter-weight vehicles and shifting to EVs.
  • We are working to start an overseas demonstration project to culture Euglena together with euglena Co., Ltd. This project will help promote Carbon dioxide Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies.
  • This project has potential to be applied over existing thermal power plants and manufacturing plants that emit carbon dioxide and is expected to be rolled out to a wide range of industries.
  • We have properly reviewed our asset portfolio to see if it is duly in line with our policy announced in February 2019 (1) not to acquire any new thermal coal mining interest and (2) regarding the existing thermal coal mining business, we will continue to review it and contribute to the development of a sustainable society while responding to the social demands of stable supply of energy to domestic and overseas customers.
  • As a result the review, following on from the sale of our interests in the Rolleston thermal coal mine in the previous fiscal year, we have concluded this year an agreement for acquiring the interests in a new coking coal mine (Longview coking coal mine) in December 2019.
  • The amount of transactions for aluminum castings/die-cast materials for vehicles has increased by 10% in FYE 2020 over FYE 2019, contributing to the development of light-weight vehicles.
Energy & Chemicals Company
Address climate change (contribute to realization of low-carbon society)
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 Taking countermeasures against climate change Oil & Gas LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Projects Development and production of natural resources with consideration in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Partnering with experienced operators with high technical strength in the development and production of natural resources. Pursuing opportunities to take part in LNG projects (i.e. LNG or natural gas emits less greenhouse gases than the other fossil fuels). We are holding concrete discussions with regards to participation in new LNG projects.
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 Efforts to optimally and continuously supply renewable energy Storage battery related power and environmental solutions
  • We will continue to stably supply the storage batteries that are the key to the efficient and optimal utilization of renewable energy.
  • We will aim to strengthen our storage battery business chain and establish a circular model through the battery recycling business in particular.
 We will continue to sell storage batteries equipped with optimal charging/discharging software based on machine learning (AI) and we will establish a recycling and reuse business with repurposed batteries from EV.
  • Number of storage batteries sold
  • Use of recycled and reused batteries
 * Because of new commitment, review will be conducted from the next fiscal year.
Food Company
Address climate change (contribute to realization of low-carbon society)
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 Taking countermeasures against climate change Fresh food field We will examine and promote measures that contribute to tackling climate change. We will utilize green energy in our processed food business. Utilization as a source of renewable energy for processed food manufacturing plants by generating biogas power using pineapple leftovers generated in the manufacturing process of the Dole processed food business. We are currently building biogas power plants at two plants in the Philippines. These are scheduled to be completed in the first half of FYE 2021.
General Products & Realty Company
Address climate change (contribute to realization of low-carbon society)
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 Taking countermeasures against climate change Cement substitute material such as slag We plan to expand the use of sustainable byproducts (slag) as a substitute material for the cement which is vital for construction and civil engineering. Establish continuous, stable business between Steelworks as the supplier of slag and Users. Consider investment, participation, etc. in the slag business and focus efforts on creating demand, especially in developing countries, with the aim of establishing continuous, stable business.
  • We expect a 65% increase year-on-year in the amount we handle to developing countries.
  • We are currently in discussions concerning investment and participation in the slag business.

Policy and Basic Concept

Climate change is one of the most urgent global environmental issues and is a matter of human existence. Given the global nature of our operations, it is a top management priority for us to address these issues such as climate change. As stipulated in item (2) of our Environmental Policy, we shall reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the efficiency of energy use within our own operations, as well as externally provide products and services that contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change. And as such, ITOCHU will fulfil its social responsibility by promoting responses to climate change.

Recommendations by the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in June 2017 encourage companies to effectively disclose climate-related financial information with consistency, comparability, reliability and clarity to promote appropriate investment decisions by investors. This comes from the observation that climate change related risks and opportunities will increase in the future.
We will utilize these recommendations as indicators to verify our response to climate change.
These recommendations include those that are still being debated and those that require a long-term response. Nevertheless, it is our policy to continue making disclosures about our initiatives.

