The vision aims to support the Paris Agreement and contribute toward creating a carbon-free society with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The Brother Group will aim to achieve carbon neutrality* in all business operations and minimize CO2 emissions from the entire value chain by 2050 so as to contribute toward creating a carbon-free society.
- Achieve overall zero CO2 emissions from the Brother Group
Main efforts: Introduction of solar power generation, renewal of air conditioning facilities, renewal and adoption of energy-saving for production facilities, etc.
Progress Towards CO2 Emission Reduction Targets
In the Brother Group Environmental Vision 2050, the medium-term target for FY2030 is set as achieving 65% reduction from the FY2015 level for Scopes 1 and 2, and 30% reduction from the FY2015 level for categories 1, 11, and 12 of Scope 3. In FY2020, we achieved 41.6% reduction from the FY2015 level for Scopes 1 and 2, and 15.8% reduction for categories 1, 11, and 12 of Scope 3.
Medium-term target for FY2030*
Scope
- As the method of calculation for Scope 3's C1, C11, and C12 was changed in 2021, verification was carried out going back to FY2015 (base year).
- The medium-term target for FY2030 has been recognized as a target based on scientific evidence by the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative, an international initiative established to help achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Scopes 1, 2, and 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
In FY2020, through reducing the use of solvents containing greenhouse gases which has been undertaken since FY2018, we were able to significantly reduce Scopes 1 and 2 CO2 emissions and the FY2030 medium-term target for Scopes 1 and 2 were achieved 10 years in advance. In FY2021, revising the target upward, we will take on the challenge of achieving 65% reduction from the FY2015 level. At the same time, there are also plans to revise upward the 2°C target set by the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative, an international initiative established to help achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Regarding Scope 3, we continue to work on improving the energy-saving performance of products, and achieved a significant reduction of 15.8% for categories 1, 11, and 12 compared to FY2015. We will continue to take on challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with procurement, development, manufacturing, logistics, sales, and service working as one.
Scope 1, 2, and 3
These are components making up greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the supply chain. Dividing into three categories minimizes overlapping calculations and allows specific emissions to be identified.
Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions by business operators
Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions resulting from use of electricity, heat, and steam supplied by other entities
Scope 3: Indirect GHG emissions other than Scope 1 and 2 (emissions by other entities related to the activities of business operators)
Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to ISO 14064 from FY2017 through FY2019
| Category | CO2 emissions in t-CO2 equivalent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | FY2019 | FY2020 | |||
| Scope 1: Direct emissions | 72,819 | 67,068 | 21,622 | 17,363 | 18,356 | ||
| Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy use | Location-based | 123,093 | 122,220 | 120,199 | 107,833 | 98,508 | |
| Market-based | 122,244 | 118,524 | 122,599 | 107,285 | 98,685 | ||
| Scope 3: Other indirect emissions | 3,001,247 | 3,522,096 | 3,293,722 | 2,809,046 | 2,752,567 | ||
| C1 | Purchased goods and services | 1,396,926 | 1,613,936 | 1,559,654 | 1,351,272 | 1,302,661 | |
| C2 | Capital goods | 59,849 | 68,872 | 57,780 | 56,658 | 75,897 | |
| C3 | Fuel- and energy-related activities | 10,305 | 11,334 | 12,247 | 10,955 | 10,987 | |
| C4 | Upstream transportation and distribution | 86,629 | 70,416 | 83,395 | 80,691 | 103,148 | |
| C5 | Waste generated in operations | 3,357 | 3,452 | 2,960 | 3,680 | 4,138 | |
| C6 | Business travel | 4,895 | 4,528 | 4,414 | 3,663 | 1,558 | |
| C7 | Employee commuting | 14,326 | 15,689 | 15,557 | 14,247 | 14,698 | |
| C8 | Upstream leased assets | 4,312 | 7,211 | 6,288 | 5,176 | 4,642 | |
| C9 | Downstream transportation and distribution | 18,238 | 16,017 | 16,534 | 15,312 | 14,671 | |
| C10 | Processing of sold products | - | - | - | - | - | |
| C11 | Use of sold products | 1,153,210 | 1,426,816 | 1,240,830 | 998,441 | 968,174 | |
| C12 | End of life treatment of sold products | 247,470 | 282,000 | 292,281 | 267,207 | 250,107 | |
| C13 | Downstream leased assets | 1,729 | 1,729 | 1,742 | 1,742 | 1,886 | |
| C14 | Franchises | - | 97 | 39 | - | - | |
| C15 | Investments | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Total of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 | Location-based | 3,197,159 | 3,711,384 | 3,435,543 | 2,934,242 | 2,869,431 | |
| Market-based | 3,196,310 | 3,707,688 | 3,437,943 | 2,933,694 | 2,869,608 | ||
The sources of emission factors for the location-based method are as follows:
- IEA - EMISSION FACTORS 2019
- GHG Protocol, Calculation Tools
- DEFRA
Scope
- As the method of calculation for Scope 3's C1, C11, and C12 was changed in 2021, verification was carried out going back to FY2015 (base year).
