Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Achieves Carbon Neutrality in Fiscal Year 2024
Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co. Ltd. (HIES) and its group companies (which include Hitachi Global Air Power, the maker of Sullair air compressors) just accomplished a big goal. The companies announced they have achieved carbon neutrality (Scope 1 *1 and 2 *2) across their global business operations in fiscal year 2024 (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025). This is six years ahead of its 2030 target.
According to the press release, HIES has driven major energy-saving efforts at its factories and offices worldwide — keeping in line with its slogan, “Leading a Sustainable Future.” These efforts have included:
- upgrading equipment to high-efficiency transformers and air compressors
- converting to LED lighting
- installing solar power generation facilities
- sourcing renewable energy
“We are proud to achieve carbon neutrality (Scopes 1 and 2),” said John Randall, president and CEO of HIES. “This reflects our commitment to sustainability — not only in our operations but also in helping our customers improve their energy efficiency. We will continue to develop connected and sustainable industrial products and solutions to contribute to a more sustainable society.”
From the press release:
HIES is part of Hitachi Group’s long-term environmental vision, Hitachi Environmental Innovation 2050*3, which aims for net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by fiscal 2050. This target is a science-based net-zero target*4 aligned with the 1.5°C goal set by the Paris Agreement and has been certified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)*5, an international climate change initiative. While the HIES Group’s targets have not undergone individual verification, they are incorporated into the Hitachi Group’s net-zero target and are being verified by the SBTi process.
The Path to Carbon Neutrality
As part of its goals, HIES Group has been advancing initiatives to reduce GHG emissions by implementing energy-saving measures, including:
- introducing renewable energy power generation facilities
- procuring renewable energy from external sources (purchased and certified)
- utilizing carbon offsets
HIES Group said that by the 2024 fiscal year, it had achieved carbon neutrality at 54 sites. These included domestic and overseas business sites, factories, service stations and offices, which account for more than 95 percent of its group’s GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2).
The company also mentioned plans to reduce the offset ratio in 2024 to 17 percent or less by 2030.
*1 Direct GHG emissions from fuel use and industrial processes at our own facilities (Including SF6, PFC, HFC, N2O, NF3 and CH4. Excluding emissions from vehicle use outside the business sites.)
*2 Indirect GHG emissions associated with the use of electricity and heat purchased by our company (CO2 emissions from electricity consumption are calculated using a market-based calculation method.)
*3 https://www.hitachi.com/sustainability/environment-vision/index.html
*4 GHG emission reduction targets consistent with the Paris Agreement and based on scientific evidence
*5 An international initiative in which companies and financial institutions set GHG emission reduction targets based on scientific evidence and have their validity reviewed and certified.
Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.