Main Climate Change Related Risks and Opportunities
Risk Opportunity

Transition Risk

  • Reduction in demand for fossil fuels due to business restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions

Physical Risk

  • Damage to business due to the increase in abnormal weather (e.g., droughts, flooding, typhoons and hurricanes)
  • Increase in renewable energy and other business opportunities which will contribute to alleviating climate change
  • Retention and acquisition of customers by strengthening supply structures that can adapt to abnormal weather

About the TCFD

The TFCD stands for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. It was established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) at the request of the G20 to examine how to disclose climate-related information and how financial institutions should deal with this. The TCFD published its final report in June 2017. With that report, it made recommendations for the way information should be disclosed. The aim of this is to encourage companies to efficiently disclose climate-related financial information with consistency, comparability, credibility and clarity.
ITOCHU considers climate change problems as one of the important challenges facing the world. Therefore, we signed up to support the information disclosure recommendations compiled by the TCFD in May 2019. We are utilizing these recommendations as one of the considerations of our business strategies and portfolio restructuring in light of the degree of relative priority with regards to businesses that need to address these recommendations from within our entire company. Moreover, we are utilizing the scenario analysis in the recommendations of the TCFD. We will also continue to enhance our information disclosure in line with these recommendations.

Governance

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The Sustainability Management Division plans and formulates company-wide action, including measures to tackle climate change, to further sustainability at ITOCHU Corporation, which the Sustainability Chairperson served by the Chief Administrative Officer, finalizes. Meanwhile, the ESG Officers and Managers in each unit carry out sustainability actions. The Sustainability Committee, one of the company's key committees, holds deliberations and makes decisions concerning policy formulation and important matters. In addition to a role in heading the Sustainability Committee, the committee's chair joins meetings of the Board of Directors, the HMC and the Investment Consultative Committee, and also engages in decision-making based on the company's impact on the environment and society by reporting regularly to the Board of Directors to brief them on our promotion of sustainability. We furthermore engage in dialog with stakeholders within and outside the company. One example of this is our regularly convened advisory board. This dialog provides an understanding of what society expects of and desires from the company, which we can then apply to our initiatives at advancing sustainability.

Strategy

ITOCHU considers the climate change problems as one of the important challenges facing the world. Accordingly, we are examining the transition and physical risks concerning climate change. We then utilize scenario analysis of the TCFD recommendations as a tool when examining our business strategies and portfolio reorganization.
We analyze scenarios in the following steps.

  1. Scenario selection
  2. Identification of ITOCHU's businesses conducting scenario analysis
  3. Analysis of the scenarios (Business environment analysis, policies and initiatives in each scenario)

Scenario Analysis

(1) Scenario Selection

We established the two scenarios below with reference to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) when examining scenario analysis.

Scenario 4℃ ＜2℃
Image of society

The policies of countries, such as the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) established in accordance with the Paris Agreement, are implemented. Nevertheless, the average temperature at the end of this century rises by 4℃. This is a society in which there is a high likelihood climate change (e.g., a rise in temperature) will impact business.

The average temperature rise is kept below 2℃ until the end of this century. Bold policies and technological innovation are promoted. This is a society in which social changes due to the transition to a de-carbonized society are highly likely to impact business.
Reference scenarios Transition aspects
  • Stated Policies Scenario (IEA WEO2019)
  • Reference Technology Scenario (IEA ETP2017)
  • Sustainable Development Scenario (IEA WEO2019)
  • 2℃ Scenario (IEA ETP2017)
Physical aspects
  • RCP8.5 (IPCC AR5)
  • RCP2.6 (IPCC AR5)
Risks and opportunities

Risks and opportunities in terms of physical aspects will be more likely to surface

Risks and opportunities in terms of transition aspects will be more likely to surface
  • The IEA WEO 2019 Sustainable Development Scenario is the following scenario: The world works to keep the rise in temperature to less than 2℃ – if possible, 1.5℃. At the same time, this is a scenario in which the targets of everyone being able to use energy and improving air pollution are achieved.

(2) Identification of ITOCHU's Businesses Conducting Scenario Analysis

We have worked to identify the following businesses from all the businesses promoted by ITOCHU. The potential impact on these businesses is large from either transition or physical risks concerning climate change. Moreover, these businesses have a high level of importance in terms of financial affairs.

Identification of Businesses with a Large Transition Risk Impact

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Identification of Businesses with a Large Physical Risk Impact

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When identifying businesses with a large transition risk impact, we organized them according to the level of potential impact on transition risks and importance in terms of financial affairs. We analyzed the coal business and power generation business in the previous fiscal year. Following on from that, we selected the oil and gas upstream development business and conducted scenario analysis on it in this fiscal year.

