Formulated a grand design to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

• In December 2021, we formulated a grand design to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, setting out a direction for our initiatives and goals for our activities. The Sumitomo Chemical Group^*1 commits itself to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to the level of emissions in FY2013, and to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This target has received certification from the Science Based Targets (SBTs)^*2 initiative as meeting the standard of “well below 2°C.”^*3 We will accelerate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by approaching the issue from the perspectives of both obligations to bring our own greenhouse gas emissions close to zero and contributions through our products and technologies to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Promoting such initiatives as fuel conversion to low-carbon fuels and energy savings

• We began supplying LNG in the Ehime region from March 2022 to facilitate a switch from coal and heavy oil to LNG and began operations of newly built LNG-fired power generation equipment from November 2022. In the Chiba region, we began operating highly efficient gas turbines from January 2024 to facilitate a switch from petroleum coke to LNG. These efforts yielded reductions in annual CO₂ emissions of around 650 and 240 thousand tons, respectively. In addition, as a part of our efforts to switch away from LNG, we have undertaken a study on taking advantage of clean ammonia.

Promoting Sumika Sustainable Solutions

• We are promoting Sumika Sustainable Solutions, which are initiatives to internally designate products and technologies that contribute to global warming countermeasures and environmental impact reduction. A total of 81 products and technologies have been designated, with combined sales of 588.7 billion yen in fiscal 2023 (consolidated). In addition, the Science-Based Contributions, which quantitatively and scientifically calculate^*4 how much GHG emissions were reduced in society by utilizing the SSS-certified products and technologies that Company has sold and provided, in fiscal 2022^*5 totaled 7.1 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO_2e), with technology accounting for 2.7 million and final products accounting for 4.4 million.

Practical application of plastic mechanical and chemical recycling

• We set a KPI for the amount of recycled plastic resources used in manufacturing processes, targeting 200k tons annually by 2030.

• Regarding mechanical recycling, we are collaborating with Rever Corporation with the aim of building a circular system for recycling waste plastics that includes the whole process, from collection to sort­ing to recycling into useful plastic resources, and to accelerate business development for plastic recycling. Regarding chemical recycling, in February 2022, four themes related to chemical recycling technology for manufacturing chemicals using waste plastic and alcohols were selected for Green Innovation Fund Projects,^*6 enabling an even greater acceleration of technological development.

Conducting social contribution activities and participating in various alliances

• Since fiscal 2020, we have continued to provide education and raise awareness to enable people to take ownership of various issues related to recycling plastic resources, such as offering original educational videos regarding the basics of recycling plastic resources for all management executives and employees in the Sumitomo Chemical Group. In addition, we work daily on separating and collecting waste at each business location. In fiscal 2023, we carried out a total of 60 social contribution activities, such as cleaning up areas surrounding our business sites and cleaning up neighboring waterways and coasts, at 15 of 16 business locations in Japan.

• We participate in the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), which is an international alliance working to solve the plastic waste problem, and the Japan Clean Ocean Material Alliance (CLOMA), which is a domestic alliance working to solve the marine plastic waste problem. Our participation in these alliances entails cooperating with others associated with the plastic value chain to address broad social issues that would be difficult to solve alone, such as upgrading the waste collection infrastructure in countries around the world with high emissions of plastic waste.

Reviewing Safety Information on Chemicals and Conducting Risk Assessments

• We publicly release safety summaries and are steadily revising the sum­maries. We performed risk assessments for 44 products in fiscal 2023.   
  (https://www.jcia-bigdr.jp/jcia-bigdr/en/material/icca_material_list)

LRI^*7 Initiatives

• Promoted research by actively participating in the LRI program implemented by the Japan Chemical Industry Association as a member of the steering committee and research strategy planning group.

Enhancing Information Disclosure and Risk Communication

• Published the Annual Report, Sustainability Report, the Report on the Environment and Safety (at all worksites), local PR newsletters, etc., made information publicly available on the official website, made school visits, accepted student interns, and engaged in dialogue with local residents.