Combating Global Warming

To help prevent global warming, the SUMCO Group identifies both external and internal challenges to preventing climate change based on the Company's business goals/Environmental Policies and the needs and expectations of related stakeholders. In this way, the Group determines risks and opportunities related to these external/internal issues and needs/expectations.
Based on these, we resolve and implement year-long initiatives targeting climate change issues that take into account the risks and opportunities for each department, report the results to Environmental Management Officer, evaluate and analyze the results at meetings of the Environmental Management Committee, and as necessary, revise these risks and opportunities.
To look at a specific example: For the production of silicon wafer, the SUMCO Group makes every effort to streamline production and promote rationalization in order to reduce electric power consumption. When it comes time to update production and utility facilities, we replace them with energy-saving and high-efficiency alternatives. In offices, lighting is turned off during lunchtime and other breaks, and air conditioners are set at a reasonable temperature to save energy. At the Noda Plant, we cut electric power usage by upgrading coolers, changing over to LED lighting, and other measures.
In Japan, the SUMCO Group also has registered with the Environmental Reporting Platform Development Pilot Project of the Ministry of the Environment. This undertaking encourages the disclosure of environmental information and dialog among parties including companies and investors. It is contributing toward the creation of a sustainable society by helping to ensure that companies actively engaged in environmental activities are properly recognized for their efforts and gain investor funding support as a result.
In 2022, major investment in CO2 reduction totaled 889 million yen.

CO2 Emissions (Scope 1+2)
(SUMCO Group)

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CO2 Emissions per Silicon Wafer (sales)
(SUMCO Group)

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Cumulative Reduction of CO2 Emissions
(SUMCO Group)

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Electric Power Consumption
(SUMCO Group)

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Electric Power Consumption per Silicon Wafer
(sales) (SUMCO Group)

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Efforts to Introduce Renewable Energy

Investment in Clean Technologies (such as Solar Power Generation, etc.)

We have installed 2.3MW of solar power generation equipment at our Kyushu Factory (Kubara, Imari), and we use and sell renewable energy. Upon replacing production or utility equipment, we also adopt energy-saving or high-efficiency equipment and aim to curtail energy consumption through LED lighting.
We are considering the introduction of renewable energy (green electricity) in the future, and will contribute to the further reduction of CO2 emissions.

Procurement of Non-Fossil Electricity (such as J-Credit and Non-Fossil Certificates, etc.)

The SUMCO Group has started introducing procurement of non-fossil electricity to achieve the goals for goals for carbon neutral set in 2021. With this introduction, the Group's procurement of non-fossil electricity input in CY2022 will be 1.61GWh, which is expected to contribute to a reduction of approximately 480t/year.

SUMCO Group Renewable Energy Introduction Results

　 Unit Last year
(2022)
Renewable electricity GWh 1.74
Non-renewable electricity 1,556
Total 1,558
Renewable energy ratio ％ 0.11
 （Ratio of renewable electricity）

Internal carbon pricing（ICP）system

The SUMCO Group has introduced an Internal Carbon Pricing (ICP) system from January 2022 in order to achieve both reduction of CO2 emissions and business growth. We will convert CO2 emissions into costs and use them as one of the judgment criteria for environmental investment to promote the reduction of CO2 emissions and energy conservation.

CO2 Reduction through Modal Shift to Ship Transport in the Field of Logistics

CO2 Reduction through Modal Shift to Ship Transport
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SUMCO used to rely solely on airfreight for the transportation of silicon wafers to overseas markets. However, to reduce both CO2 emissions and transportation costs, we have been promoting a modal shift to ship transport for some of our products since 2009, taking into account factors affected by longer transportation lead time and changes in the transportation environment. We conduct tests before switching to ship transport to confirm that the quality of products is not affected, as well as consulting with customers.

Climate Initiative

SUMCO has endorsed the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) declaration to "join the global frontline for decarbonization from Japan" and has been participating since April 2023.
JCI is a network of companies, local governments, NGOs, and other organizations in Japan that are actively working to combat climate change.

Toward SBT(Science Based Targets) certification

The SUMCO Group submitted a commitment letter to the SBT Initiative*1,an organization that certifies GHG*2 emission reduction targets set by the Paris Agreement, "Science Based Targets (SBT)*3", and it was accepted.
Going forward, we will formulate a reduction plan for Scope 3 in addition to Scope 1 and 2. Once our SBT have been approved, we will actively encourage our suppliers to reduce GHG emissions.

  • *1 SBT Initiative (SBTi)
    A joint initiative by CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), UN Global Compact, and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). An organization that defines and promotes science-based best practices for setting GHG emissions reduction targets and independently evaluates corporate targets.
  • *2 GHG
    Greenhouse Gas
  • *3 Science-Based Targets (SBT)
    This is a GHG emission reduction target that is consistent with the level required by the Paris Agreement, and is set for the next 5 to 10 years.