In addition, when identifying businesses with a large physical risk impact, we organized them according to the level of potential impact on physical risks and importance in terms of financial affairs. We selected the Dole business and pulp business as new businesses subject to scenario analysis in this fiscal year.

The aforementioned five businesses are found in four non-financial sectors (energy, transportation, materials and buildings, and agriculture, food and forest products) that will potentially be greatly impacted by climate change as designated by the TCFD.

(3) Analysis of the Scenarios (Business Environment Analysis, Policies and Initiatives in Each Scenario)

When analyzing scenarios, we identify risks and opportunities in terms of procurement, business operation and demand for each business not only for the short term but also the medium and long term from 2030. We organize and assess the factors with a high level of importance. We identify the high-impact variables in terms of transition and physical aspects for the factors with a high level of importance. Next, we use a financial model reflecting the conditions to analyze the scenarios. We measure the potential impact of climate change in regards to the analysis relating to the level of impact in terms of financial affairs. At the same time, we analyze the level of impact in terms of financial affairs including the effects from measures against risks and for opportunities.

Results of Scenario Analysis

The following gives our business environment awareness and our initiatives to 2030. This takes into account climate change related measures from the results of the analysis on the coal business, power generation business, oil and gas upstream development business, Dole business and pulp business for which we analyzed with the scenarios. We recognized the business environment in both the ＜2℃ and 4℃ scenarios with a base in which reduction initiatives in each country are achieved. Upon that, we formulate initiatives for businesses to set the stage for each scenario and improve our business resilience.

Coal Business

Business Environment under the 4℃ Scenario Business Environment under the 2℃ Scenario
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Under the 2℃ scenario, use of fossil fuels will be reduced as a result of technological innovation and changes in regulatory trends, but demand for high-grade coal, which has a relatively lower environmental impact, will remain at a certain level.
Policy and Initiatives
  • We will not acquire new thermal coal mining interest.
  • Regarding the existing thermal coal mining projects, we will continue to review it and contribute to the development of a sustainable society while responding to the social demands of stable supply of energy to domestic and overseas customers.
  • We will continue to be involved in development of technologies to contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU).

Power Generation Business

Business Environment under the 4℃ Scenario Business Environment under the 2℃ Scenario
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Under both the 2℃ and the 4℃ scenarios, we will maintain at least the current level of income.
Under the 2℃ scenario, we can maintain and grow revenue by increasing the number of new renewable energy plants.
Policy and Initiatives
  • We aim to achieve a renewable energy ratio more than 20% (equity interest basis) by FYE 2031 and will reflect this to the future strategy.
  • We will not develop any new coal-fired power generation business, in part to contribute to the development of a sustainable society.

Oil and Gas Upstream Development Business

Business Environment under the 4℃ Scenario Business Environment under the 2℃ Scenario
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Demand for crude oil is expected to shrink across the world under the 2℃ scenario. Nevertheless, we will be able to increase revenue by capturing the opportunities of the global increase in demand for LNG and the increase in demand for new energies (e.g., biofuels).
Policy and Initiatives
  • We will carefully examine an expansion of our crude oil assets.
  • We will aim to stabilize business by participating in excellent projects. We will then examine investment opportunities in gas projects (e.g., LNG).
  • We will examine a business portfolio that anticipates an increase in demand in the new energies field (e.g., the capture of biofuel and hydrogen related business opportunities).

Dole Business

Business Environment under the 4℃ Scenario Business Environment under the 2℃ Scenario
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We expect climate change (the impact on the amount of harvest per unit area due to the increase in the average temperature) to have the impact of reducing revenue under both the 4℃ and 2℃ scenarios. Nevertheless, we will be able to increase revenue by dispersing risks with diversification of production areas (e.g., Sierra Leone) and by striving to improve our cultivation technologies and cultivation efficiency.
Policy and Initiatives
  • We will diversify production areas (expand production in Sierra Leone).
  • We will increase the yield by researching and selecting varieties and by improving production methods (e.g., by improving seedling cultivation methods).
  • We will contribute to a low-carbon society through the promotion of biogas power generation utilizing pineapple dregs and solar power generation utilizing factory rooftops. We will aim to further improve the Dole brand and product superiority with the support of highly environmentally-conscious consumers.
  • We will implement irrigation as necessary.
  • We will examine production optimization by using drones and other ICT (e.g., early identification of agricultural chemical application points, yield prediction, and timely and accurate fertilization with monitoring).

