Total GHG emissions in fiscal 2018 amounted to 437,000 tons, all of which were CO₂. Emissions in Japan totaled 159,000 tons, while emissions outside of Japan totaled 278,000 tons.
Electricity accounted for 92% of energy used, with fuel accounting for 8%.

Following the establishment of Scope 3 criteria in 2011, the GHG Protocol* requires companies disclose information on CO₂ emissions not only for our own business activities but also for the entire supply chain. Fujikura continued to perform a simple calculation for all Scope 3 categories of the GHG Protocol in fiscal 2018.

Fujikura saw its CO2 emissions increase 1.0% compared to the base year of fiscal 2013 because total emissions amounted to 110,000 tons due to increased capacity of fiber optic manufacturing facilities at the Sakura Works and reorganization of our power cable business. However, we actively invested in energy conservation, including improvements to manufacturing facilities, improvements and upgrades to air conditioning for offices and clean rooms, replacement of factory utilities with energy efficient types, and the replacement of mercury bulbs with LED at factories.

In addition, our headquarters and R&D center switched electricity to hydroelectric power, reducing CO2 emissions by around 3,300 tons annually or 3.0% of total emissions. The headquarters building now produces net zero CO2 emissions associated with energy usage.

The number of sites in Japan decreased following a restructuring of the Group’s operations, resulting in CO2 emissions totaling 67,000 tons, which is 3.0% above the base year of fiscal 2013. However, we continue to promote energy conservation through improvements to manufacturing facilities, the shift to energy efficient air compressors, upgrading of air conditioning, and switching factory lighting to LED.

As a result of these initiatives, the four Group companies were named Excellent Energy-Saving Companies (S class) by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy per the Class Ranking Based on Energy-Saving in Factories and Workplaces Law Bulletin (FY 2017 edition).

The Group’s CO2 emissions outside of Japan increased to 278,000 tons, but the CO2 emissions intensity was reduced 7.2% compared to last year thanks to improvements in productivity and other areas.

Our target was to lower energy intensity associated with logistics activities by 1% compared to the previous fiscal year (41.2 KL/kilotons). The actual figure was 41.6 KL/kilotons, beating the target. We improved load factor through such efforts as eliminating pallets used to carry rough drawing wire.

In addition, we continue to promote the efficient use of resources and are moving ahead with the reuse of packaging material and wooden drums. Moreover, we are now actively using the two-level loading jig developed to increase load factor (official name: power cable drum pallet).

As a group of companies that is mindful of the environment, the Fujikura Group participates in the COOL CHOICE campaign for preventing global warming ahead of 2030 being implemented by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment. We are implementing active initiatives under this campaign. In addition, we also participate in the energy conservation and Cool Biz campaigns in the summer and Warm Biz campaign in the winter.

The Fujikura Group is promoting the use of LED lighting. We have been working to changeover lighting at each of works in Sakura, Suzuka, and Numazu from mercury to LED bulbs by taking advantage of government subsidies. Looking ahead, we will continue to changeover from mercury to LED lighting systematically ahead of the 2020 regulations following the conclusion of the Minamata Treaty on Mercury. At the same time, we will transition to LED bulbs mainly in ceiling lighting to save electricity and lower CO₂ emissions.

The Sakura Works improved the energy efficiency of air conditioning used for the clean room manufacturing fiber optics, which operates day and night throughout the year. Conventionally, water-cooling package air conditioners were subjected to different burdens and changing coolant temperatures based on the operating status of manufacturing facilities and the outside air temperature. Now temperature sensors have been installed in the coolant recycling system to monitor the temperature of coolant and we developed a technology for controlling the circulation pump to keep the coolant at a constant temperature.