We identify and calcurate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our own business activities (SCOPE 1 and SCOPE 2) and indirect emissions from our business activities (SCOPE 3).
In the CDP^*1 Climate Change Survey, the company was awarded a 'B score' for four consecutive years from FY2020, and in the Supplier Engagement Assessment in FY2023, the company received the highest rating of 'A score' and was selected as a 'Supplier Engagement Leader' for the first time. In addition, in May 2023, we were listed for the second time as one of the top 275 performers (including 130 companies from Japan) in the Asia-Pacific Climate Leaders survey, done in partnership with the Financial Times in the UK and German data provider Statista.
In July 2023, the ESPEC Group's 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets received SBT (Science Based Targets) certification from the international SBT Initiative^*2.
As one of the strategies in the Progressive Plan 2025, the company's medium-term management plan that started in FY2022, the 8th Medium-Term Environmental Plan (FY2022-2025) has been formulated to strengthen its global warming countermeasures and biodiversity conservation activities.
In the future, we will continue to carry out further energy-saving activities in our manufacturing processes and at our offices, and will actively introduce renewable energy, increase energy savings in our products, and take other action in order to reduce GHG emissions throughout the supply chain.

*1 An international Non Governmental Organization (NGO) that investigates, evaluates, and discloses information about the environmental programs of corporations and other entities

*2 An international initiative that encourages firms to set scientifically-grounded targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions so that the goals of the Paris Agreement may be achieved. Jointly managed by CDP, which is an NGO involved in environmental information disclosure, UNGC (United Nations Global Compact), WRI (World Resources Institute), and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).

Switching to renewable energy at all offices in Japan

ESPEC is actively introducing renewable energy, and completed the switch to renewable energy for power at all offices in Japan (excepting some rental properties) by the end of FY 2021. As a result, 99% or more of the power used (kWh) by the group in Japan is renewable energy. Solar power generating systems have been installed at the Fukuchiyama Plant (Training Center) and Kobe R&D Center (Testing Building). The amount of power generated at these two sites in FY 2022 was 94,000 kWh.

Efforts to reduce GHG emissions at suppliers

We have requested that our suppliers reduce SCOPE 1+2 emissions by 20% by FY 2025, and we are working with them to achieve the goal together through activities such as study sessions on how to reduce GHG emissions. We also created a supplier environmental contribution recognition program to recognize suppliers that have reduced their GHG emissions, and held the first award ceremony in June 2023. In recognition of these efforts, we were given the highest rating-an A score-at the FY 2022 Supplier Engagement Ratings conducted by CDP, and were selected for the first time as a Supplier Engagement Leader.