Pulp Business

Business Environment under the 4℃ Scenario Business Environment under the 2℃ Scenario
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We will increase revenue due to an increase in pulp production output in some afforestation areas where production output is expected to expand under the 4℃ scenario. Nevertheless, our analysis shows that our revenue will decrease due to the impact of the reduction in production output in afforestation areas overall with the rise in the average global temperature.
We will maintain production output at a certain level in afforestation areas with the suppression in the rise of the average temperature under the 2℃ scenario. If the carbon prices are introduced in pulp manufacturing factories using biomass energy, we will be able to curtail costs. In addition, we will be able to increase profit by increasing revenue with an increase in our pulp production output in afforestation areas where production output is expected to expand.
Policy and Initiatives
  • We will examine a selection of varieties to respond to climate change.
  • We will conduct on-site monitoring to examine measures before the impact of climate change becomes significant.

Moreover, we started work in FYE 2020 on organizing climate-related risks and opportunities in our apparel and ICT businesses – businesses which may potentially be affected by transition and physical risks concerning climate change – from the perspective of raising awareness of climate change and promoting our response to it on a company-wide basis. We have identified risk and opportunity factors with a high level of importance in the medium to long term. We plan to work on further analysis toward the next fiscal year.

Apparel Business

Currently, we assume the following will be the risks with a high level of importance: a reduction in the production output of raw materials (e.g., cotton) and an increase in costs due to a rise in emission prices. On the other hand, we assume that we can have expectations for the provision of products responding to climate change (e.g., low-carbon products) in terms of opportunities.

ICT Business

Currently, we assume the following will be the risks with a high level of importance: an increase in costs due to rising emission prices, an increase in power prices because of the introduction of a high carbon tax, an increase in information system facility damage from natural disasters (e.g., typhoons and floods) and a strengthening of CO2 emission regulations in countries and regions accompanying climate change. On the other hand, we assume that we can have expectations for an expansion in the development and spread of energy-saving and highly efficient IT and data analysis technologies and an expansion in investment and lending that will contribute to a suppression of CO2 emissions in terms of opportunities.

Future Plans

In the future, we will conduct analysis from both transition and physical aspects to confirm the impact of climate change on all the businesses of our company. We will then further identify and organize fields where there will be a significant impact. We plan to examine specific measure policies in the future based on the degree of relative priority for businesses for which a response is required from over the whole of ITOCHU – including our eighth company newly established with our existing seven companies.

Risk Management

Please click here for risk management relating to company-wide business including climate change.

Metrics and Targets

ITOCHU sets target values for a reduction in our electricity consumption. The targets are as below. ITOCHU has set a target of reducing our energy consumption by at least 1% on average annually. We are working to reduce our GHG emissions.

  FYE 2020 Results Single Year Target Target for the Year Ended March 2021
Electricity Consumption of Tokyo and Osaka Headquarters, Branches in Japan and Other branches and business facilities in Japan

Reduction of 2.3% compared with FYE 2019 levels

Reduction of at least 1% annually

Reduction of 30% compared with FYE 2011 levels

Reduction of 44% compared with FYE 2011 levels

ITOCHU Group's Clean-tech goals

In overall power generation business, we aim to achieve a renewable energy ratio more than 20% (equity interest basis) by FYE 2031 and will reflect this to the future strategy. (FYE 2020: Renewable energy ratio 13%)

Details are here.

Initiatives

Among the environmental conservation costs disclosed in the environmental accounting, associated with climate change are as follows：

  • Administrative costs of the power generator installed in the Tokyo Headquarters 1,770 thousand yen
  • Research and development expenses for climate change risk aversion (donation to Division of Climate System Research, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo) 500 thousand yen

Initiatives in Business tackling Climate Change

Renewable Energy Related Business

ITOCHU is working to solve social challenges. We are achieving this through business investment in power generation assets utilizing the geothermal, wind power and other renewable energies, and storage batteries business that are expected to grow as a necessary supporter of energy supply in the future. Click here for details on those businesses.

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS)

We recognize that CCS is an essential technology to aim for low carbonization. Therefore, we have participated in investment in Japan CCS Co., Ltd., which is conducting demonstration experiments in Tomakomai, to pursue the possibilities of practical application of CCS. (The cumulative volume of CO2 injected as of the end of June 2020 is approximately 300,000 tons).

