We have set "Conserving resources and energy, and promoting the introduction of renewable energy" as a materiality action plan. The plan includes a KPI of achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions of 50% or more by fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2013, and we are proactively working toward this. Concrete measures undertaken by Maxell Group as part of plant electricity-saving measures include visualizing electricity consumption patterns to reduce wasteful electricity usage, improving operational efficiency through demand management at facilities, updating air conditioning systems, switching to LED lighting, and planting of green walls. In fiscal 2022, the Kobuchizawa Works, Kyoto Works, and Ono Works began solar power generation for in-house consumption. In fiscal 2023, the Kyoto Works generated 256 MWh, while the Ono Works generated 734 MWh. We also started purchasing non-fossil certificates in fiscal 2022. These efforts allowed the Group to exceed the "Renewable energy ratio of 10% by fiscal 2030" KPI in fiscal 2023, and we therefore set a target of "Renewable energy ratio of 15% by fiscal 2030" as a new KPI.
Our domestic CO2 emissions in fiscal 2023 rose by 11% from the previous year, while overseas emissions dropped by 7%, leading to an overall rise of 3% across the Group as a whole (down 42% compared to fiscal 2013). The reason for the rise within Japan was the significant worsening of the CO2 emission factor of our main contracted electricity company. In the future, we will continue to reduce electric power through energy-saving activities, introduce solar power generation for in-house consumption, and increase our percentage of non-fossil certificates. In addition to solar power generation for in-house consumption, the Ono Works is also selling electricity generated with its solar power facilities. In fiscal 2023, 1,382 MWh of electricity was generated for this purpose, contributing to the prevention of global warming.
(Unit: kt-CO2/year)
Domestic
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Scope1
23.5
21.7
20.3
20.9
19.6
Scope2
42.7
40.4
46.5
28.4
35.0
Total
66.2
62.1
66.8
49.3
54.7
Overseas
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Scope1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.9
Scope2
38.5
38.5
36.8
36.4
34.0
Total
39.5
39.5
37.9
37.4
34.9
Data Coverage: figures for the entire Maxell Group
Reduction of CO2 Emissions Including Scope 3
Maxell Group calculates total CO2 emissions across the entire supply chain, including Scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions refer to indirect emissions other than Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. For emissions calculations, starting from fiscal 2018, we aggregate and disclose performance data in accordance with the "Basic Guidelines on Accounting for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Throughout the Supply Chain" issued by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
(Unit: kt-CO2/year)
Scope3
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
1.Products/services purchased
191.6
190.4
194.6
155.0
218.5
2.Capital goods
22.9
40.5
10.9
13.2
19.1
3.Fuel and energy related activities not included in Scope 1 and 2
8.1
7.4
11.0
11.1
14.1
4.Upstream transportation/distribution
2.1
1.9
3.7
3.5
11.1
5.Waste generated in operation
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.0
4.1
6.Business trip
1.6
0.9
0.7
1.0
1.3
7.Commuting of employees
1.6
1.4
1.4
1.3
2.0
8.Upstream leased assets
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.Downstream transportation/distribution
1.8
1.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.Processing of products sold
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.Use of products sold
374.5
423.5
39.2
3.8
5.2
12.Disposal of products sold
48.6
43.6
45.5
38.4
36.4
13.Downstream leased assets
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.Franchises
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
15.Investments
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Scope3
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total
653.9
712.0
308.0
228.3
311.7
Data coverage: Values for Maxell and Maxell Frontier until FY2022, and values for the entire Maxell Group from FY2023 onwards. (Unit: kt-CO2/year)
Transport-related Energy Intensity Per Production
Since Maxell Group offers a wide range of products, we monitor the transport-related energy intensity per production at each manufacturing base. In fiscal 2024, the total figure for all manufacturing bases decreased by 9% compared to the previous fiscal year.
Fiscal Year
Production amount (million yen)
Usage (ten thousand ton-km)
Intensity (ton-km/million yen)
2020
60,112
910
151
2021
58,186
1,014
174
2022
51,919
958
184
2023
53,008
903
170
2024
57,641
890
154
Data coverage: Maxell Only
Waste Reduction and Recycling
With regard to conserving resources as part of our materiality action plan, our recent focus has been on measures for waste plastic as an environmental issue, and we are investigating chemical/materials recycling. Furthermore, at Maxell Group, we are working toward "Zero emissions"*1 by ensuring thorough waste separation, promoting the monetization of valuable waste through information sharing at each business site, and expanding and enhancing in-house intermediate processing.
For example, in the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process, we separate paint residue and end cuts generated in each production step, and deliver these to appropriate companies to recycle copper, aluminum, and rare metals such as cobalt (31 tons in fiscal 2024). At the Ono Works, we also recycle silver oxide (2.1 tons in fiscal 2024). The amount of valuable waste generated domestically in fiscal 2024 was down 9% compared to the previous fiscal year. As a result of our intensified recycling efforts, domestic manufacturing bases achieved zero emissions for the 24rd consecutive year. *1 Criteria for zero emissions (criteria for each business site): Final waste disposal volume less than 5 tons/year and final disposal ratio less than 1%/year
Situation of wastes, etc.