External Assurance
LR Independent Assurance Statement 2020 [PDF/570KB]
Efforts to Reduce CO2 Emissions in Offices
Amid rising international interest in achieving a society that balances economic development and environmental conservation, the Brother Group aims to contribute toward a sustainable society by creating and promoting a virtuous cycle of business growth and environmental harmony.
In particular, BROTHER INDUSTRIES (U.K.) LTD. (BIUK) and BROTHER INDUSTRIES (SLOVAKIA) s.r.o. (BISK) have started purchasing electricity derived from renewable energy and are advancing activity plans to achieve carbon neutrality.
BIUK is working toward attaining certification for carbon neutrality.
To improve environmental performance while balancing the reduction of CO2 emissions and utility costs, BISK actively uses natural energy. Since December 2020, BISK has been operating an energy system that combines an air conditioning system using heat from groundwater and a solar power generation system. The air conditioning system that uses groundwater heat utilized a well that was originally within BISK's premises.
The energy system at BISK was certified as a project applicable for subsidy from EU's green energy initiative.
In Slovakia, there is a significant difference between temperatures in winter and summer, and a lot of gas energy has been consumed for heating and cooling in the past. With the introduction of this system, the driving force for air conditioning has been switched from gas to natural energy, allowing a large reduction in CO2 emitted during the consumption of gas and significantly contributing toward reducing environmental impact.
The pump for drawing groundwater used in this system is operated using energy generated from solar power, contributing toward reducing CO2 emissions throughout the year. Excess energy from solar power generation is used at the factory.
The great improvement in air conditioning system allows an even more comfortable workplace environment to be provided to employees. It also contributes to the SDG initiatives being advanced by BISK aimed at becoming the company with the highest work satisfaction in the region.
Fundamentally revising the energy procurement and usage method, which relied on external sources in the past, has allowed energy to be stably generated and used within the factory. This has allowed the geopolitical risk from international trends in politics and economics to be met using resilience in the energy system.
Solar power generation system which makes use of the roof
Heat exchange unit that converts geothermal energy to use for heating/cooling
Heating and cooling unit for the factory and office
Contribution to the Reduction of CO2 Emissions in Products
The Brother Group has been promoting efforts towards reducing CO2 emissions in all parts in the manufacturing process, including development, procurement, production, sales, and logistics, as an activity that is directly related to its business. However, in order to curb climate change (global warming) and achieve a decarbonized society, it is necessary to work to reduce CO2 emissions in society as a whole. For example, by reducing CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle through the improvement of energy-saving performance of Brother products and services, we can reduce the amount of electricity consumed by our customers and contribute to the reduction of their CO2 emissions. When this happens, we define and visualize the CO2 emissions reduced at customer sites through Brother products and services as the amount of contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
We will continue to promote the reduction of CO2 emissions from the Brother Group while expanding our contribution to CO2 emissions by providing Brother products and services that emit less CO2 throughout their lifestyle than before, as well as contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions in society as a whole.
Actual Amount of Contribution to the Reduction of CO2 Emissions
We calculated the amount of contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions for machine tools in the Machinery Business in FY2021.
![Amount of contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions for machine tools [Total from 2016 to 2020] (graph)](/-/media/global/sustainability/img/eco/co2/co2-mt-en.ashx)
Method of Calculation of Amount of Contribution to the Reduction of CO2 Emissions (based on internal research)
Compared Brother’s product (SPEEDIO No. 30 spindle machine) to competitor’s products, calculated the reduction of CO2 emissions that could be achieved through improving energy-saving performance and other means.
- Calculation formula (competitor product CO2 emissions – Brother product CO2 emissions) x number of products sold (estimated 10 years of product use)
- CO2 emissions from competitor products are calculated based on data obtained by running general No. 30 and No. 40 spindle machines based on Brother’s scenarios with a processing program developed by Brother (No. 30 and No. 40 spindle machines refers to the size of the tool attachment area and are machine tool industry terms that represent product categories)
- The amount of reduction contribution is based on Brother’s original scenarios and differs from the actual reduction
Examples of CO2 Reduction
Energy-saving performance of Brother's products with customers and the environment in mind
HL-L5000D's power consumption per week is 1.764 kWh/week. This is 16% lower than the previous model, and a 26% reduction from the model before the last.
Brother continues to strive untiringly as a company delivering better products that are friendly to the environment.
- Figures calculated using the TEC test procedure.
Thinking about the environment from the perspective of electrical energy—toward a future with widespread use of hydrogen
Toward the development of fuel cell systems, Brother has undertaken many years of fuel cell research while pursuing the potential of hydrogen.
There are still many issues in further widening the use of hydrogen. However, the development of this technology was a steady step into the future for Brother.