Toward Sustainable Plantation Operation in Response to Climate Change

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Banana Field

We acquired the Asian fruits and vegetables business and processed foods business, which supplies canned food and beverages around the world, from Dole Food Company in the U.S. in April 2013.

Since this acquisition, typhoons, drought, and damage from disease and harmful insects have struck the Philippines – the largest production base of major products. The production volume of bananas was 440,000 tons in FYE 2017; this was a 40% decrease compared with before the acquisition. We looked to restore and expand this production volume. To that end, we introduced irrigation facilities for bananas. We also aggregated and expanded farmland and took measures against damage from disease and harmful insects. In addition, we invested in facilities for plantations and reviewed cultivation methods for pineapples to improve productivity. We are also promoting the diversification of production areas to prepare for the risk of unpredictable weather. Furthermore, we have improved management (e.g., the selection and concentration of businesses and products, and the disposal of unprofitable businesses).
In the future, we will aim to become the largest agricultural produce integrator in Asia. We will achieve this by developing a structure to increase production to 800,000 tons of bananas and 1 million tons of pineapples in the Philippines. We believe that people, the environment and society are important resources for the survival and development of the company. Accordingly, DOLE again focused initiatives on activities to contribute to local societies in the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, China, North America and other countries in FYE 2019. For example, we spent approximately 2.5 million dollars to donate textbooks, desks, chairs and PCs to schools in various areas, construct and maintain school buildings, provide scholarships, and supply educational opportunities for children with disabilities. We also provided daily necessities and medical assistance to areas affected by natural disasters, donated blood, held hygiene education and provided food assistance to work on maintaining and promoting health.

Utilization of Solar Power Generation in a Joint Venture with Teys in Australia

Teys Australia Condamine introduced 1,034 solar panels in 2015. This has made it possible to generate approximately 506,000 kWh of power annually. Accordingly, approximately 50% of the power used in this facility comes from renewable energy. The introduction of solar power generation has reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 395 tons. Consequently, a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 49% has been realized compared with before the introduction of solar power generation.
We also procure beef to be slaughtered and processed from Teys – our joint investment partner in Australia. This firm has formed sustainable operations. It extracts methane gas generated in the slaughter process and reuses it as heat for its factory.

Full Switchover to Real CO2-free Electricity at Tokyo Head Office

Details are here.

Initiatives for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Program to Prevent Global Warming

ITOCHU submitted a plan to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to reduce the CO2 emissions in our Tokyo Headquarters by approximately 15% from the reference value (average value from FYE 2003 to FYE 2005) over five years from FYE 2016 to FYE 2020 based on the Ordinance on Environmental Preservation. Our emissions in FYE 2019 were 6,168 t-CO2. This is an approximately 42% reduction compared to the reference value.

The documents we have submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government so far are as follows.

  • In addition to the Tokyo Headquarters, the adjacent commercial facility of Itochu Garden is also subject to the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plans submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Cooperation with Stakeholders

Participation in TCFD Consortium

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In May 2019, ITOCHU Corporation announced its support for the TCFD, which encourages companies to disclose financial information related to climate change. We also participated in the TCFD Consortium established on May 27, 2019 by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of the Environment (MOE), and the Financial Services Agency (FSA) as a body for promoting discussion and deliberation among companies and financial institutions supporting the TCFD mission. By participating in this Consortium, we will engage in the appropriate disclosure of ITOCHU business opportunities and risks associated with climate change.

Initiative Participation (Activities Through Business and Industry Groups)

We are participating in the Global Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Safety — an environment and energy related committee of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). We are working to realize an environmental policy compatible with the economy (e.g., through promotion of voluntary action plans, and measures for global warming, waste and recycling and environmental risks). We are also participating in the Global Environment Committee of the Japan Foreign Trade Council. We are striving to build a low-carbon society, construct a recycling-orientated society, and to support environmental related laws and regulations. Climate change-related targets set out in the Global Environment Committee are as follows.

2030 Reduction Targets for Domestic Business Activities (trading industry)

  • In FYE 2031, we will strive to reduce unit power consumption (Electric power consumption per floor area for the entire company) by 15.7% from FYE 2014 level. (Reestablished July 2018)
  • If we decide the direction regarding such as climate change in various industry groups we participate, we express an opinion in line with our Basic Policy on Sustainability in the decision process, and when it is different from our policy, we will strive to be in line with our policy.