(Unit: t/year)
Domestic
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Recycling
3,109
2,959
3,679
3,534
3,782
Intermediate Processing
3,552
3,456
3,383
3,095
3,382
Final Disposal Volume
4
3
2
3
3
Total Emissions
4,964
4,975
4,594
4,291
4,351
Overseas
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Recycling
1,036
790
604
662
927
Final Disposal Volume
203
251
199
238
253
Total Emissions
1,234
1,234
1,042
1,161
1,213
Data coverage: Values for the entire Maxell Group
Specified Hazardous Wastes generated
(Unit: t/year)
Specified Hazardous Industrial Wastes
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
PCB
1.4
0.0
0.0
36.0
0.0
Data Coverage: figures for the entire Maxell Group
Waste Intensity per production
(Unit:t/million yen×10-4)
Domestic/overseas plants
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Waste Intensity per production
498
559
532
512
586
Water Consumption Reduction Initiatives
Maxell Group strives to reduce water consumption in manufacturing processes and conserve water resources through reutilization and other practices. For instance, at the Kyoto Works, a system to recover and reuse 100% of drain water was introduced in response to increased steam usage due to the increased production of lithium-ion battery electrodes. This resulted in a saving of 40 km3 of water annually. In Maxell Group's domestic business sites, there was a 14% increase in water usage compared to the previous fiscal year, and at overseas Group's business sites where water risk *2 is high, there was a 16% reduction compared to the previous fiscal year. Overall, Maxell Group achieved a 7% increase in water usage compared to the previous fiscal year. *2 Water Risk Atlas (Aqueduct) Business Activities in Water-Stressed Areas Maxell's overseas group factories are located in China (3 sites), Malaysia (1 site), and Indonesia (1 site). According to the Water Risk Atlas (Aqueduct), these five sites face higher water risks, including baseline water stress and flood risk, compared to domestic sites. Consequently, these overseas factories set annual targets for water consumption intensity and actively work on reducing it.
Water consumption (Water intake volume/Water discharge volume)
(Unit: Km3/year)
Water Intake Volume (input volume) Domestic
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Water Supply System
203
198
218
239
Industrial Water
48
35
29
33
Groundwater
513
398
371
434
Rainwater
0
0
0
0
Total Input Volume
693
764
631
619
706
Water Intake Volume (input volume) Overseas
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Water Supply System
172
158
161
136
Industrial Water
13
14
18
15
Groundwater
0
0
0
0
Rainwater
0
0
0
0
Total Input Volume
150
186
172
178
151
Water Discharge Volume Domestic
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Public Water
157
132
147
156
Water Sewerage System
582
480
461
543
Total Discharge Volume
662
739
612
609
699
Water Discharge Volume Overseas
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Public Water
0
0
0
0
Water Sewerage System
181
167
173
145
Total Discharge Volume
150
181
167
173
145
Data Coverage: Up to FY2020 figures for Maxell and Maxell Frontier only. FY2021 onwards, figures for the entire Maxell Group
Business Activities in Water-Stressed Areas
Maxell's overseas group factories are located in China (3 sites), Malaysia (1 site), and Indonesia (1 site). According to the Water Risk Atlas (Aqueduct), these five sites face higher water risks, including baseline water stress and flood risk, compared to domestic sites. Consequently, these overseas factories set annual targets for water consumption intensity and actively work on reducing it.
Chemical Substance Management During Production
The Maxell Group manages and strives to reduce the amount of chemical substances handled, emitted, and transferred during the manufacturing process.
Water Intensity per production
(Unit:m3/million yen×10-2)
Domestic/overseas plants
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Water Intensity per production
713
782
726
755
795
(Unit: t/year)
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
PRTR Law Substances
Handling Amount of PRTR Substances (Domestic)
1,295
1,480
1,403
1,622
1,253
Emission Amount of PRTR Substances (Domestic)
81
98
80
72
67
Transfer Amount of PRTR Substances (Domestic)
169
192
154
157
160
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
Atmospheric Emission Amount of VOC (Domestic)
131
131
95
130
130
Atmospheric Emission Amount of VOC (Overseas)
13.7
10.2
21.5
21.0
10.8
Air Pollutants
SOx Emission Amount
0.7
0.2
0.2
0.6
0.3
NOx Emission Amount
19.2
10.7
10.9
9.7
11.1
Water Pollutants
BOD Emission Amount
10.4
11.6
10.1
7.4
4.9
COD Emission Amount
1.4
1.6
2.0
0.9
1.3
Data Scope: Maxell, Maxell Frontier Note: PRTR Law revised in 2023
Environmental Fines and Penalties in Fiscal Year
In 2017, our factory in China received administrative guidance and a fine for exceeding wastewater pollutant concentration standards. Since then, we have installed wastewater treatment facilities and have had no further issues. Learning from this experience, we have implemented sufficient measures to prevent legal violations, and no violations have occurred to date.
(Fiscal Year)
Environmental Violations
Unit
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Violation Cases (Fines over $10,000)
Cases
0
0
0
0
0
Fine Cases (Fines over $10,000)
Yen
0
0
0
0
0
Year-end Environmental Liability Amount
Yen
0
0
0
0
0
Data Coverage: figures for the entire Maxell Group
ISO 14001 Certification
(Fiscal Year)
ISO 14001 Certification Rate
Unit
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Maxell Group Production and Sales Sites
%
56%
56%
56%
51%
51%
Data Coverage: figures for the entire Maxell Group The acquisition rate decreased due to the integration of domestic sales offices in FY2023