Eco-Logistics
Preventing Global Warming
Promote JIT Activities in Logistics
The Group has been promoting an in-house project for improving logistics, the Just-in-Time Improvement Project, since fiscal 2007.
Through this project, we are working to increase the transparency of logistics through quantitative assessments, improve efficiency and make logistics more economical by eliminating irrational or wasteful practices, and lower environmental impact.
The Mitsubishi Electric Group will continue to pursue this project in the future and strive to achieve even greater reductions in the environmental impact of our logistics.
Reducing CO2 Emissions in Product Distribution
Since fiscal 2003, the Mitsubishi Group (in Japan)* has been working to reduce CO2 emissions during the transport of products (products<selling>logistics). Under our 5th Environmental Plan, we have established the target of reducing fiscal 2009 CO2 emissions per unit of net shipping weight by 30% compared to fiscal 2003. Under this plan, we achieved a reduction of 22% (total CO2 emissions of 940,000 tons) in fiscal 2008, the midway point of the period covered by the plan. Mitsubishi Electric achieved a reduction of 33% on a non-consolidated basis, achieving its target under the plan.
To reduce our CO2 emissions, we are switching from trucks to trains and ships as transport modes and reducing the number of trucks we use. In fiscal 2008, we shifted 13% of the overall weight we shipped away from trucks, to trains and ships.
To reduce the number of trucks we use, we have begun to load trucks with small amounts of multiple products and are improving loading efficiency by making products smaller and lighter.
In fiscal 2009, we will propose measures and an action plan for meeting our 5th Environmental Plan targets and our Environmental Vision 2021 CO2 emissions reduction targets, and complying with the revised Rationalization in Energy Use Law.
Overseas, the environmental management and logistics units of affiliates in North America, Europe, and other locations are working together in promoting "eco-logistics" activities. In fiscal 2008, 15 of 23 overseas affiliates (compared to 10 for fiscal 2007) took action to reduce CO2 emissions under environmental plans.
Under the 6th Environmental Plan, overseas affiliates will establish quantitative targets, as have domestic affiliates, for pursuing even greater emissions reductions.
* Data compiled for Mitsubishi Electric and domestic affiliates with environmental plans.
Reducing CO2 Emissions from Product Logistics
Promoting and Expanding the Use of Rail Containers
All of the business units of Mitsubishi Electric are expanding their use of 5t, 10t, and 31ft containers, depending on the volume of their shipments.
Expanding the Use of 31ft Containers (lower left in the photo)
In fiscal 2008, we expanded our use of 31ft rail containers--which have the same load capacity as large trucks--for refrigerators, commercial air conditioning equipment, washing machines, electric water heaters, and other large products. In accordance with our 5th Environmental Plan, we increased our use of 31ft containers to 2.5 times the level for fiscal 2006.Expanding the Use of 5t Containers (lower right in the photo)
In fiscal 2008, we expanded our use of 5t rail containers for room air conditioners, oven ranges, and other relatively small products, as permitted by destination and shipping weight, to 1.5 times the level for fiscal 2006, in accordance with the 5th Environmental Plan.
Increasing Loading Efficiency to Reduce Vehicle Usage
To make use of pockets of empty space in trucks and containers, we are increasing our per-vehicle loading efficiency by making use of simple shelving and revising the shapes of packaging.
Certified as an "Eco-Rail" Company
Our Living Environment & Digital Media Equipment Group, which handles products such as household appliances and heating and cooling equipment, was recognized as a business that uses environmentally compatible rail containers for more than a certain percentage of its shipping needs and certified as an "eco-rail" company in September 2005 by the Railway Freight Association of Japan. The same group won this certification again in fiscal 2008.
Going forward, we plan to continue expanding our use of rail containers with low environmental impact.
Waste Product Logistics
The Mitsubishi Electric Group is working to reduce CO2 emissions from transport operations by limiting vehicle usage through contracting out waste collection and other initiatives.
In fiscal 2008, five of our works in the Kansai region of Japan embarked on an initiative aimed at having these facilities make use of each others' waste. Waste is transported among these works using empty space on trucks making scheduled trips for other purposes. No trips, therefore, are made solely to transport waste. In addition, we have created an approach for quantitatively determining CO2 emissions. The approach is based on the method for calculating CO2 emissions related to waste transport determined in fiscal 2007.
We are planning to propose specific ways to lower CO2 emissions in fiscal 2009 based on the data gathered through this approach.
Procurement Logistics
We are also striving to reduce CO2 emissions during transport operations related to product procurement.
In fiscal 2008, we worked to further improve the accuracy of the ton-kilo approach for calculating CO2 emissions we began using in fiscal 2007. We are continuing with these efforts in fiscal 2009.
Going forward, we will refer to production logistics initiatives in examining possible measures regarding logistics volumes and CO2 emissions reductions.