Participation in COOL CHOICE

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ITOCHU participates in the Ministry of the Environment-led COOL CHOICE climate change campaign aimed at realizing a low-carbon society. We are striving to adjust our air conditioning in the summer and winter and to switch off unnecessary electricity. We also conduct environmental conservation activities from the things that all employees can do in their daily lives. For example, we encourage separation of waste in offices and promote recycling.

Performance Data

Scope of Aggregation

○:in scope of aggregation

Energy Consumption GHG Emission
Energy Consumption in the Japanese Bases of ITOCHU Energy Consumption Attributable to Business Facilities Electricity Consumption Heat and Steam Consumption Fuel Consumption GHG Emissions from Business Facilities Scope1 Total Emissions Breakdown by Greenhouse Gas Type (6.5 Gases)
Tokyo headquarters

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Osaka headquarters

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Branches and business facilities in Japan*1 The number of offices including domestic branches:
FYE 2016: 13, FYE 2017: 13, FYE 2018: 11, FYE 2019: 13, FYE 2020: 12

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Group companies in Japan*2 The number of target companies: FYE 2016: 70, FYE 2017: 65, FYE 2018: 208, FYE 2019: 220, FYE 2020: 238

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Overseas offices The number of overseas offices: FYE 2016: 16, FYE 2017: 16, FYE 2018: 15, FYE 2019: 30, FYE 2020: 29

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Overseas group companies*2 The number of target companies: FYE 2016: 44, FYE 2017: 46, FYE 2018: 299, FYE 2019: 282, FYE 2020: 286

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Exclusion Companies expected to be sold within the next five years held for investment management purposes are not included in the scope of the data. Moreover, non-manufacturing site offices with 10 or fewer employees are quantitatively insignificant. Accordingly, they are not included in the scope of the data.
  1. The other business facilities cover business facilities owned or leased by ITOCHU (except facilities for residences).
  2. The group companies in Japan and overseas cover consolidated subsidiaries directly invested in by ITOCHU (as of March 31, 2017) for FYE 2016 to FYE 2017. All consolidated subsidiaries are covered since FYE 2018 (coverage 100%).

Energy Consumption

Energy Consumption in the Japanese Bases of ITOCHU
  FYE 2016 FYE 2017 FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Purchased and consumed non-renewable fuel (Unit:MWh)

805

765

610

525

691
Purchased non-renewable power (Unit:MWh)

25,955

30,282

29,558

29,306

28,747
Other purchased non-renewable energy (e.g., steam, heat and cooling water) (Unit:MWh)

11,286

8,299

8,206

7,605

7,385
Generated renewable energy (solar power generation*) (Unit:MWh)

87

58

58

51

54
Energy consumption cost total (Unit:million yen)

580

564

576

404

537
  • Solar Power Generation
    ITOCHU has installed solar panels on the roof of our Tokyo Headquarters and the roof of the adjacent ITOCHU Garden (ex CI PLAZA). These panels started generating power in March 2010. The power generation capacity of the solar panels installed is a total of 100 kW. This is equivalent to the power for 30 regular houses (calculated at approximately 3.0 kW per house). All the clean energy generated is used in our Tokyo Headquarters. This is equivalent to an amount of power used in lighting 3.5 floors in our Tokyo Headquarters (during instantaneous maximum power generation).

(Unit:GJ)

Energy Consumption Attributable to Business Facilities
  FYE 2016 FYE 2017 FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Tokyo headquarters

129,084

134,076

130,977

127,824

126,135
  • The figures for the Tokyo Headquarters are calculated based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on Environmental Preservation.

Electricity Consumption

Our electricity consumption and CO2 emissions attributable to business facilities in FYE 2016 to FYE 2020 are as follows. We have been introducing energy saving facilities (e.g., air conditioner inverters and desktop LED stands). At the same time, all employees are switching off unnecessary lighting and office machines. We also started a trial of a morning-focused working system for regular employees working in headquarters and branch offices in Japan from October 2013. The formal introduction of this in May 2014 has led to a reduction in our electricity consumption.

(Unit:Thousand kWh)

  FYE 2016 FYE 2017 FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Tokyo headquarters

9,169

9,331

9,200

9,178

9,055
Osaka headquarters

442

434

409

396

384
Branches and business facilities in Japan

1,626

1,561

1,476

1,440

1,319
Total of domestic bases of ITOCHU corporation❖

11,237

11,326

11,084

11,014

10,759
Group companies in Japan

484,755

471,432

798,054

878,025

1,204,830
Overseas offices

3,424

3,087

2,224

2,118

2,098
Overseas group companies

147,665

143,485

500,777

590,175

447,462
Grand total of ITOCHU Group◆

647,081

629,329

1,312,139

1,481,382

1,665,148
  • This data has been calculated based on the Ordinance on Environmental Preservation for the Tokyo Headquarters and based on the Act on the Rational Use of Energy for the Osaka Headquarters, branches in Japan, other branches and business facilities. However, companies expected to be sold within the next five years held for investment management purposes are not included in the scope of the data. Moreover, non-manufacturing site offices with 10 or fewer employees are quantitatively insignificant. Accordingly, they are not included in the scope of the data.

Heat and Steam consumption

Heat and Steam consumption of the entire Group is as follows.

(unit：GJ)

  FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Industrial steam

513,564

494,035

541,932
Non-industrial steam

1,015

889

890
Hot water

8,446

2,965

2,974
Cold water

95,685

69,684

64,090

Fuel Consumption

Fuel consumption of the entire Group is as follows.

FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Kerosene (Unit: kL)

4,001

4,468

2,609
Light oil (Unit: kL)

35,577

39,362

41,790
Gasoline (Unit: kL)

10,774

12,598

12,759
Heavy oil A (Unit: kL)

25,699

18,289

20,432
Heavy oil B and C (Unit: kL)

11,711

16,551

25,942
Coal (Unit: t)

341,192

333,176

315,148
Petroleum gas Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Unit: t)

6,321

6,614

11,966
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Unit: 1,000 m3)

2,454

496

472
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Unit: kL)

–

–

186
Petroleum hydrocarbon gas (Unit: 1,000 m3)

2,247

1,860

340
Combustible
natural gas		 Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (Unit: t)

1,645

3,161

5,698
Other combustible natural gas (Unit: 1,000 m3)

5,762

14,565

14,115
Town gas etc. Town gas (Unit: 1,000 m3)

204,481

33,552

26,692
Other gas (Unit: 1,000 m3)

0.017

158

242

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

GHG Emissions Attributable to Business Facilities

(Unit:t-CO2e)

FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Total of all Japanese bases in ITOCHU❖ Scope1

98

91

151
Scope2

7,174

6,969

6,740
Scope1+2

7,272

7,060

6,891
ITOCHU Group◆ Scope1

1,299,390

1,213,395

1,202,508
Scope2

617,818

771,204

835,916
Scope1+2

1,917,209

1,984,599

2,038,424

(Unit:t-CO2e)

  FYE 2016 FYE 2017 FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Tokyo headquarters

6,229

6,459

6,307

6,168

6,089
Osaka headquarters

235

221

208

172

135
Branches and business facilities in Japan

872

821

757

720

667
Total of domestic bases of ITOCHU corporation❖

7,336

7,501

7,273

7,060

6,891
Group companies in Japan

369,775

340,559

1,280,241

1,174,507

1,526,279
Overseas offices

1,907

2,238

1,674

2,769

1,523
Overseas group companies

102,372

98,427

628,021

800,263

503,731
Grand total of ITOCHU Group◆

481,389

448,725

1,917,209

1,984,599

2,038,424
  • The data has been calculated based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on Environmental Preservation for the Tokyo Headquarters and based on the Act on the Rational Use of Energy and the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures for the Osaka Headquarters, branches in Japan, other branches and business facilities and group companies in Japan. (We have calculated this data by employing the basic emissions coefficients of the power companies.)
  • From FYE 2020, the data has been calculated based on the CO2 conversion coefficient according to the data of 2017 by country of the International Energy Agency (IEA) for overseas offices and overseas group companies. The data before FYE 2019 has been calculated based on the average of the CO2 conversion coefficient between 2010 and 2012.
  • From the FYE 2019 data, 6.5 gases, which are greenhouse gases other than CO2 from energy consumption, are also included. 6.5 gases from group companies that emit more than 3,000 t-CO2e per year are aggregated and disclosed.
  • The calculation of GHG uses the GHG protocol developed by WRI (World Resources Institute) and WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development).

Intensity Figures

(Unit: t-CO2e)

  FYE 2016 FYE 2017 FYE 2018 FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Per employee
(Total of domestic bases of ITOCHU corporation)

1.714

1.737

1.660

1.622

1.596
Per one square meter of all floor space
(Total of domestic bases of ITOCHU corporation)

0.063

0.064

0.063

0.061

0.068
Per MWh of Electricity Consumption
(Grand total of ITOCHU group)

–

0.524

0.506

0.524

0.502
  • The denominators of Intensity figures per one square meter of all floor space are as follows:
    FYE 2016 116,585m2, FYE 2017 116,528m2, FYE 2018 115,905m2, FYE 2019 115,842m2, FYE 2020 101,545 m2

Scope1 Total Emissions Breakdown by Greenhouse Gas Type (6.5 Gases)

(Unit:t-CO2e)

FYE 2019 FYE 2020
Scope1 Total emissions

1,213,395

1,202,508
Energy consumption carbon dioxide(CO2)

1,161,002

1,158,283
Total 6.5 gases (t-CO2e)

52,393

44,225
Breakdown non-energy consumption carbon dioxide (CO2)

0

0
methane (CH4)

0

1,459
dinitrogen monoxide (N2O)

17,932

18,439
hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs)

34,461

24,327
perfluorocarbon (PFCs)

0

0
sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)

0

0
nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

0

0
  • 6.5 gases from group companies that emit more than 3,000 t-CO2e per year are aggregated and disclosed.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions other than CO2 have several tens to several tens of thousands of times of greenhouse effect compared to CO2, and t-CO2e is used as a unit for expressing that greenhouse effect equivalent to CO2.
  • In addition to the above 6.5 gases, Group companies emit 8,967 t-CO2e as HCFCs, etc.

Initiatives Toward Environmental Distribution

ITOCHU is engaged in green distribution to reduce our environmental impact. This is to comply with the Act on the Rational Use of Energy (Energy Conservation Law).

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Distribution

The carbon dioxide emissions generated due to contracted transport as shippers of ITOCHU is as follows.

CO2 Emissions Attributable to Distribution◆
[Graph]

Energy Saving Measures for Distribution

We have established a company-wide common energy saving measures policy as below in regards to energy saving measures for distribution. On top of that, we have formulated concrete measures for each division company.

Transportation Method Selection

Promotion of the use of railroads and domestic shipping
Measures to Improve Transportation Efficiency

Use of transportation with the freight of multiple shippers on one vehicle and mixed loading
Selection of appropriate vehicle types
Increase in the size of vehicles
Optimal transportation routes
Improvement in the loading ratio
Cooperation with Freight Transportation Operators and Recipients of Freight

Review of transportation plans and frequency
Concrete Measures
  1. Transportation Method Selection
    • We will survey and analyze the conditions of long-distance truck transportation. We will then consider a change to the transportation method from business that can be switched to railroad and domestic shipping transportation that has a relatively low environmental impact.
  2. Measures to Improve Transportation Efficiency
    • We will survey the conditions of transportation. We will then consider the selection of appropriate vehicle types and the selection of appropriate transportation routes to further improve loading efficiency and to reduce the energy consumption rate.
  3. Cooperation with Freight Transportation Operators and Recipients of Freight
    • We have decided to check the initiatives toward environmental distribution with internal criterion concerning the appointment of distribution companies. We recommend the appointment of certified companies.
    • We are building a cooperative system together with our suppliers in addition to distribution companies to realize (1) and (2) above.

Independent Assurance

Independent Assurance Report (1.5MB)[PDF]: The data below marked with a ❖ is independently assured through KPMG AZSA Sustainability Co., Ltd. This assurance conforms to the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 and 3410 of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).
❖: Total electricity consumption and total CO2 emissions attributable to the domestic bases of ITOCHU corporation (business facilities of the Tokyo Headquarters, the Osaka Headquarters, branches in Japan, domestic branches and other business facilities), and the waste volume, waste non-recycled, waste recycled, recycling rate, water consumption, gray water production volume and wastewater volume for the Tokyo Headquarters.

Independent Assurance Report (1.5MB)[PDF]: The data below marked with a ◆ is independently assured through KPMG AZSA Sustainability Co., Ltd. This assurance conforms to the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 and 3410 of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB).
◆: Total electricity consumption and GHG emissions attributable to ITOCHU Group in total, and CO2 emissions attributable to distribution of ITOCHU Corporation.